Archive for the ‘Enucleation Surgery’ Category

I have decided to add some new photos today, please be reminded that these photos show me without an eye or an eye patch. They aren’t as bad as i’m sure you are picturing right now! Take a look if you like.

** Be sure to check out my previous post containing images to compare. Click here for those.

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In my own opinion, i feel like I’ve adapted to having an eye enucleation  quite well. I think I went through the normal ups and downs, the insecurities, the worrysome nights and so on but now I finally feel comfortable in my own skin.

It has come to a point where now, I don’t even wear an eye patch 90% of the time. People automatically assume that with an eye being removed there is going to be some huge gaping home in your socket — but that’s not true. I’ve heard all of the jokes, “Will I see your brain?” “Can you use the prosthetic eye to play marbles”, “Why not use a bouncy ball for an eye” .. and more. It used to bother be … but one day I just woke up and accepted it all with a grain of salt.

I now find myself blatantly pointing out that I had an eye removed, or need assistance doing something. I’ve noticed a lot of people are more ‘concerned’ than ‘grossed out’ and with me getting it off of my chest right away makes for a less stressful time. No more hiding behind eye patches and dark glasses (unless it’s necessary, of course). I had my eye removed and until I get the prosthetic one I am going to embrace every moment.

With that said, I am going to try to post some new blogs with pictures, and more information on the enucleation surgery itself. I am really hoping to help other people out during such a time as mine.

I thank each and everyone of you fro commenting & reading.

Exactly one month from today my journey of recovery should be finished. I am due to have my prosthetic eye 100% complete by then and needless to say – I cant wait!

I have to tell you guys about last night. It was probably one of the most memorable nights of my life. My family members all got together and planned a benefit dance for me. I am unable to work, as you all know, I have a mortgage, a daughter, bills, etc and Matthew is only getting part time work. We were finding it hard to make ends meet.

Every week we are having to make a 5 hour trip (one way) to a hospital to be monitored, pay a babysitter while we were gone as well as try to save up money for the actual eye itself. The stress of our financial woes were taking a huge toll on us so last night a benefit dance and silent auction was held in aid of my medical expenses.

I don’t have an exact number amount of how much was raised but I can tell you that the auction brought in just under $2,000 and we were given about $7,000 between family, friends and local organizations that help out. I will say I am not one to take handouts however, i greatly appreciate what they have done for us.

I cannot believe how kind people can be. There may be some awful things going on in this world but there is also a ton of good. I cried all night, and all morning opening up and reading everyone well wishes to me. I am so relieved to know that we do have enough to cover the eye and other travel expenses and do not have to worry about running up our credit cards and taking loans.

A huge weight was lifted off of my shoulders last night & I thank everyone who helped out and in anyway whatsoever.

I had a checkup done on Wednesday, just before my three week post op date and everything is going well. The conformer had fallen out of my eye once, but I was able to put it back in myself correctly.

As of right now I do not have another checkup with my local eye doctor for a month, however, I will be making a trip back to the doctor who had preformed my surgery sometime soon.

I am currently suffering from a cold / sinus infection. I’ve noticed that snezing really hurts but I’ve been taking some allergy medication to help with that and so far so goof. Other than that there is not much new!

My surgery was scheduled for April 16th at 10:30a.m. I was told to arrive by 8:30a.m and we did just that. Upon arriving, I sat down with a nurse and registered, answered a few questions and was given a bracelet. I was then asked to sit in the waiting room to be called in to the pre-operative area. Though I was only sitting there about an hour, it felt like a day.

Once my name was called my sister and I went in, she was able to stay with me until everything was prepared but then had to leave. Within 5 minutes I had one of those goofy hospital gowns on, booties, a hat and a warmed blanket. I was sitting in a chair answering the same questions I’ve been asked 10 times prior to surgery (basically medical history for my family and I). Around 10a.m they told my sister that she had to leave and to come back around 2:30 which is when they expected me to be out of recovery.

After my sister left, nervousness set in. I felt so sick to my stomach. There was an elderly lady sitting next to me having cataract surgery around the same time mine was scheduled, but we both found out soon after my sister leaving that both of our surgeries were delayed. I was also informed that even though the doctor requested I spend the night in hospital that I may be sent home due to a bed shortage. Of course this had me feeling quite anxious, but the lady next to me kept my mind off of things by talking.

Around 12:15p.m a nurse told me I would be next. By this time I was so ready to have it done that I would have done it myself (my eye had started aching at this point). About 10 minutes later the anaesthesiologist came out, explained a few things to me and I was wheeled into the operating room.

Upong entering the operating room I was told to lay down on the table. It was freezing cold in there so they gave me one of those wonderful warmed blankets. A blood pressure cup was attached to my arm, and an I.V was started. There were 6 men in the room and one woman. I remember one man saying it was my lucky day… i laughed. Next they put an oxygen mask on, ran the I.V, and I was out like a light.

I woke up in recovery at about 3p.m. My oxygen levels were extremely low so I was on a breathing machine. This scared me immesnly because a breathing tube was not discussed during any of my per-op appointments. It was removed about a half hour later but I had to keep oxygen on my through my nose for the rest of the night.

