[snelsen]

#1018746

I will have an orbital decompression on my left eye 2/2/10. Although my eye bulges just a little bit, it is getting crowded in the orbit because of orbital fat and enlarged muscles. The eye surgeon will do the lateral wall, an ENT surgeon will do the medial wall. This is being done because my visual fields are decreased and my left eye is a little blurry. So there is pressure on the optic nerve.
I am very apprehensive @ the surgery, and very interested in learning from people who have had an OD. Of course I understand that everyone’s experience is different.
I live alone, and would like hear some thoughts about when I can be independent and manage all activities of daily living by myself. I do have a friend coming from Texas (I live in Seattle) to be with me for a few days. I did hear from Marpo, who was on this site a while ago. She does not live alone, though. I think I would feel less worried if I had some idea about how long I would need help after the surgery, and what kind of help I would need.
I really appreciate the site, so so glad I found it.

[npatterson]

#1066848

I have had decompression surgery. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. In other surgeries, I have been alone, so I will give you the hints I figured out for that.

1. Get two 4 X 4 blocks of wood about a foot long. These will go under the head of your bed to elevate it. This is better than trying to elevate your head on pillows. The idea is to get a good flow of blood, and that is not accomplished as well with pillows. We are usually bent too much at the hips.

2. Do not sleep in, or on satin–you will slide down the bed!

3. Get several good ice packs and keep them in the freezer. My orders have always been 72 hours with ice packs. Yours may differ. They keep the swelling at a minimum, as well as help greatly with the pain.

4. Speaking of pain, there is less than you would think. I need the good stuff" for no more than a day and a half (MUCH to my surprise). Then Tylenol and ICE PACKS took care of everything.

5. You will not have bandages. Your eyelids are all that you need–plus the ice packs

6. You will probably sleep a lot. That is healing.

7. This is a time for finger foods. Things that you can pick up with your hands. Sandwiches cut in 1/4’s, drinks in bottles or cans or cups with lids (like the insulated ones you get at the hospital) Drink lots of fluids

8. Make sure the floor is absolutely clear of debris. Your depth perception will be off for a while, and you don’t want to be tripping on things, or small animals. Make sure you have some sturdy furniture or walls to steady yourself.

9. Lifting and pulling is out for the next couple of weeks.

10. You will be mostly recovered in about four, maybe five days.

11. The bruising may be alarming for the first week. The longest I ever stayed out of work was two weeks, but that was because I was doing face-to-face therapy, and didn’t want to alarm clients.

That’s all I can think of for now. If you want, e-mail me at "nancyngdf@bellsouth.net".

Take care,

‘

[snelsen]

#1066849

Thanks you, Nancy!!! That is EXACTLY the kind of information I was looking for.
I appreciate it SO MUCH! It makes such a difference to me, and I feel I am operating from a position of strength (knowledge) rather than weakness (the total unknown.) After I have this procedure, I will be available for everyone to profit from my experience. It his the practical stuff that you are never going to hear in a pre-op phone call. I am very grateful for your response.

I feel more confident in telling my friend (who is flying from Texas) that she can plan to stay here a little less than a week. I do have two kids in the area, but during that time period, one will be in China, the other in Bolivia. The other one lives in So. Calif., and happens to be taking her Calif. state boards (MSW) during that week.

[JackieC]

#1066850

I just had orbital decompression on my right eye 6 days ago. I am a 24 year old female. So far so good. It was not a painful as I thought it would be, just uncomfortable. I had a full half face bandage from top to bottom not just an eye patch. I had this on for 5 days to control swelling. I was anxious to see the results. My surgeon had to tighten my lower lid too because it was so stretched out. It looks remarkably better and i cannot believe how my eye is in my head now. I do have facial numbness on my upper right lid right nostrel. I have double vision as well whic..h i am worried about but the doctor said should usually last around 2 weeks. i would suggest getting some books on tape though because for 5 days i couldnt see and could only sleep. Good Luck! I will keep you posted on my recovery

[snelsen]

#1066851

Hi Jackie, thanks for writing. I have double vision when looking straight and up. In my case, I am sure I will have strabismus, or eye muscle surgery. at a later date for the double vision.
I spoke with a man in Chicago who was SO GLAD he had the OD. He had a bit more double vision after the surgery, but it went away in 2-3 weeks, like your doctor said. Books on tape are a great idea. I read all the time. Must feel great to have your eye back in your head! I am looking forward to that. I don’t the other eye needs an OD. I was 24 when I was hyper, but the vision stuff appeared more than four decades later! Glad you can use the computer now, and i look forward to your updates. I think you will really like this site, glad you found it.
ARe you bandages off now?

