DALK or full thickness corneal

[Barney]

You were in two nights Tim?

I was in two nights when they did my first graft but this time, graft plus cataract removal, the plan seems to be that I'll be thrown out to come home on the train the same day.

Good luck, I'm sure it will all go perfectly for you and you'll be seeing all those amazing details you'd almost forgotten.

[Andrew MacLean]

It varies pretty much from centre to centre. When I had my first (PK) graft done they kept me overnight mostly because I live some distance from the hospital and they wanted me in situe for a clinic first thing the following morning.

Another man went home after he had managed to use the loo (why are doctors and nurses so obsessive about these things?) He turned up again the next day. He explained that he lived round the corner so making it to the clinic was never going to be a problem for him.

I don't know what they will do with the DALK, but I look forward to finding out.

Andrew

added moments later. Let me just say how much I enjoy the dull light on overcast days. It gives me no glare with which to cope, no photophobia and no need to wear sun specs. this is my idea of a good day!

[Sweet]

Hehe it is important to make sure that patients can pass water before they leave as there is a small risk of water retention after a GA. Hope that answers your queries!!

Sweet X x X

[Andrew MacLean]

Sweet

Thank you for your explanation. I am almost sorry I asked.

I remember when I was first asked by a nurse whether I had managed to "go". I didn't really understand the question (go where?) and answered "have you?"

She skuttled off and told the sister that I was being obstinate. the ward sister came down the avenue of neat beds like a galleon in full sail and asked me why I was upsetting her nurses.

I was again a bit flummoxed and asked what she meant. I noticed her flush slightly with either anger or frustration and she framed again the question. "why won't you tell my nurse whether you have managed to 'do the toilet'"

"Because she didn't ask. Ass she said was 'did you manage to go?'"

I noticed the sister being pushed onto the back foot slightly and pressed my advantage "I'd have thought that in your profession a prissiness about mentioning the word toilet would have been a severe disadvantage."

The sister tried to retake the high ground. "well", she demanded.

"The answer to the question you asked is 'yes', and if that was the question you meant your young colleague to ask I suggest you offer her better training before launcing her into a ward full of people."

Game set and match to the 19 year old Andrew. I was discharged later that day.

Odd the things you can remember when you are 56. Odder still the things you forget!

Andrew

[Tim Payne]

Sorry for not getting back earlier, watching too much golf on TV over the weekend to face a pc screen as well, sight not great but just enough to appreciate our victory. Eye is doing well - went to see the consultant yesterday and he says the centre is flat/smooth and looking good.

Reassuringly he told me the top layer is growing over and will smooth out both the edges of the graft, they are a little proud at the moment, and the stitches. The eye has been particularly irritable over the past dew days, not all down to watching TV, although my wife thinks I’m overdoing it a bit. Consultant suggested getting some artificial tears, without the preservative to help relax the eye (will any of the major brands do, I didn’t ask at the time??).

Another thing he mentioned was the potential need at some point for a single contact lens above and beyond normal correction to offset double vision type problems. My objective is to wear glasses after this has all settled down, I get good corrected vision with my right eye at the moment and anything more than 20/70 corrected vision in my left will be a bonus. He said not to worry if lenses have to be avoided as there are options to correct this with either laser or ‘an implanted contact lens in the eye’. Has anyone had this done or know the pros and cons??? My feelings on the matter are to leave well alone but I also really want to avoid a lens if possible. Hypothetical at the moment, it may not be required but keen to understand what it is all about.

One thing that helped me pass the time during the first few days, while sitting in a quiet darkened room, was my daughter’s ipod with some audiobooks I got before the op, I’ve not had someone read me a story for a long time, it was great and very relaxing, as long as I didn’t play my daughter’s music by mistake!!

[John Smith]

Andrew, great story. I can just imagine you talking to a Hattie-Jacques-esque Matron, and the rest of the ward loving every minute of it!

[John Smith]

Tim,

Glad to hear that you're progressing well. Yes, any old artificial tears will probably help. Many people here like Systane as it's better than some others, but it's an individual thing.

Make sure that whatever you get is preservative-free though.

Ah yes, audio books are wonderful, aren't they. The only problem I found was that I was sitting in a comfy chair in the middle of the afternoon with the curtains closed and a calming voice from the "book". I've lost count of the number of times I've been sent to sleep!