10/23 Status report one month post-vitrectomy

Time flies, it will be four weeks tomorrow from when I had the vitrectomy operation to repair my retinal detachment.  I am recovering well, it is slow progress but it is progress!  Taking stock of how I am doing, here is my status report.

Things I can do:

1. Work on computer, read, watch TV, blog ;)
2. DRIVE with an eye patch
3. Walk briskly - good exercise!
4. Weights - I am going slowly on this one, starting at 5-8 lbs when i used to do 15lbs (i have clearance to do 10 lbs)
5. Bowling - doing maximum of 3-4 games, when i used to do 6-7 a night
6. Dancing - slow dances and lessons only, nothing bouncy.  Was back at class at Carousel Ballroom tonight and really enjoyed being back!

Things I cannot do yet:

1. Zumba - I can't jump and do bouncy exercises yet, and I can't do Zumba without bouncing...  I know how to "cheat" and do low impact (option one), but when the music plays, it's hard to avoid doing what I should not do!
2. Running - I'll stick with the brisk walking, and need to remind myself that breaking into a quick jog is NOT allowed!
3. Sit-ups - the doctor specifically called this out as a no-no.  I'm doing slow crunches instead.
4. Driving at night - I can do short distances but am not risking long drives, much too strenuous on the eyes.
5. Fast and bouncy dances - no chachas, jives,  swings, viennese waltzes, sambas and quicksteps for now!
6. Flying - thank goodness i have no flights scheduled this year, no flying for a while here.  And my neon green "eye gas" bracelet is still required in case something happens to me and I need to be MediVac-ed - no can do, ground transport only!
7. Roller Coasters and Sky Diving - not doing it anyway, so there!

The gas bubble is at around 20-30% now, getting smaller, and the distorted vision above the miniscus is quite clear although still out of sync with my good eye.  There are starbursts and other distortions from the gas bubble, which are more annoying at night, but nothing that my rhinestone eye patch can't help.  The driving is getting better now, I am getting used to driving like a pirate (arghh!), but am looking forward to using both eyes eventually.

So overall I am doing well, happier now that I have clearance to bowl and dance again, but taking it easy since I still am recovering.  Still on the slow lane but gearing up for a little bit more speed here.  Getting back to where I was, but pretty happy with the ride, where it has taken me and where I am now.  It's all good, and getting better every day. 

Take care and be well!

10/18 Back in the Game!

I had my three-week post-operation appointment at MidAtlantic Retinal Specialists in Newtown Square today.  Saw Dr. Garg at around 9 am.  Here are the highlights:

• The gas level in my eye is down to around 50% after three weeks.  It may take another month for the gas to completely disappear.  I recall that the gas dissipated to around 60% level after the first week, so the rate of gas dissipation is much slower now, and may actually take longer than one month if current trend continues.
• I am doing really good, healing according to plan.  My left eye actually sees pretty good but there is distortion because of the gas.  I asked  my vision when I look straight up is obscured, and was told that this was because the gas bubble is up against macula.  I was told to still always be watchful for any blurring of my current good vision above the miniscus, and to call them right away if I see any dark shadows and flashing lights.
• I have clearance to lift up to 10 lb weights, to bowl with my 11 lb bowling ball (as long it is not a strain) and to dance, again if not a strain. No jumping up and down allowed yet, but more strenuous activities can be done with care.  The stress was on not to overdo and to watch out if I sense strain in my eyes!
• I am to continue the 2x per day schedule on my prednisolone eye drops for another week, then taper down to one drop per day for another week.  By then I no longer need to wear my bright green bracelet warning folks of the gas in my eye.

So I am back in the game!  I am a happy girl, like a caged animal set free....  I will need to slow down and pace myself, always in moderation, not to strain.  I will be seeing Dr. Regillo in 3 weeks (November 6) for my 6-week post-operation appointment.  Well on my way to recovery here, rocking the eye patch, and ready to slowly ease myself back to the ballroom and the bowling lanes...whoo hoo!

 

10/11/12 Back to work + rhinestone eye patch!

It is day 15 post-vitrectomy and I had my first full day back at work. It was great to see folks face to face.  Overall it was very productive, very busy but it felt good to be back! The ~40 minute drive each way from Downingtown to Fort Washington, PA was the worst part of my day from an eye strain ("pain in the eye"!) perspective. I really needed the eye patch, and so my poor good right eye had to work doubly hard as I drove. Takes some getting used to but I did okey overall. Should be even better tomorrow. I should continue to have a real early start, coz I enjoyed less traffic and got a prime parking space!

The gas bubble is at about 40% right now, the miniscus still annoyingly right in the middle of my field of vision. The bubble is not getting lower in a straight line, rather the sides are getting lower and a circle of gas is floating on the lower part of my field of vision. I can see the whole circle when I look down. My vision right above the miniscus is pretty clear, which is wonderful! I can actually cover my good right eye and watch TV with the bad left eye (and not see the bottom half of the TV as nothing is visible under the miniscus of gas bubble, oh well). I am optimistic about my vision as the bubble dissipates further, the way things look right now. I can't see well with both eyes together though, they are not in sync and so I get double vision:

double vision

+ "underwater" vision

= psychedelic world! 

