[Kimberly]

#1017963

Hi All – Am posting this for another member who is scheduled for decompression surgery, but is having issues with the bulletin board…

Thanks!
Kimberly

"My pre-op is tomorrow and I will ask all my questions then — what should I be asking and what should I be concerned about with this surgery? it will be done under a general, same day surgery. Thank you so much."

[snelsen]

#1061869

I hope this is not too late for your appt. I am putting my answers and experiences after the question, then you can match it with what you hear and/or forgot to ask.
1. How long do I need someone with me?
I had a friend with me for 4 days. Helpful because she changed the cold packs, did all the cooking. We went out for Thai food the day after surgery.
2. Can I go for a walk the day after surgery if I feel like it?
I felt good, so we walked around the block. I was more than ready to get back in bed.
3. Can I see with my eye right away? Can I read?
u]Because of all the lubricant, and because I had cold on my eye a lot of the time, reading was hard for those two reason. But c[ould easily check my email, and I wrote about my OD before and after. Use the search engine to see what I wrote.[/u]
4. How long do I elevate the head of my bed?i]
It is my experience that pillows do not work at all. If your head is elevated, the swelling is minimal. IF you don’t it can be pretty signifi[cant.[/i]
5. Will it be apparent right away that my eye is not as bulging?
I could tell immediately, and my vision was better immediately. It kept getting better as the swelling went down
6. How long do I want for the final result and all healing to happen?
They said 2-3 months, but I was pretty much "better" and not thinking of myself in recovery mode at 6 weeks.
7. What should I call you about?
Decreased vision that is not because of swelling and ointment, or anything that you want checked out because you don’t know. And bleeding.
8. Is it very painful?
It was uncomfortable for a few days, but I did not take anything for pain. The minute I did not elevate my head, or stopped putting cold compresses on, the swelling increased, and then it did hurt more.
9. Can i eat anything I want the day of surgery?
10. How important is it to elevate the head of the bed?
In my opinion, it is super, super, important. It kept the swelling down,thus I was much more comfortable, and also I could see a lot better. SUGGESTION-I put pillows, many of them, and foam rubber stuff I had, UNDER the mattress, between the box springs and mattress, therefore raising head of bed to about 45 degrees, all the way across the bed. Get this ready before the surgery and sleep that way for a few nights. Definitely not the best sleep you will ever have, but then you do know what it will be like.

Do write, hope you get this before your appt.

[snelsen]

#1061870

I think I forgot to answer #9. I ate a big meal that night, and never restricted eating.
Shirely

[sutan351]

#1061871

I will also add a few comments that may help you (or others) considering Decompression.

Shirley and I’ve had similar surgeries, but with different results. Another Confirmation that Graves and especially TED can take a uniques course for everyone.

I had a Great Deal of pain – mostly after the first 24 hours. I guess after the anesthesia really wore off! Best way to describe (for me) was like getting hit by a baseball bat (not to scare you….because I would do it that surgery again, but ask a few different questions). BUT after two weeks, the pain subsided. I did use my pain meds, and never let too much time pass in those first few days, but did ween off.

I would also ask about the presence of an ENT. I developed a Sinus Infection on my R. Eye that brought little bumps to my Orbital Rim and outer Eye Area. Turns out, 6 months after Decompression I was diagnosed with Sinusitis. As a result I had an Orbital Mass that also was removed from my lower Orbital Rim (after the OD Surgery). This surgery may have been avoided with the right antibiotics. As a result my lower lid rim is lower on my R. Eye.

You may also want to ask about how far they anticipate going to reduce the the bulging of your eye. In the end mine was only about 2mm for each eye. I did have big eyes before and have less protrusion, but still have some. More noticeable now, since I haven’t yet had any cosmetic work.

Best of Luck to you and plan on laying low for a few days! My recovery was a good two weeks.

Sandy

So…always, always – ask A Lot of ??? Make sure you have clear sinus as well and if possible have an ENT present or a Cat Scan prior to the surgery.

[sparerib]

#1061872

Thank you a million million times for this information. I got it before the surgery because they postponed it until the 18th so I am today trying to cover all my bases.

