Almost a month post graft

[Becky Symmonds]

Hi, I had a full thickness graft on my right eye on the 16th Jan, so thought I'd update everyone.
What a month, still very much on a emotional rollercoaster, thanks for everyone's gd wishes. Have to admit have prob had my share of problems. Surgery went ok, though it took two weeks to stop feeling groggy from the anasethetic, that as it turned out, was the least of it, the sedative part of the pre-med failed to work, but the anaestetic knocked me out well and truely.

Ok, it's hard to know where to start. The longest time I seem to spend out of the eye clinic is 12 days. My eye kept feeling very sore and irritated so had to call the online doctor on a sun eve, they did pick up, which I was very impressed with !! My apt was meant to be the following fri but they wanted me to come in the next day, so I did. Basically my body is attacking the suture material, a type of nylon I think). Anyway they gave me a injection (and here I appologise if anyone is desperately needle phobic and screamish like me). Right my the eye, which is still very sensitive and told me to come back in a week which is tomorow the 12th, I have knots in my stomach. I have gone from the steroid drop every four hours with the antibiotic drop. The steroid was then increased to every two hrs then every hr, though not when im asleep thankfully !!

My eye feels very sore from all the drops, i hope they're working. Have huge bags under my eye, going to need Botox after all this. No joking aside, Im just really scared that my body isn't accepting the sututres and that this can lead to graft rejection. Maybe I'm just really sensitive. Really praying I don't need another anti-rejection injection. I'm at East Grinstead, they're brilliant and know I'm in good hands. Eye lid is very dry and feels highly sensitive and a bit hard, anyone know if this is normal, I am sensitve obviously.

As for the vision well, can read three lines of the chart through pin holes, not brilliantly clear and fuzzy even thru pin holes.but before could have only seen there was a box of fuzzy ligh on the wall. Dont know if wherever I am meant to be on the journey of healing, just hope things are going to get easier and calm down.

thanks for listening to me rant or rather read my fear and rant

take care

[Chris Pope]

Becky,
Sorry to hear what a hard time you are having I really feel for you.
I had my graft done on Wednesday and seem to be having a smooth ride so far touch wood.
Keep us posted on how you get on.
Chris

[Andrew MacLean]

Becky

I know that this is a difficult time for you, and that positive things can be hard to identify: but three lines on the chart is progress. Well done.

As to going back to the clinic; keep going back every time you have a concern! They don't mind and your eye is very precious.

All the best

Andrew

[helen jones]

Hi

Just wanted to say well done on getting that far. I hope that it gets better for you which I'm sure it will.

Goodluck

Helen

[Becky Symmonds]

Hi friends thanks for the messages. I went back to East Grinstead yesterday and was very scared after last time, mixed news. My body is still attacking the sutures around the donor tissue but it is under control.Have been able to decrease the steroids to every two hours rather than every hour, so that's slighly better and they dont want to see me for three weeks.I will try and manage that, I really hope so. The graft is apparently where it should be in terms of healing which has greatly reassured me !! I was also worried as it looks glazed over, aparently this is normal, did anyone else have this? The degree to which it looks glazed over seems to depend on the light conditions, weird I know.

Hoping I can go back to work on mon and be office based, been off five weeks and seperately need some normality back.I'm still exceptionally tired most of the time.

A quyestion for anyone who has had a graft how long did you wear the plastic sye shield at night for, they didnt tell me and I keep forgetting to ask. Know it protects the new cornea so thats gd but its also very uncomfortable, hot and keeps coming off, not matter how I tape it down. Aware this may sound silly but it take me ages to get to sleep and wondering if could maybe do without it just yet.Any views?

Hoping so much the graft really settles down now and with it the emotional roller coaster I seem to be on.

thanks for listening

[Andrew MacLean]

Becky

It took each of my grafts a bit of time before they 'looked' line they belonged in my eye. Is hat what you mean by 'glazed' look?

We all know how the roller-coaster works. first you are at the heights and then in the depths. but if the metaphor will take a bit of extension, you are also on a journey from beginning to end. Each time you rise up and plunge down you get hearer the goal, and that is something worth looking forward to.

I found it helped to take each day at a time, not to keep looking beyond the day to the return of good sight, but to enjoy the opportunities and advances that each day brought.

All the best

Andrew

[Matthew_]

Becky,
Sorry to hear you are having such a rough time, I hope the reaction gets under control. You are making progress even though the going is rough so hang on in there.
I am 3 months post graft and I am still wearing the eye-shield, don't think I have to. When I asked the doctor, he said keep with it if its not bothering me. It doesn't bother me so I'm sticking with it.
I have had an easier time of it although my actual eye-sight hasn't improved. It did at first and then got worse again. Apparently its healing quite slowly and has left a sill which is messing up my eye sight. I'm told every case is different and it won't affect the end result

[Matthew_]

Oh, and my wife says my grafted eye looks like a 'cod's eye' in certain lights. Charming!

[craigm]

hi becky, i posted here prior to going in for a graft which took place on tuesday, i thought i was getting both eyes done but it turned out it was just the one, the right eye. like you my pre sedative did'nt do much but the anaesthetic knocked me out, when i woke after the op, my eye was quite painful and i was given a pain injection which made me fall asleep but really did'nt stop the pain, however i was feeling considerably better by the next day, my eye was sore and felt gritty but each day it got slightly better. My eye was almost completely bloodshot from the 2 injections they give into the eye at the end of the operation but it is healing slowly and clearing a little each day. I was able to read to the fourth line after about 3 days through the pinhole and i only wore the protective shield for the first two nights, i also found it necessary to wear dark glasses for the first 4 days as i was quite sensitive to light. i'm currently taking the course of steroid tablets and the two drops every 2 hours. There is still some slight discomfort as if theres something in my eye which there obviously is, the stitches, but i'm hopeful things will begin to settle down. This morning i woke and my eye felt a little sore which i'm hoping is nothing serious like early signs of rejection but i was told that rejection is quite rare so i'm going to try and stay positive.

I'm sorry to hear you have had some problems but if you notice any new symptoms it is better to see someone as soon as possible even if it turns out to be a false alarm as my surgeon said each episode of rejection can cause a little damage to the graft. The op is really just the start of a long road to recovery and for me it's early days but hang in there, i for one am glad to know i can go on this site and get information and support from others who have travelled this road.

best wishes

craig

[Chris Pope]

Hi Craig,
You may want to check with your consultant before discarding with your night shield so early on.
My guy has told me to wear mine for a least a month to protect it from rubbing and knocks whilst a sleep.
Best of luck
Chris