Recovery Process Questions
 What can I expect from my recovery?
Physicians will vary on their protocol for how long you will need to keep your head down. Regardless of the time, your recovery will be unique as compared to other postoperative situations. There are several things that are commonly experienced during this recovery episode.
What are the effects of the gas bubble?
If you were having some distortion before your surgery, you can almost count on your distortion being worse with the gas bubble because it covers a large surface of your eye.
What kind of distortion can occur?
Problems judging distance is the most common occurrence for individuals. This can create difficulty in walking or simply reaching for a glass of water. Off and on bouts of double vision or vertigo are rare but can also occur. Loss of depth perception is the most common side affect.
What can I do if I am bothered by distortion?
A simple solution is to patch the surgical eye and allow your good eye to stop overcompensating and focus only on what it is viewing.
How long will the bubble stay in my eye?
This is a tough question, for it varies with each individual. An average scenario may be 3-5 weeks, but may be shorter or longer. Regardless, it does not harm your eye, but can create some sight aggravation. It is common for people to see floaters, multiple colors, jiggling bubble movement and multiple little bubbles. For example, as the bubble shrinks in size it may break off into little bubbles that may appear as dark specs across the eye or even make you think there are little insects flying around you. You may go to sleep and the next morning the little bubbles have reformed a single bubble, but smaller in size. Do not make any judgment on your condition based on the progression of the bubble. Simply let it do its job and it will get out of your eye within a few weeks.
What are the effects of keeping my head down?
Obviously, stiff neck and back are common with keeping your head down, but there are some other things that may occur.
- After a few days of having your head down, you may get nasal congestion. You are not getting a cold, but instead because you are doing a good job of keeping your head down. Gravity is pulling on your sinus cavities, creating nasal drainage.
- Facial swelling also may wait to appear after several days of keeping your face down. It is simply a pooling of fluid to a particular area of your face, such as your lip and cheek area. Once you are allowed to have your head up, this fluid will go away quickly.
- Pressure points on the face may occur as a result of resting your head in a certain position too long. An example of this would be your cheeks are sore because you have been resting your face in your hands or you are not leaning your face forward enough in the headrest cushion. If the pressure is felt at your forehead, then you are leaning forward too much, and need to raise the head rest slightly to spread the pressure around your face.
- Your extremities go to sleep due to lack of movement. It is important when still for long periods of time to keep the circulation going by tapping your feet and hands. Periodically, you should get up and walk to the other end of your house and back, but remember to keep you head down.
- Sleep deprivation is a common issue. The reason for this primarily is that most people do not sleep on their stomach and this is an unnatural form of sleep for them. Your physician can prescribe something to assist you. One key point here is one should not try to go to sleep until they are really tired, can not hold their eyes open and are ready to sleep.
 What are the effects of medication?
Always make sure your physician is fully aware of all of your medications. There are little if any side effects from your post-surgical medications, but sometimes your eyes can become light sensitive. If you find your eyes watering badly every time you pass a bright lamp or open window shade, simply dim the lights or close the blinds. Always make sure you wear dark glasses any time you go outside.
What about boredom?
Your lifestyle is certainly more restricted during your recovery time. Many people will listen to music and books on tape. Others will have guests over as a means of speeding the day up and making it seem more normal. There is nothing wrong with talking and listening so long as you keep your head down.
May I read or use my computer while recovering?
Many physicians have different views on this, but this is an important question you need to ask your physician before doing such.
Recovery Summary
The recovery process is not a walk in the park, but the recovery equipment and the support from your equipment dealer does make it easier. Most individuals who have gone through the recovery process state that the first 3-4 days is the most difficult as you adjust to what you can and cannot do. Once you get through those first few days, it does get easier as you know what to expect.
|
|
