KC Group virgin

[Pauline Houke]

Hi folks,
this is my first post to the forum but no doubt won't be my last. I was diagnosed with KC about eight years ago and on 21 June will be having a corneal graft to my left eye at Darlington hospital. One of my main concerns is the fact that I suffer from hayfever and as any sufferer will appreciate those sneezing fits can be quite intense. My eyes puff up quite a lot too. From what I've read about controlling pressure and stuff I can't imagine these symptoms being a particularly good combination with a nice fresh graft! Have any of you had experience of this problem? I have a pre op consultation on 23 May where I can put forward my concerns but you can't beat talking to someone who has had first hand experience.

[jayuk]

Hi Pauline

Welcome to the forum!

You are correct in your concerns. I had a somewhat coughing fit in the recovery room which is supposidly responsible for a stich coming undone post op.

Coughing hard, and sneezing is not an ideal situation for a new graft...sneezing is 100 times worse.......lol..I remember at school where I was told that the reason why you sneeze and close your eyes is the force......if anyone sneezed wth there eyes open the force would allow the eyes to pop out from the sockets.......but Im still sceptical there!!

Anyway jokes aside,...thats not what we wanted to hear! I have been consious seen having the graft of not to cough too much and to sneeze. However this is a somewhat uncontrolable reaction. Ive since coughed but do some what of a strange face to take the force and pressure ....lol I cant explain this but I wouldnt wana be seein on camera pulling the face....it like when you have a sneezing fit in a quiet place....and u try to avoid sneezing loud....has anyone done that...or am the only saddo that does that

Think you may want to speak with your optham with regards to maybe taking somethng for the hayfever as I am sure this is commn amongst graft patients

[GarethB]

Hi Pauline,

When I had my grafts many years ago, I too sufferd hayfever, but not now.

At the time, my GP prescribed a strong drug for the time Becanase which is now available over the counter, or it used to be a few years ago which really helped. Something a bit more moder may well be appropriate but it is worth finding out about now so that the hayfever is under control prior to any operation.

Hope this helps

Gareth

[Sophie Bull]

Hi, I had a graft at christmas and am a pretty constant sneezer..hayfever in summer etc. It was winter when mine was done but I still did a far bit of sneezing! and it has all been fine...no problems so far (touch wood)! Post-op sneezing can be a bit painful for the first couple of days, but didnt do my stiches any harm.
lots of luck and happy thoughts
Soph

[GarethB]

Pauline,

Just noticed your graft will be done at Darlington, that is where mine was done. Just afetr my A levels at the Queen Elisabeth Sixth Form College. Has anyone else tried to burn it down?

Before anyone asks, I was not involved in the 1988 attempt!

Do you know who will be doing the graft? James Haslam did mine and people still comment of the quality of the stitching!

Gareth

[Pauline Houke]

It's a small world Gareth,
My eldest is in his first year at Q E right now. Mr Stirling is performing my op but I have heard of Mr Haslam. has anyone else been seen by Mr Stirling?

[GarethB]

Pauline,

Who are the physics teachers left at QE?

Can not remember who taught me physics, but in 1988 I ran him over!

Complete accident, he ran into the road infront of me while I was moving the car to the class entrance so that I could give him a lift home to fetch our mock exam results he had forgotten.

Everyone in casualty thought it most hilareous

Gareth

[Dave Dale]

God....it is a small world!

I went to QE and still live in Darlo but I teach at Durham Sixth Form now.

I used to be seen at the Memorial by Dr Dang, he sent me out to D&A for contact lenses and TBH I never rated him and would have loved to have been seen by Stirling but was a no go so I got my GP to refer me to Sunderland Eye Infirmary.

What di dyou do about contact lenses at Darlo as they dont have a clinic do they?

Small, small world..I dont know any of the Physics teachers as I did'nt take it!

Dave.

[Pauline Houke]

Sorry Gareth Can't help you with the physics teachers but I'll ask the son next time I see him.(ships that pass in the night!!)
There is a Q E website maybe they'll have something on there.
Yes Dave there is a clinic at Darlo. I used Cooper and Leatherbarrow opticians for my glasses. The optician there (not cooper or leatherbarrow) referred me to Darlo when I persisted that my new glasses were not helping me with my astigmatism.
I saw Mr Singh(now retired but highly regarded) 8 years ago who actually diagnosed the KC. He then reffered me to the in house optician to fit the lenses who just happened to be Mr Leatherbarrow himself.
This has worked really well for me. Mr Leatherbarrow has been very good. He decided last september that I shouldn't continue with lenses because of the poor fit and dreadful scarring as a result.He referred me to Mr Stirling who I saw this February and now I am having the op in June.

[GarethB]

Cannot remember which optician I used as there were no contact lens fitting at Darlo when I went. I do remember the optician beeng on the high street on the right as you go towards Kirklevington and the A19.

Further out on the edge of Yarm is the private boys school where I got into many a scrape, especially in a game of Rugby!

I have mellowed with age!

In July I hope to be up Darlo way, hopefully taking the little one camping before doing a car show at Croft race circuit. Might of found who the optician was all them years ago!

Dave, what years were you at the QE, for me it was 87 - 88 before I went to the Pollytechnic of East London, now University of East London. Would love to move back up there if I could find a job doing pharmaceutical R&D.

Gareth