[JackieC]

#1066852

Snelsen,

It has been 2 full weeks since surgery. I have been back at work for 5 days now. I am AMAZED at how much better i look and feel. My undereye is still a bit swollen. I had all three bones – inside under and outside carved down. I also had the lower lid retraction since my eyelid was so stretched My eye was out 11mm, the average persons is out 3mm. They managed to put it back in 5 mm. It looks like my old self! The pressure i used to feel is gone now too. The double vision is almost gone. It is there when I read small text and that is about it. My doctor said it should be all of the way gone once the rest of the swelling goes away since it has gotten this much better. I did not even really have any bruising, just swelling. As that goes away though my eye has been moving normal again.

I go back for another followup in 3 weeks. I will get my upper lid reatraction done in a few months. I was very nervous about what the outcome would look like since it is your face and all, but I am so happy that I went through with it. I think it is most important to find a surgeon that you are confident with. I was worried my eye would turn etc or not look even but I am so happy with the results. My self confidence is back to where it should be. I avoided being in photos for 2 years and I just turned 25. Now I want to take all sorts of photos with family again.

Hope everyone else has had good results!

[JackieC]

#1066853

I also meant to say that the facial numbenss is still there but has been been going away. My check nose and upper lip have started to feel tingly and itchy so the nerves are coming back. I never used any ice packs. My surgeon wanted to just use the bandage for a few days to push the fat on my eyelid down into the area he created from carving down the bones. I did not use any ice throughout the whole thing. The swelling now really isnt much just directly under the eye.

Good Luck!

[snelsen]

#1066854

My OD is next Tuesday, 2/2. I sure hope they are careful with my cranial nerves! The eye doc will do the lateral wall, an ENT (ear nose throat) will do the medial wall endoscopically.
Thank you again and again for your helpful suggestions listed in your response to my last post about the surgery. I got the blocks for my bed, will have then there the night before my surgery.

For anyone who has had OD, what has been your experience post-op, what length of time elapses until the eye can be evaluated with reliable measurements. It seems that none of my docs know if I am past the active/hot phase. It does not make any difference, for I have to have it because there is pressure on my optic nerve (blurred vision, colors less bright.)

Questions-
1. I am photophobic, wear sunglasses when sun shining, (not a big issue in Seattle right now!)
But I find that there is a glare coming in from the side, and I have to move my hand around to shade the sun so I can see clearly. I am wondering if this will resolve after my eye goes back to where it belongs. I don’t know if I will have the other eye done, corrected vision is good in that eye, and optic nerve seems fine. But maybe they will look very different?

2. I really wanted to print your list of helpful things for post op OD care, but cannot figure out how to do it. I tried copy/paste but that did not work either. I was hoping to get a hard copy with larger print, so easier to read) so I did not have to run to the computer to see it.
Not names, just your wonderful list.

I will keep everyone posted on my progress and post-op course after 2/2! I really am very apprehensive about this surgery.

[snelsen]

#1066855

Jackie, do you plan on having OD on the other eye? How are you doing now? Is the numbness still going away?

[JackieC]

#1066856

No, I will not be getting my other eye done. My right eye was the wacky one. My left eye is pretty normal. There is still swelling at 3 weeks later but it has been goin away day by day. I still have some numbness but that is going to take 2 – 3 months. My vision is back at where is was before I think it is slightly better since the pressure is gone but I don’t go to the regular eye doctor for another 2 months once eveything has healed.

Good luck!!!

[snelsen]

#1066857

Re OD. Did anyone have much nausea? I am trying to get someone to write an RX for soluble ondansetron (Zofran) but there are soooo many gate keepers, I cannot seem to make it happen. It makes so much sense. My OR time is over 3 hours, for there are two surgeons, and from my experience as a post-op recovery nurse, the longer the general, the more likely that nausea and vomiting is a problem. Of course, I don’t want to do that with a new OD where there is a real problem of bleeding postop if there is strain and pressure on the eye. As a last resort, I am calling my son who is an MD, to call the dumb thing in for me so I know I have it if needed. When I talked to the hospital recovery nurses who called, I mentioned it, but was told, "they never do that."

Thanks for your response. Tomorrow is the big day, I am trying to get ready. But the biggest issue now is a clogged toilet, just what i need! Put a new Toto toilet in the basement (finished) to replace the water guzzler. The result is that the first person (a guest) feels terrible, for now the thing is clogged completely. We have used a plunger and a snake, no luck, so I am leaving a key for a drain guy I have never met to come to check it out tomorrow while I am in surgery.

[JackieC]

#1066858

Tell the anastesialogist (sp?) that you get sick after surgery. They can hive you still while you are still under that reduces nausea. I told them I got sick after my hernia surgery and told them so they offered to give me anti nausea stuff while I was still under and I felt so much better this time around. Just be careful with vicodin or whatever pain med they prescribe because if you don’t eat you will feel sick ad you probably know since you are a nurse!!

Good luck tomorrow!!

[Author]

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