Too funky, I'm glad it is temporary...

Apart from the usual black floaters, there is a new round black floater (that I need to watch closely) that has appeared right at the edge of the gas bubble miniscus on the left side. It tends to move around as I blink and look around and from left to right, and I just need to make sure it does not grow. It is a little speck right now, but I am suspicious of every black spot in my vision now, as my last "little friend" of a black spot turned out to be a retinal detachment! No more "little friends", no more, no more!

For your enjoyment, I have to share with you the fruits of my search for a sparkly and festive eye patch. Thank goodness for Halloween costumes, Amazon and Paypal: I get instant gratification with a rock star rhinestone eye patch! Love this one coz it has an adjustable chain like a necklace, and so there is no annoying elastic that makes a mark on my face and irritates my ear (hate that). Just got it today so I will test drive it tomorrow, could be blindingly distracting to oncoming traffic, oh well! Rock the eye patch, baby!

Should be early to bed tonight. I will do my brisk daily walk and call it a day, the eyes need a good night's rest... One more work day till the weekend - TGIF, everyone! Be safe and seize the day!

10/9 Poetry for Day 13 Post Vitrectomy

I have been working full-time from home this week, and plan to go to work starting on Thursday, October 11 (two days from now).  It truly is frustrating standing in the sidelines and not being able to do many of the things I already want to do, but I have to be patient to protect my eyesight.  All in due time....

I am sharing some poetry today. Enjoy!

Been thinking of writing some poetry

Ever since I had my vitrectomy

Although it's almost two weeks since my surgery

It's a slow and steady race to my recovery
 

I am healing nicely, just like I should

My vision was saved, my prognosis is good

But my poor battered left eye still can hardly see

For much longer a one-eyed gal I'll have to be

The gas bubble's getting smaller day by day

The miniscus is lower to about midway today

The vision is blurry but at least i can see

And it's getting better very, very slowly

Not quite 100% but I am getting there

For my anxious soul, the long waiting's not fair

While I may compliantly do what I am told

I somehow I feel like my life is on hold

So many things to do and places to be

But I need to slow down and take things easy

There's much I can do but I should not get all wired

I don't want to strain, and my eyes do get tired

 

To want to dance, to bowl, is a heartbreaking yearn

Patience is a lesson hard for me to learn

But the restrictions are a sacrifice I have to make

The risk to my eyesight is one I cannot take

 

I can read, I can work, I can write poetry

I can drive, I can do many things happily

So I'll take my brisk walks, they are good for my soul

Till in due time, when I'm able to once more do it all!

Warm regards to all!

Jing (as in Jingle Bells)

10/4 One-week Post-Op: Stepping on the Brakes

Had my one-week post-op appointment this morning, bright and early.  Papa Joel drove me to the MidAtlanticRetina center in Newtown Square to see Dr. Garg.  I am glad he was able to come with me, as it was an ugly rainy day.  It took about 1.5 hours for us to get done though, so our 8 am appointment lasted till 9:30 am....

So here's the good news:

• Everything looks "perfect", I am healing well and on schedule.
• I still can't see much, but should not worry.  It is healing and will get better.
• Only 60% of gas remains in my eye (which is why the miniscus is near the middle of my field of vision).  I should be seeing most of my field of vision by middle of next week.  Hopefully this also means that what I see will clear up (right now it is VERY blurry) - we shall "see".
• I now am down to one eye drop 3x a day, which tapers down to 2x a day next week and then down to once a day the week after.  Good change as I was doing three meds four times a day before.
• I am cleared to work as much as I feel up to, and can drive as much as I am comfortable doing. 

Here's the bad news: NO EXERCISE except for brisk walking.  So, no dancing, no weight training, no Zumba and, how can i stand it, no bowling.  Not yet, anyway, and at least not for the next two weeks.  My next doctor's appointment is on October 18 (I will get to see Dr. Regillo, who actually performed my vitrectomy).  Hopefully the vision in my left eye will be much improved by then, and I can get clearance for more activities than brisk walking, driving and computer work.

My eyes still do get mighty tired, so the "doing as much as I can" is nowhere near being 100%.  I know I should be patient, time is on my side, but progress is slow and waiting is wearisome business.  I should recognize the precious gift, the sign to slow down, but it is difficult when I feel like I am putting my life on hold....  What a lesson to learn!

Be well, y'all, every day is a gift....

10/3 My Poor, Blind, Lazy Eye

My poor left eye hardly sees anything, but I know it is trying coz, boy, does it get tired and fatigued.  I took a lot of rest time today - taking it easy on my last planned day of leave and easing into work, before I am back full-time at work (remotely).  The non-convergent vision sometimes makes me dizzy, and my eyes (both of them!) get tired easily.  You would think I would be used to my weird vision by now.  I guess I keep hoping to open my eyes to find I magically have clear vision again, which, of course, has yet to come (patience...).

