My partner's op is in 4 weeks -I need help to help him thru

[cclman]

Cheers for the replys
I stupidly started looking at youtube PK operation clips last night. I feel sick!(and so now do my workmates he he )
I have no problems with drops, i wear a scleral lens and have to apply saline to keep my eye moist at least every hour, the coolpack is definately a good idea, better get one in advance, otherwise i will end up using frozen peas!
what age are you cclman? i'm only 28, i dont feel ready to give it all up just yet! Is there anyone on the forum my age who has had it done?
I definately want to go for it. i have had no useable vision in my left eye for 6 months, my right eye is struggling at work (i am a mechanical engineer so sight is kinda essential) my current situation is not sustainable. things can only get better huh?

Tom

Older than you young man. I have not had a graft only ccl or cxl as its known. I know I hated people saying this to me when I was 28 but Ill say it to you "your only young" on that side its good because your eyes and body are stronger than peopel who have a graft later. Also in the futue, in say 20 years you will still be under 50 and new technologies maybe available. You have a great wife or girlfriend who cares so much for you and posts asking for help on the forum. Hold onto her !! Good luck with the op and follow what the doctor and your girl tell you!!!

[GarethB]

cclman makes a very good point regarding new technology.

If the range of lenses available today were around 20 years ago I would have been able to go longer without the need for a graft, who knows I may never have needed a graft.

Although topography on my wife show the signs of KC and I have it, we take comfort that there are so many options available to my daughter that we know we will ba able to cope if my daughetr gets KC and we know there is more than jsut the support parents can give.

Plus you have the support of a partner and that I find better than any medication you can get.

[rosemary johnson]

To cclman:
yes, there are eye shields to prevent you rubbing your eye, or sticking the corner of the duvet in it while you're asleep.
The hospital will give you one after the graft - you'll come back from theatre with it duly taped in place and a dressingunderneath, and they'll send you home with it in place.
And recommend you wear it at night for.... hoever many weeks they see fit.
What they may well *not* give you, though, is a reel of tape to keep reattaching it - you need to take it off to put in drops, wash, etc!
Hence my suggestion to lay tape in in advance.
I'm surprised you too weren't offered such a thing. Even so, you may be able to get an eye cover and roll of tape from a pharmacy.
Mine is transparent with air holes.
I have on occasions made it opaque with golded tissues.
Rosemary

[tneedham]

I have been told that i will get a plastic eye shield from the hospital, definately will need to stock up on tape though.
Just out of interest, has anyone on the forum had experience with 'Mr David Anderson' from southampton, he is my surgeon and i think he is rather good?
I think my general aim is to rest as much as i can with audiobooks etc in bed for at least 3 weeks.
My manager told me today to start doing less hours at work, begin winding down for the op. I cant believe how understanding they are!?
Will i be in much pain do you think?

[GarethB]

Regarding pain, how long is a piece of string?

The most painful thin will probably be daytime Tv and radio

We are all different, but in my case no not much pain at all. The kick in the head when I was a teenager hurt more and for longer.

It is good to know you have understanding employers, mine are pretty good too. When my post graft vision changed suddenly they aksed me to take 3 months off work as they felt it more beneficial for me and them to get fully sorted vision wise before going back to work.

[melissa]

Hi Tom & Anna,
I had my PK in february (Age 30) and it was very successful. I would suggest:
-i took extra immune system boosters and vitamins and flax seed oil before the operation (can't say if it helped- but no harm i suppose)
-i really worked hard to get everything sorted out at work so that i wasn't bothered too much while at home. i left lots of lists for my colleagues and they did well while i was away- i am an architect- so leaving for 2/3 weeks was a bit tricky (i also didn't have much notice)
-a radio/cd player/ipod. audiobooks are a good idea, and a variety- comedy definately helps break it up a bit
-sunglasses. over the patch when in a car or outside- it cuts out any extra light getting through and 'cos you dont look so stupid.
-i used headphones at night so my partner could sleep. because i slept during the day- i was sometimes awake in the middle of the night
-i printed an eye test chart off the internet- i think there have been a few posted here, and i can email you one if you want to PM me. you sholdn't expect any amazing vision, but i was so curious- having had very little vision in that eye before. you get one for 3m which can be used in a normal room/passage
-stock up on some regular painkillers- the doctor will prescribe something, but i went onto myprodol as i didn't like the ones they gave me (of course i spoke to the doc about it first)
-depending on what type of anaesthetic you have, you may not feel great- so comfort food and lots of love and attention
- i went out a few times, and it drained me- you just have to see how it goes- it depends how you react to the anaesthetic....
after 2 weeks i was fine and back at work full time.

the pain varies... i had severe pain the first night (i was still in hospital- so they helped me through that) and then it was moderate for about 1.5weeks and then mild for another week. then hardly anything since then... in realation to my 'fear of pain' it was nothing....

don't worry too much and relax.

[rosemary johnson]

I found the eye "uncomfortable" but not really painful.
It felt like "I can't wait to get this piece of plastic out of here.... oh! it isn't contact lens that's been in too long after all" for, well, months and now again since latet wobbly.
The ward staff at the hospital were asking people "what painkiller do you usually use?" and then saying, if you have pain, just take some of that. They expected asnwers like paracetamol/neurofen/aspirin. I wish I'd thought to take a leaf from Hilary's book (my sister's) and say "Whisky and distraction"!
In practice, I had a splitting headache for the first couple of days, which at the time I thought was from getting very, very badly dehydrated on the "nil by mouth" before the anaesthetic, but with hindsight was because of the brain damage caused by the anaesthetic adverse reaction.
SO I was taking neurofen for the headache - until I sprained my ankle fallin gover on the path to the station 3 days later and taking neurofen for the ankle, and any pain from the eye paled into insignificance.
Some peoplehave complained of post-graft pain, but most people I've heard from have said it was "uncomfortable" rather than really painful.
Rosemary

[tneedham]

"was because of the brain damage caused by the anaesthetic adverse reaction."

Brain damage from the anaesthetic???
Ok, i'm feeling quite scared about that now!

[rosemary johnson]

I had a very unusual and very nasty bad reaction to a general anaesthetic.
The chances of the same happening to you and, I hope and trust, very very small indeed.
I am still not sure quite what happened and why, and the anaesthetist in question doesn't think much of my theories, but something has definitely done more damage to the bit s of brain function that process sensations of motion and retrieval of names from long-term memory.
Please don't let yourself be panicked by my singular experience. It is rare.... . but yes, an anaesthetic is itself a risk and there are a few people who have bad reactions to them.
In my case, I'd had a neck injury in an accident at work a few years ago that affected the same functions, and probably left something vulnerable to further damage.
Rosemary

[dweezil1968]

digital radio on Freeview or a DAB radio, particularly BBC 7 for plays and comedy, and BBC6 for music, got me thru when watching TV was too hard.
make sure there's always a pair of sunglasses to hand
no heavy lifting!
sleep mask in bed at night
cooling eye mask you keep in the fridge is very relaxing
plenty of Ibroprufen
he will be fine, I had my graft in Nov 2007 and even with the odd bit of pain its been fine, regular check ups keep things in order. make sure he takes the drops.
cheers