I arrived into my room at about 4p.m. I guess while I was being operated on they found me a bed. It was a shared room, but the girl that was in there with me had her right eye removed at 9 that same morning. It was good to have something in common with her. My sister was there to greet me. She had food, flowers, and a get well soon balloon. I felt great.

Throughout the rest of the evening mainly consisted of eating, sleeping and having my vitals checked. The doctor came in the enxt morning around 8a.m and released me with some medicine for paina nd an antibiotic for the eye and I was shopping later that day. I didn’t find the surgery near as painful as the pain I was having before.

I had a checkup on Tuesday, 4 days post op, where my pressure bandage was removed and I was able to just wear a regular eye patch or wrap around sunglasses. There was very little bruising and the eye didn’t look nearly as bad as i thought it would. I was told not to bend, strain or lift anything over 10lbs which makes it hard to care for my daughter but we have lots of help.

I have another checkup next Wednesday (may 5th) which would be about 18 days post op, i’ll be sure to update then.

I am so amazed at the overwhelming responses I’ve had through email, twitter, facebook, etc about my surgery. All of the wonderful and positive vibes I had sent my way really paid off.

I am currently home and recovering. I got home yesterday afternoon. The drive home was horrible and I am very sore, but doing okay. I am on some Tylenol #3′s with codeine and as long as they are taken on time the pain is very minimal.

I currently have a huge bandage like wrap over my eye, cheek, and forehead which means i am not able to put my reading glasses on. The bandage should be coming off tomorrow so I will work on a more detailed blog about the surgery and recovery so far once I can read well.

I am finding it very hard to stay awake. I am sleeping a lot which passes the time away. I just wanted to pop online here and let ya’ll know how i’m doing. Thanks again for all of the welll wishes and check back for a more detailed blog over the next day or two.

We are leaving to drive to the hospital tonight as it is a few hours away, my surgery will take place around 10:30a.m. I have to be there two hours early, and I cannot eat 12 hour before that. I am a food lover, but ti shouldn’t be too hard as I’ll be asleep for most of the day.

The doctor said my surgery can take 1-2hrs and that I’d be in the recovery room for the same amount of time. So, if all goes like they say it will (which im keeping my fingers crossed for) I should be out of recovery and into my room by 3p.m at which point I will try my best to update my twitter or this website.

Obviously I’m going to be groggy and maybe sore, so if there’s no updates don’t panic. haha. Im sure things will be okay. I am actually having quite the positive attitude about it now. The pain in that eye has been so bad the past few days that I couldn’t imagine it getting any worse.

Anyways, we are leaving in a few hours and I’m still not showered or completely packed. I also want to be able to spend time with my daughter before we go. I’m going to miss her so much. I should be back on Sunday though!

P.S: Didn’t get the pictures up but I have them, so before surgery, during recovery and after recovery pictures will be coming soon. Promise.

One thing I have stated over and voer again was how I want to add before and after pictures / videos of myself and my eyes. I can’t help but feel a little anxious about putting myself out there like that for all to see. What I am hoping for is some positive feedback as well as to help other people cope with the loss of an eye or perhaps even having a blind eye.

I am currently in the process of uploading some photos and working on a video. I am trying to bring myself to post them, and I’m sure I will I just want to throw the old saying ‘If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all’ out there.

Watch for a new post soon! (with pictures)

I’ve been reading up alot on my eye surgery and have actually been in contact with a few people that have had the surgery. The most recent person I’ve found was on youtube. He has many videos including, 3 days after surgery, 9 days after surgery, 20 days after surgery, the making of the eye, movement of his new eye and so on.

I thought I would share the link to the videos with you, so click here if you are interested. For those who may have to go through this it may be something that will help you cope with what is to come. The videos really helped me & have inspired me to keep track with videos, pictures and blogging. I hope you enjoy.

I had a checkup with my optometrist this morning, everything went well. My pressure was 12 & I was reading at 20/25 scale with my left eye. Obviously my right eye is blind so there is not much to be said on it’s behalf.

She wrote out a prescription for new reading glasses as my vision had changed so I went and ordered them, $375 and two pairs later I left. I can’t wait for them to come in I really like the style on them compared to the ones I have now. The clerk said they should be in within 14 days, I am hoping they are in before my surgery (i will be leaving 14 days from today).

My head has been running a mile a minute about my enucleation. I keep saying I am not worried or scared but then I find myself playing different scenarios over in my head of things that could go wrong. Sometimes I find it hard to just relax and put in out of my head for a while.

My major worry is that the wrong eye would be taken accidentally. Most people sort of laugh when I say this but it truly is a worry. My second worry is what kind of pain I will feel when I wake up & whether or not I will vomit. Every time I’ve been under anaesthesia i have had severe vomiting afterwards. I will be mentioning this in my pre-op visit though. As far as the pain I wonder if it will just hit me out of nowhere, will it gradually come, will it even bother me as much as I am thinking it will? The surgery itself is not really of any concern to me, I am confident in my doctor and that he will do an amazing job.

I am hoping to take some pictures or videos of myself before, during, and after the whole process. I think it would be helpful for anyone else who may have to experience this in the future.