[brawson]

#1060225

My bi-lateral 3 wall OD surgery is Thursday – any advice on post op healing would be appreciated. How long were you out of work? I scheduled a presentation to give to on November 4. Was I too optimistic? How long did others heal? I am nervous about this,,,,,should be sleeping but just can’t.

Barb

[Raspberry]

#1181360

I don’t have any info but just wanted to wish you good luck for the surgery.

[barbra]

#1181361

Hi Barb,

Sorry, I don’t have any advice for you either but I’m sending you my very best wishes that everything goes well and you recover quickly.

Hugs.

Barbra.

[Kimberly]

#1181362

Wishing you all the best!

Hopefully, others who have had OD will check in, but since you have nearly a month before the presentation, I would guess that would be plenty of time for the major healing to take place. Please keep us posted!

[hollygsmith]

#1181363

Hi Barb,
I had bilateral 3 wall OD surgery in May of last year. I spent about a week in bed once I got home from the hospital and needed help with everything. Luckily I don’t remember too much from that first week because of medications. My sister came in from out of town for that first week to help out. I would definitely recommend having someone help you out for that first week. For me personally, it was a slow recovery process. It took a while to regain my strength and energy-probably 5 or 6 weeks. I would say it took a full 6 months for all of the swelling to go down although the majority of it went down in the first couple of months.

This is a major surgery, so remember not to do too much too soon. Use ice packs frequently in those first few days and make sure they send you home with strong pain medications.

Everyone recovers at different rates, so I’m not sure if you will be up to doing your presentation on Nov. 4th. I was very nervous before my surgery as well. I don’t think I slept at all the night before! I’m so glad I did it though. It made a dramatic difference in my appearance. Each of my eyes went back 6mm. It also relieved the pain and pressure I had been experiencing.

I hope everything goes well!

Holly

[snelsen]

#1181364

Hi, I think I wrote A LOT about my OD when I had it. Check the old posts in the search engine for my name. Really a blow by blow description. I had help for full week, and needed it. Sat upright most of the time, really helps with swelling. I found cold washcloth in a ziplock bag much more helpful than any ice pack of any kind…needs to be changed often. Also, just little gauze 2×2’s or 4×4’s directly on my eye, and/or over the dressing. If you stay upright, you will have MUCh less swelling. Swelling means pain. I put lots of blankets and pillows UNDER my mattress, so head of bed was about 45 degrees at least. Of course, got lousy sleep.

I agree with Holly. It might be difficult for you to present on Nov 4. That is about 17 days post op. But it is possible, especially if you don’t have to do lots and lots of prep to prepare. Hard to easel see after OD for at least a week, maybe more. There is no way I could have shopped, prepared meals, and bending over is a bad idea, anything that puts pressure on the eye.
How long is our presentation?

Best of the best to you. I had very little pain with an OD, and took only one pain pill to see what it was like. I think it is because I sacrificed sleep and comfort to remain upright. Not a lot energy for about a month.
Shirley
I wish the best of all things for Thursday.
Shirley

[gatorgirly]

#1181365

My bilateral two-wall and fat decompression was one year ago. I returned to work part-time (half days) after two weeks, and full-time after three weeks. I would not have wanted to give a presentation during that third week, however. I was still pretty bruised and swollen, and I was still very tired and not myself. I also did not have full range of eye motion yet – it hurt to look extreme right or extreme left, so I was turning my head to accommodate. I looked silly when I did this.

I did everything Shirley recommended in my recovery – pillows under my mattress, elevated the head of my bed frame with wood blocks, used ice packs designed for my eyes that the hospital gave me, used a neti-pot twice a day (mine was partially done endonasally so I had a lot of “junk” in my nose for a few weeks). Unlike Shirley, however, I was in a LOT of pain. I was miserable and cried a lot, but slept about 18 hours a day for the first two weeks. I don’t tolerate anesthesia well though, and was quite sick.

I blogged extensively about the surgery and recovery. Let me know if you want the link – just PM me.

Good luck! Everyone was amazed with the results from my OD and I’m sure you will have the same experience.

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