I am right now going to put stuff under my mattress. I had been looking for an adjustable bed for a while but never got around to it and that was for another reason. I shoulda but didn’t. This tip is wonderful. I will be a good icer and am planning to keep frozen peas and chestnuts (they really fit well into the eye area) in a cooler in my bedroom so I do not even have to go downstairs.

snelsen wrote:I hope this is not too late for your appt. I am putting my answers and experiences after the question, then you can match it with what you hear and/or forgot to ask.
1. How long do I need someone with me?
I had a friend with me for 4 days. Helpful because she changed the cold packs, did all the cooking. We went out for Thai food the day after surgery.
2. Can I go for a walk the day after surgery if I feel like it?
I felt good, so we walked around the block. I was more than ready to get back in bed.
3. Can I see with my eye right away? Can I read?
u]Because of all the lubricant, and because I had cold on my eye a lot of the time, reading was hard for those two reason. But c[ould easily check my email, and I wrote about my OD before and after. Use the search engine to see what I wrote.[/u]
4. How long do I elevate the head of my bed?i]
It is my experience that pillows do not work at all. If your head is elevated, the swelling is minimal. IF you don’t it can be pretty signifi[cant.[/i]
5. Will it be apparent right away that my eye is not as bulging?
I could tell immediately, and my vision was better immediately. It kept getting better as the swelling went down
6. How long do I want for the final result and all healing to happen?
They said 2-3 months, but I was pretty much "better" and not thinking of myself in recovery mode at 6 weeks.
7. What should I call you about?
Decreased vision that is not because of swelling and ointment, or anything that you want checked out because you don’t know. And bleeding.
8. Is it very painful?
It was uncomfortable for a few days, but I did not take anything for pain. The minute I did not elevate my head, or stopped putting cold compresses on, the swelling increased, and then it did hurt more.
9. Can i eat anything I want the day of surgery?
10. How important is it to elevate the head of the bed?
In my opinion, it is super, super, important. It kept the swelling down,thus I was much more comfortable, and also I could see a lot better. SUGGESTION-I put pillows, many of them, and foam rubber stuff I had, UNDER the mattress, between the box springs and mattress, therefore raising head of bed to about 45 degrees, all the way across the bed. Get this ready before the surgery and sleep that way for a few nights. Definitely not the best sleep you will ever have, but then you do know what it will be like.

Do write, hope you get this before your appt.

[sparerib]

#1061873

This is sparerib (Lauraine) again. I think S. is the person I sat next to at the banquet. From Seattle. If that is you, I have been tearing up the house looking for your number. I have all my notes, etc, but your number somehow got misplaced–if this is you.
The neighbor came and put pillows under the mattress and there is at least45 degrees of elevation. I know it will be hard to sleep cause I once tried a wedge and threw it out. But if push comes to shove, I will sleep sitting up as I did after stomach surgery. So again, thank you for the tip.

As for the pain, I use hydrocodone for other pain, so I have it in the house and do not know what he will offer. I DID have a CT scan at the doc’s request and he looked at it last week. I did not know to ask about an ENT. I have never had a sinus infection but I will take some nosedrops before the surgery if he says it is ok. That will keep the sinuses clear. I do not know the mm he plans to decompress as I did not know to ask that. Actually, I was so stunned when he said it was time, as I thought my eye had gotten worse, that I lost my composure. I did take a question list to the pre-op but did not have your great posts at that time, so maybe I can ask this right before the surgery.

Were yours done under general anesthesia? Were you hospitalized? This is same day surgery and I have a 65 mile drive to get home. I will not be driving, of course. I have a very round and long sun visor as we will be driving into the sun going west and the photophobia has been very difficult for me but I can lie down in the back of the car if need be.

Is light sensitivity a problem during recovery? Once recovered does the light sensitivity get better?

[snelsen]

#1061874

Quick reply, am on my way to bed. Yep, we met in San Diego. Same situation with me! Re contacting you. I had a general, went home same day, was home by noon. I think the rest of my stuff is in my post which was too late to be useful at the preop appt. I had no idea of how many mm. he intended to do. The goal was to relieve pressure on my optic nerve. My photophobia was not worse after surgery, not did it get worse. I just had it, and I still have it. All for now, tired!
Shirley

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