Hi,
I am 21, noticed I had a ptergium when I was around 18. It began to irritate me at work (always bloodshot, painful) it was small, however I was able to have it removed by a Doctor in Australia who specialises only in this kind of surgery. My surgery was on the 22.10.2012. Before and after my surgery I have spend a lot of time on the net looking for information on people having surgery and a detailed log of their recovery. However I have found little information. Here is my detailed log on how I am recovering after my surgery. I want it to be honest, as its kind of like my own diary so I can reflect on how far I have come when I am feeling down about my recovery. If you have any questions I will do my best to answer them
Surgery: Monday 22.10.2012
Today I go in for surgery. As I wait in the reception room of the hospital I begin to cry. Anxious of what to expect. My partner and mum comfort me and I am called over to the nurse. I saw previously that people went to wait for surgery on their own, I asked if my family could come. The nurse hesitated but allowed it. A doctor explained that he would have me completely asleep when they placed the needle in my eye to do the eye block. I would most likely wake in surgery, however would be relaxed and not concerned. As soon as the drip went in my arm I was asleep. I woke when a bright light was on my face in the operating theatre. I felt a sheet over my face. I was disorientated but relaxed. I asked for more drugs, I remember hearing the doctor speak and music playing. I then remembered no more, felt no pain. When I woke next I was in the recovery room sitting on a chair. I was given food and painkillers and then my blood pressure was checked. I was dazed and confused. I put on my clothes and met with my family. We went home, in the car I vomited. When we got home I was in pain after the drugs wore off. I took many drugs over the rest of the day and night. I found it hard to eat with my eye so swollen and in so much pain.
Day two:
The day after my surgery I was still in a fair bit of pain. I went to the doctor to have they eye patch removed. My mum almost fainted and I still had nausea from the painkillers. The doctor forced my eye open. It was swollen and I could barely see. On the way home from the doctors I vomited in the car again. Apparently it was due to the pain killers. I have barely ate. I feel sick and miserable. Regret and panic sets in. maybe I should have left the tiny dot..I only looked at it when we got home and mum and Darren went and got groceries. It looked terrible. The area where the graft was, was almost white but raised. Below my pupil was pure bloodshot red. The eye lid is so swollen that I cant even open it. The eye drops sting and every two hours I have to have more of them. I spend all day in my dark room.
Day three:
Today mum and I are going back to back to my family home an hour away from where I live. The drive home was hard as the light was hurting my eye. When we made it home I hid in the spare bedroom with a sheet over the curtain and brought the second twilight audio book only interrupted every two hours for more eye drops. I had a bath and by the end of the day my eye was quite sore. Feeling hopeful that tomorrow my eye may be less red or swollen I went to sleep excitedly.
Day four: so far I can’t see any improvement. My vision is still doubled and blurry and my eye still swollen. The bloodiness hasn’t disappeared and the graft is starting to look bumpy and red. Writing and looking at anything hurts and I have to squint. I am starting to feel depressed and down. I am so impatient and not seeing progress is frustrating and scary. There is no pain, it just feels strained when I look in a direction too quickly. I can see where they injected the eye block under my eye. It is also bruised. I look a mess. I spent the rest of the day hiding in my room again. Tomorrow I promise myself I will at least have the light on. Try and watch some dvds. I am less hopefully for improvement tomorrow. Maybe I should stop looking at it..
this is where I am at so far... more to follow
