[gatorgirly]

#1060061

It’s been a while since I’ve posted. To be honest, I’ve been incredibly busy and haven’t had much time to think about Graves’ or my eyes. My thyroid levels have been stable on Synthroid since February, the longest period of stability since I started Synthroid in August 2011. My cholesterol is slowing coming down with the help of niacin. And my eyes have been stable and feeling great since my bilateral orbital decompression in September 2012.

I went to my oculofacial surgeon yesterday to see if I was ready for the upper eyelid lowering surgery yet, and I am!

The snafu is that I accepted a new position at a hospital in Boston and I start in mid-July. Boston is 90 minutes from where I am now, and my new insurance won’t cover my surgeon here. So my surgeon’s office was able to squeeze me in on Tuesday, July 2.

From what he and his surgical coordinator tell me, the eyelid surgery is much less invasive than the OD. It’s still done in the hospital under general anesthesia, but it only takes an hour and the recovery is much easier than the OD was (I was knocked off my feet for a full two weeks). However, he said due to my fair skin, I’m going to look bruised and battered for 2-3 weeks, like I was after the OD. Which means I’ll be starting my new job with some explaining to do. And the bridal shower I’m hosting on July 6…yikes!

This is the final step in putting Graves’ and TED behind me, so although the timing isn’t ideal, it’s what needs to be done.

I’d love to hear about others’ experience with upper eyelid lowering surgery (I don’t even know the medical term for this, I’ve read mullerectomy?). I’m really really REALLY hopeful that I’m feeling fine by Saturday so I can throw my best friend the most amazing bridal shower ever.

[hollygsmith]

#1180040

Hi! Congratulations on your new job!

In my experience, eyelid retraction repair recovery was a piece of cake compared to OD recovery. I only had light sedation and local anesthetic during the procedure because they needed me to be able to sit up and open my eyes to help them gauge the correct height of the lids. 30 minutes after the procedure I was completely coherent and able to walk out of the hospital. I had some mild pain that day, but by the next day was completely pain free and able to pretty much go about my normal routine-Of course with big dark glasses on when I left the house! If I remember correctly there was no bending below the waist or lifting anything heavy for the first week. I was using ice packs frequently and the majority of the swelling and bruising went away in 4 or 5 days. I would say it took a full 10 days for all of the bruising to diminish. I think you will still be able to throw your friend a fabulous shower, you may just need a little extra make up and to wear glasses depending on the level of bruising you still have.

I’m so glad you will be able to put TED behind you soon! I’m sure everything will go great with your surgery! Let us know.

[snelsen]

#1180041

Hi gatorgirly, so nice to hear from you!

I echo holly’s experience. I did not have a general, was awake the entire time. Just had locals. Minimal bruising, Sutures in eyelids for about 10 days. Super piece of cake. And I have had lower eyelid procedure done twice. I did not have much bruising at all. Exactly the same as holly, I resumed normal life except for bending and putting lots of strain on eyes. Eyelid surgery is NOTHING like an OD. OD big deal, eyelid surgery, I barely noticed. Felt fine.

I always wear dark glass, for photophobia is my baseline forever, unfortunately.
You will do fine.

Congratulations on new job. Will you move to Boston area at some time, or commute?

You will feel fine by Saturday, if your experience is similar to mine.
Shirley

[gatorgirly]

#1180042

Thanks Holly and Shirley. This is exactly what I was hoping to hear!

Shirley, I’m moving to Boston the weekend of July 12 and start the new job on July 15. Commuting from Springfield to Boston would take roughly three hours each way in rush hour…no thanks! Living in Boston has been my dream for a long time so the apartment search has begun

[msled]

#1180043

Hi,

I have had the decompression done as well (2007) and a couple of lid surgeries. I am going to have some more cosmetic surgery done this year (an age thing). The eye lid surgery is not painful at all, it will just look like you were in a fight for about a week (bruises). I was supposed to have surgery next week but cancelled as my thyroid level is too high right now.

Marg

[snelsen]

#1180044

Gatorgirly!
Yay! Seattle was MY dream. And I am here! We both have marvelous cities, with water, sunsets, mountains, and good fish. Although I would LOVE to have a lobster, and they don’t hang out here. But everything else does!
Shirley

[Kimberly]

#1180045

@gatorgirly – So glad that this whole journey will be in your rear-view mirror very soon!

Since you will be working in Boston, you might be interested to know that Mass Eye & Ear hosts a few meetings per year for patients with TED The next one is on September 12th, and I’m sure they would LOVE to have you stop by and share your success story! Here’s the info:

(Note on links: if you click directly on the following link, you will need to use your browser’s “back” button to return to the boards after viewing, or you will have to log back in to the forum. As an alternative, you can right-click the link and open it in a new tab or new window).

http://gdatf.org/groups/boston/

Hope all goes well with the surgery – and the shower!

[gatorgirly]

#1180046

Funny you should mention that Kimberly. I emailed them earlier in the week and they sent me the info about the September meeting. Hopefully by then I’ll have a success story to share and show.

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