Having Eye Surgery.. second eye done & update

[Laura's Babies]

Over the last 3 years, I have had a decline in my vision to the point that I have had to get new glasses about every 6 months. They would work when I first got them, then after about 2 months I would have problems again. I have been SO frustrated with the doctors NOT paying attention to that and my eyes have gotten worse and worse to the point that my eyes hurt all the time and I can hardly see to drive anymore. I see better without my glasses than I do with them now for far away things. The last 2 months have been totally miserable because of this.

Soon as I got off this time, I called my eye doctor back (just saw her 2 months ago and told her all that and it was like she didn't hear a word I said) This time I said "SOMETHING is WRONG and we got to FIX it or I am going to loose my job and have to quit driving!"..

She referred me to the surgeon and I saw him yesterday. It is time to remove my cataracts! YES! No more glasses afterwards except for reading. We are doing one eye on the 14th and the other on the 22nd... and get this, they said I can go to work the next day! Cataract surgery has been so fine tuned that it isn't the big deal it use to be. I just have to wear a clear protective shield the first 48 hours afterwards, not bend over or pick up more than 20 pounds for several weeks... Don't know what the company would say about that...? So far, my dispatcher has not returned my call. (Crew change is on the 22nd..)

I am SO excited about finally getting something done and getting this problem fixed that I was jumping for joy when he said "lets do surgery and fix this"!

I am just getting SO outdone with doctors that don't listen and brush you off so easy, requiring you to set up another appointment to handle something else other than what you are there for that day. I keep finding that kind of doctor everywhere I go!

I had to take a company physical Monday, a very detailed physical that included a eye exam and I only passed it by the seat of my pants. Actually I should have failed it. (The examiner knew I had that appointment with the surgeon yesterday and that is why she passed me).

Just wish me luck that all this goes according to plan!

[Grace]

No personal experience, but several friends who have this surgery.

It's just as easy as you were told. Mary Ann had it done in February, and she felt well enough to drive home from the hospital. Of course, she didn't, but was driving again the next day. The no bending over is important. I hope your job lets you take an extra week off - to fully mend.

Keeping you in my prayers.

[lvpets2002]

Wishing All the Best of your Surgery going Well.. Sending Prayers & Huggss..

[pomtzu]

Yay!! Congratulations!!! You are going to love it!!!

I had mine done last year - one at the end of May and the other 3 weeks later. It was done at an outpatient surgery center, and I wasn't even in there for much over an hour from the time of check-in until I left.

I had worn glasses from the time I was 9 years old - and I'll be 65 next week and just love not having to wear them anymore! I need them for reading only, and those you can just buy over the counter and don't have to worry about an expensive prescription pair.

Believe it or not, it took me a while to get used to not having to wear glasses, and found myself hunting for my glasses that I thought I misplaced!

[phesina]

Oh, best wishes with the cataract surgery, Laura. I hope that clears up the vision problems as well as others are saying their surgery has.

[beeniesmom]

Good luck with the surgery.
I know it scary but the results will be SO worth it.

[Daisy and Delilah]

I'm so glad to hear you're finally getting this problem resolved, Laura. Good for you!! Best wishes with the surgery. My Mom had both eyes done and she sees like a kid. You'll be very happy with it.

You are so right about doctors these days. I am also tired of leaving the offices, shaking my head. It's very tiresome to get home and try to figure out what they did , or didn't do, while you were there. I wish there was something we could all do about it. It's a huge problem from everybody I talk to. To have to make an appoinment, pay a co-payment, pay for the gas it takes to get there, etc etc, just to get brushed off.......I'm so over it.

[Medusa]

I'm glad, too, that you're having the surgery done, Laura. I just had my license renewed and, of course, took the eye exam and I don't know why she passed me. I could hardly read a thing. I do wear distance glasses so I'll wear them from now on when I drive. It's awful not being able to see well. Good for you, girl. It'll be so wonderful for you.

[Laura's Babies]

Pomtzu, I am already having the problem with not wearing them now. I see better without them and take them off, next thing I know I am reaching for them again and putting them back on! They are on and off every 3 minutes. I too, have wore them most of my life. I think getting use to not having them is going to be a big problem for me too.

I was real tempted to get those new implanted lens that have the far away and close up vision and not have to wear any glasses but they are $2000 EACH and insurance don't cover those.. LOL! I asked if I could get one this year and come back next year and get the other one but she said it confuses the brain to much... my brain is confused enough without adding to it.

I can't wait. They said this has happened slowly over the years so I do not realize the colors and things I am missing. Since this will happen and will be cleared up so fast, I will be amazed at what I have missed, especially with colors. This has me more excited than Christmas and the idea of the pain being gone (from eye strain) has me ecstatic!

Thank all of you for your well wishes! I can use all of them I can get.

[K9karen]

Geez! How could they miss cataracts?? I'm so happy you finally got to the problem! Yep, it'll be a piece of cake. They do wonders these days. You're right about lifting and bending. Unfortunately, when my mom had her 2nd cataract surgery, she felt so good, she must have bent down and it caused such a huge problem that she was legally blind in her eye. Nothing they could do. Oops.

I'm waiting until they perfect laser surgery to correct severe astigmatism because I'm not eleigble for lasic surgery.

I know you'll be so thrilled! I'll be thinking of you! Get yourself a well deserved high tech sports car so you can drive to your heart's content!!!!!

[Laura's Babies]

K9karen- They knew I had craracts but for some reason couldn't/didn't assosciate the problem I've been having with them. They've told me every year time I go and got checked "yep, they are getting worse".... end of story...

[krazyaboutkatz]

Good luck with your surgery. I hope that everything will go well.

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

GOOD LUCK Laura!!!

[Barbara]

I am interested to hear how it goes because cataract surgery is in the future for me as well. My eye doctor says in his opinion it happens to everyone- just at a different age. And some die earlier He says the earliest he has seen are under 40. Right now all is fine and it progresses slowly (I wear the same strength of glasses now for 7 or 8 years- that was when I got the ones with - how do you say- sliding vision )I am sure that's NOT how to say it).
As I am scared by hospitals I wish you all the best. I am sure they know what they are doing though.

[Laura's Babies]

Barbara- This will be done in the doctors surgery center at his office.. No hospital involved.. I too, hate hospitals. Plus, the word "surgery" of any kind scares me to death but I am jumping for joy over this because of how bad my vision is and the pain of the eye strain that I have lived with for the last 2 months.

Just got off the phone with the company.. I can't go back to work until there are NO restrictions. DRATS! I would rather work than be on short term disability ANY day! I understand how hard it is to get someone off the boat if there were a problem but I LOVE my job!