stitch removal..

[Sophie Bull]

Hello al, I have not posted anything for a while, I have been in the deepest darkest depths of Devon and have only just returned to get back on-line properly.

On Tuesday I had my first (there is two, one goes clockwise and one anti clockwise) running stitch removed form the graft I had in my right eye back in dec. It was surpirsignly more painful afterwards than I imagined, perhaps its just because I was not really expecting it. He had soem trouble getting it out and so the knot still remains, he said it is unlikely to cause a problem and can just be left for now.

Next week I am returnign to have an intact inserted into my right eye in an attempt to make it possible to fit a contact. I have opted for a lcal anesthetic (not sure that was wise after tuesday!) but Im sure I can handle it (well, I hope I can!!)

Does anyone have any words of advice, has anyone had the intacts op?

Also slightly concerned to read about the maxidex and cataracts, there have been major supply issues with the steriod drops I was using for my grafted eye and so they have put me on maxidex.

My eye sight does appear to have got slightly worse post-stitch removal and so all this computer stuff is requiring a reasonable mount of concentration so I shall say goodbye and hope to come on again in the next few days

Sophie

Ps good news is I got my degree..2:1 so pretty happy considering my last year!

[rosemary johnson]

Well done, Sophie!
Congratulations on getting your degree.
Hope the grafted eye soon recovers from the stress of the stitch removal and the vision improves again.
Rosemary

[GarethB]

Hi Sophie,

I am sure your eye will settle soon, mine did after I had most of my stitches removed. Your eye has just gone through some more trauma of being pulled about as the stitches were removed.

I had the single stitches and still have about 6 in which the cornea has now healed over. 16 years on, no problems as a result of the stitches left in or the graft.

[jayuk]

Hi Sophie

There is a Intacs link pasted here which has a video of the procedure..it really is a very simple and pain free procedure from what i understand and have spoken to a few that have had it.

Take a look at that video and youll see what you shall be having done...

Is the eye which yoy are having the Intacs in ungrafted?...can you not wear a lens in this eye?...is it advanced?

[Rob Armstrong]

Hi Sophie, congratulations!

I too know what havoc KC can play with your course, recently got my degree finished at last, (3 year course took 6 years including time out for the graft etc).

So nice one, it must be a big relief for you and your family.

I've been going through some stitch removal lately, turns out I had 3 broken ones as I was finishing my dissertation.

From what I understand, having the running stitches requires minor surgery for removal?

Was it under local anaesthetic?

Sounds much worse than the individual ones, which is relatively painless.

I ask about the surgery because I've managed to bust another stitch this week and they haven't been
able to remove it all. Looks like its snapped just slightly too long for it to heal over and too short to be able to grab it with the tweezers - it was mentioned that if it doesn't get sorted next week I'll have to go see the consultant/surgeon, so I reckon they're thinking of a minor op to remove them all which has got me a little worried.

Rob.

[Kim Remmington]

Hi Sophie,
Congratulations on your degree. I hope your eye settles down soon, as everyone else has said it will be a bit annoyed at being pulled about. When will you have the other running stitch out?

Although I haven't had an Intac, I did have my graft restitched whilst under local anesthetic. I said yes to the local at first then did think, 'what on earth am I doing'. But I was given a 'large gin and tonic' as the anesthetist described it, just to relax me. I was strangely aware of things, but not, if you see what I mean!! I am having a graft next Friday again, and would do it under local if asked (I am not brave but it really was alright) . I hope that your op. is successful and let us know how you get on.
With regards to my cataracts I am on Dexamethasone 0.1%, not quiet sure what is the difference between that and Maxidex. Although there is a weird positive effect of having the cataracts in that hopefully after the graft, if I am left with needing a prescription(which of course is very likely), then an artificial lens with the right prescription can be used to correct it!

[John Smith]

Well done, Sophie, many congratulations. I'm sure that many young people will realise that KC doesn't have to get in the way too much.

[John Smith]

Kim,

Dexamethasone is just the name of the active drug. Maxidex is the trade name.

Rather like Aspirin is to Disprin really, there's no medical difference.

[Sophie Bull]

Thanks for the replies and the congratulations!
the eye Im having the op in is fairly advanced stage, it has not been grafted, intacts is a less invasive alternative. I have been through a string of different contacts, but now can only tolerate a lens for about two hours..if im not doing too much! and thats a softperm lens.

So giving intacts a go. Thanks for the advice Kim, hoepfully I will have a similar experience, I can cope with a bit of pain, just not too much!

The stictch removal did not require any minor op, jsut a few eye drops and then in with the tweezers, no pain whilst he was fishing just afterwards, feeling a lot better now, although I dont like the maxidex alternative to the other drops, I think it must be a different perservative or something as it stings rather more than predsol.

Probably having my other stictch out in about 6 months..depending on how its looking and apparently the knot which didnt come out can probably be left there as long as it doesnt wiggle out!

I will let you know how the intacs go and any visual improvements and how a new contact feels when I get that far.

Thanks for the help and support as always, didnt manage to access the intacts op web thing, not sure it was compatible with the programme on this comp, but will check with my more comp minded bro when I next see him and hopefully get an inside view before the op itself.

Soph xx

[jayuk]

Sophie

How did the Intacs go? (if your around and back in action!)