From the picture, you can tell that the left eye is still a bit swollen and appears smaller than my other eye - looks like "lazy eye", although it is really blind which makes it seem lazy!  There is still some pain so I am on Tylenol or Motrin.  There is still a blodshot area under my pupil, so the eye drops continue 4x a day. 

My dear friend Agnes told me that a friend of hers that had the same surgery as me felt like a human "level" - yup, I do to!  The miniscus in my left eye has moved to almost the middle of my field of vision when i look streaight ahead - good progress!  But the vision above it is somewhat blurred and hazy (almost like it has a cataract).  This basically means that I still have very limited vision from my left eye even with the gas bubble dissipating. 

My one-week post-operation doctor's appointment is tomorrow morning, very early (8 am).  Need to sleep early tonight, and wakeup and leave early tomorrow morning to get there in time.  I am looking forward to good news in terms of returning to some of my regular activities (dancing, bowling, weight training and Zumba) in due time, and maybe some answers on why my vision is still blurred on the left eye.  I'll let you in on the news tomorrow.  Be well, everyone!

10/2 Driving like a pirate, argh!

I had mentioned that I drive around with an eye-patch, like a pirate, argh!  So here is my photo with the "pirate gear".  I really need a smaller eye patch.  With "one size fits all" from the pharmacy, I have to be content with covering not just my eye but also most of my face.  You'd think I'd have luck finding a better eye patch at the Halloween costume shops, but the eye patches there are not any smaller, and the "sequined" ones only cover the right eye!  Hopefully I never need it for the other eye.... 

Actually, I think I "see" to drive better without the eye patch.  While the "underwater" vision from the left eye can be a tad distracting to my good right eye, on a rainy day like today, everything just seemed dimmer with only one eye working.  So the eye patch came off.  I am happy to be able to drive short distances, and to be able to "practice" during the day when the traffic is not bad.  I truly need to work myself up to my long commute.  The typical "instantaneous calculus" the brain does when fed photos by both eyes needs recalibration when pictures are only coming from one eye!

I am slowly working up to a full day of working as well.  My eyes were tired after yesterday, and I had only worked a couple of hours!  So I started late today and tried to concentrate on critical stuff only.  I will see how I do tomorrow and what my doctor says on Thursday morning.  I am planning to work full days starting on Thursday but if i am not really up to it, I will need to scale down.  All in good time.... 

The miniscus of my gas bubble has moved even lower today.  It is visible around 1/3 from the top of my field of vision when looking straight ahead.  I am disappointed that my vision above the miniscus (and when I look straight up, which I am not supposed to do so much!) is blurry, I was expecting this to be crystal clear.  I will have to discuss that with my retinal specialist.  I am worried that my vision as the gas dissipates will not be great and that "other" enhancements may be needed for my poor eye to see better.  I pray not, we shall see....  I still see relatively "better" when i look right down under the miniscus of my "underwater" bubble.  This has not changed from before, I can discern things that are within a handspan away from my face in brighter light.

Healing is slow and taking its time.  I will be one-eyed for a while, it seems.  I am happy to SEE and very grateful that my vision was saved.  It is a work in progress, I just have to be patient. 

10/1 Sleeping post-surgery

Sleeping is a big production number for me this first week after vitrectomy.  My eye needs a shield and my head needs to be elevated.  

Who knew positioning an eye shield would be an art form? It needs to be just right so as not to hit any part of my sensitive eye, but still cover it enough so there is no threat of me scratching it while I sleep.  And boy, does it itch!  That means it is healing, so I can't complain....  On my first night, my eye was so swollen I wore the hospital-issue sunglasses to bed instead of the eye shield.  I realized that it did not allow me to sleep on my side, not a good problem to have.  I am glad I could put the eye shield on now: good, restful sleep is priceless.

I also have an arm band that I need to keep on, that warns folks that I have gas in my eye and should not fly.  Nice fashion statement in the neon green, safety first!

I have a cool wedge pillow that has gotten a lot of use this week.  It does a nice job keeping my head elevated without putting a lot of pressure on my back-end.  Regardless, I still look forward to not using it anymore after Wednesday night.

The swelling and redness on my left eye has gone down quite a bit.  There is a bloodshot area under the pupil that is visible when I look up (as I did in my picture in the red sweater), but when i look straight ahead or down, it is not as noticeable.  What I see out of the eye is still distorted, "underwater"-ish, relatively clearer on the bottom and sides but more distorted in the center and in the upper range of my vision.  The miniscus on the upper part of what I see is slowly getting bigger, although the vision above the miniscus is very blurred.  As I was told to expect, my central vision is the most distorted, and I may need to get used to looking at the world sideways from my left eye.  As long as I can still see the world any which way, I can't complain. 

I am easing myself back to work this week, checking my emails and preparing to work from home full days by end of the week.  I am also hoping to drive back to work by October 15 - good target to work up to, I think.  In the meantime, I am taking it easy, as my eyes got tired reading 150 emails.  Wasn't even a full day's work!  Easy does it, gotta take it easy... 

On my way to recovery, it is day 5 after my vitrectomy operation and I am doing fine.  Life is good on the slow lane...