Posted: Tue 13 Mar 2007 1:27 pm
Hi Mike, I look forward to following your progress whichever path you decide to take.
I would also class myself as a wimp Needles and blood don’t overly bother me but anything to do with the eye and I cringe. Hence I was actually more concerned about having my cornea transplant than my heart ablation. I must admit I dread having my stitches out but then again just over a week ago I dreaded having eye drops. Now I’m used to them I don’t find them an issue anymore. Naturally I still occasionally suffer from an uncontrolled urge to close my eye and deflect the droplets away.
I also believed I could cope with my KC and for a long time I did. In fact I had KC in my right eye for over a decade before I realised it. I just thought I had a weak eye but as my left eye was so strong I went through life relying on it. It was only when pain, light intolerance and increased headaches occurred that I went to the opticians for a pair of glasses and came out with a diagnosis for KC. I was so naïve of KC at the time I actually left the place rather pleased that I didn’t need glasses. In fact I rather foolishly thought I’d take a trip to a hospital, have a minor adjustment and then have 20/20 vision. Needless to say I’ve learned a fair bit since then.
I’d suggest the question you probably need to ask yourself is what effect on your life does coping with KC currently have on you? For example I didn’t realise all the sacrifices I had made until I listed them.
If the effects are minimal then perhaps for the time being it’s possible and maybe easier to avoid the graft for now. At one time I had hoped to hang on until laser grafts were the norm as the healing process is so much quicker. But these are probably still years away sadly.
On the other hand whilst you have such a good and strong eye it’s probably a good time to have a graft. This because you’ll still be able to manage to a similar degree you do now just a couple of weeks after a graft. Or as I saw it, I wasn’t able to use my bad eye so having a graft I lost nothing. (bar the initial recovery period after the operation)
As you mention there is also the issue of independence straight after a graft. You’d definitely need help with walking the dogs as you wouldn’t want them pulling and you’d need to avoid bending down for a little while. Saying that I’m already doing about 85% of things I did pre graft and I haven’t needed nearly as much support as I thought I would.
Starting a blog would be great, I really enjoy reading the progress of others and it certainly helped me prepare myself better for my graft.
All the best for Thursday, I look forward to reading how you’ve got on. If possible just try not to pressure yourself and always remember that the decision is yours and you can take as long as you need to make it.
Chris.
I would also class myself as a wimp Needles and blood don’t overly bother me but anything to do with the eye and I cringe. Hence I was actually more concerned about having my cornea transplant than my heart ablation. I must admit I dread having my stitches out but then again just over a week ago I dreaded having eye drops. Now I’m used to them I don’t find them an issue anymore. Naturally I still occasionally suffer from an uncontrolled urge to close my eye and deflect the droplets away.
I also believed I could cope with my KC and for a long time I did. In fact I had KC in my right eye for over a decade before I realised it. I just thought I had a weak eye but as my left eye was so strong I went through life relying on it. It was only when pain, light intolerance and increased headaches occurred that I went to the opticians for a pair of glasses and came out with a diagnosis for KC. I was so naïve of KC at the time I actually left the place rather pleased that I didn’t need glasses. In fact I rather foolishly thought I’d take a trip to a hospital, have a minor adjustment and then have 20/20 vision. Needless to say I’ve learned a fair bit since then.
I’d suggest the question you probably need to ask yourself is what effect on your life does coping with KC currently have on you? For example I didn’t realise all the sacrifices I had made until I listed them.
If the effects are minimal then perhaps for the time being it’s possible and maybe easier to avoid the graft for now. At one time I had hoped to hang on until laser grafts were the norm as the healing process is so much quicker. But these are probably still years away sadly.
On the other hand whilst you have such a good and strong eye it’s probably a good time to have a graft. This because you’ll still be able to manage to a similar degree you do now just a couple of weeks after a graft. Or as I saw it, I wasn’t able to use my bad eye so having a graft I lost nothing. (bar the initial recovery period after the operation)
As you mention there is also the issue of independence straight after a graft. You’d definitely need help with walking the dogs as you wouldn’t want them pulling and you’d need to avoid bending down for a little while. Saying that I’m already doing about 85% of things I did pre graft and I haven’t needed nearly as much support as I thought I would.
Starting a blog would be great, I really enjoy reading the progress of others and it certainly helped me prepare myself better for my graft.
All the best for Thursday, I look forward to reading how you’ve got on. If possible just try not to pressure yourself and always remember that the decision is yours and you can take as long as you need to make it.
Chris.