New Here looking for support coping with retina reattachment surgery

HELLASRULES

Hi, I can surely relate to what you are going though. In 1986 My right retina detached 4 times. The 1st was the scaleral buckle. Then I was rear-ended on the way to work, 6 wks after the surgery. Next came 3 successive detachment with the vitrectomy and gas bubble, all between Jan and April. What a nightmare! I am not diabetic, though, as mine are all from retinopathy of prematurity. After the 4 surgeries I developed the cataract. No lens implant for me though, as back then they were pretty new and weren't done on 30 years olds. Last May, my left retina had a hemmorhage and subsequent retinal tear, folllowed with laser surgery.
So, I can relate to what you are going through. All I can say is, sometimes it just takes time before the vision clears. Especially if you have diabetic retinopathy(???) also. My friends father is diabetic, and just recently had the cataract surgery. It's slow going for him, as he's older (80's). He had some retinal bleeding after the surgery (I think it was in Feb.) and his vision is getting better all the time.
To answer your question, yes. I have had successful reattachment surgery. In 1986, when they put the gas bubble in you had to keep your face parallel to the floor, till it was replaced with body fluid. I did that for about 6 weeks straight, and it was torture...my neck still hurts from that! Do they still make you do that? In the right eye, that the 4 detachments & cataract were in, I have 20/25 vision, although I did lose some peripheral vision. So, although it was torture at the time, it worked just fine.
Good luck, and hang in there. I think I was only able to work 54 days that years, because of all the surgeries, and I'm legally blind in the left eye, so couldn't see, or drive, or do anything but listen to the TV. Wishing you all the best. Be patient..
sometimes things take way longer than we think we can bear.

MiracleMets

Hey. I totally understand what you're going through. Well, I had to undergo a scleral buckle surgery june 2004, because of trauma to my left eye due from getting hit by a baseball during drills. At first it was hyphema (blood swirling in the back of my eye) and my doctor was able to get my vision back to 20/25, but I gradually lost vision...and a white curtain came down obscuring my vision. He suggested a retina specialist at the hospital, who performed a scleral buckle surgery (on only the bottom half of my eye).Unfortunately, I was rough housing with my friends by playing frisbee (im 18) on dec. 2004 and my retina detached again. I underwent scleral buckle surgery again (360 degrees this time) with another doctor. It's been 4 months since then and my vision has gradually improved. the vision in my left eye is distorted (everything is smaller, squished, and i can't make out anything in the center of my field of vision) + it is 20/40 at best, even with a stronger prescription. These past 4 months have been the most painful in my whole entire life. Ive gained 20 lbs. since then due to restriction of physical activity. I am very confused and depressed most of the time. My gym teacher is not very understanding of this either and thinks that this is a joke. My psych teacher doesnt want to excuse me for being late to class, because i wasnt allowed to run for a period of time. However, there have been teachers, peers, and family who have been very supportive and I thank them very much. Theyre the reason why im not crying about this all day. Stick in there....everything will be all right!