Well, I finally did it! For several years I had said I wanted to do it for my 30th birthday, but that came and went last June without me acting. I finally decided to get it done! I went in for my initial exam in November and scheduled for January so that we can use flex spending. Jessica and Jon babysat for us and then my friend, Dori, with her son Matthew after that, thanks so much everyone!
We got there super early so we went nearby area to walk around. Isn't this just so sweet?
I don't have a "before" picture, but I really look the same. However I thought that you all might find this amusing:
These are the goggles that I slept in last night! This morning I went to my first post op appointment and was told I already have 20/20 vision and it should improve even more within the next few days.
If want to hear details, keep reading, if not STOP here!
Final warning....
I went in at 3:00 pm for my surgery. I signed in, then waited. Filled out paperwork, then waited. Paid for the procedure, then waited (see a pattern?). While I waited I texted a few friends to complain about the wait--I wanted to get it done, of course, and play a couple of games on my phone. Then they double checked the prescription on my eyes, then waited some more. Went and took a 1/2 mg of Xanax and sat down on their nice chaise lounge. They explained the after care procedures and gave me a little kit with the instructions written down, the goggles I slept in, sunglasses, and artificial tears. Then I waited. I ate a snack from the nearby basket. I texted a couple of people on the phone. There were three chaise lounge chairs of people waiting, all full, so I had to wait for the two people in front of me to get the procedure done. Then just a few minutes before my procedure when both the people who had been before me were done, my sister, Chris, came! Just in time to be a support, thanks! When it was my turn I went in and was told to take off my glasses. I was given numbing drops and the doctor performing the procedure, Dr. Tran, looked at my eyes using a machine that shined lights in. Then I was taken to the table where the procedure would be performed. I laid down and they taped shut one eye and taped open the other one. Then something else that looked clear to me came down over my eye. Philip told me later that some tong looking things were used to hold my eye in place, but it was hard to tell so up close. Then the scariest part of the whole procedure came, when they made the flap in my eye that they opened like a door. I was told that I would feel some pressure, but I swear I felt more than that! It was slightly painful, I thought and everything went black. Talk about crazy. I briefly considered telling them that I only wanted to do one eye for now, but decided against it. I just wanted it done!!! Then he pulled back the flap and I had to look at a green light while the lasers did their thing. I could smell burning--it wasn't so pleasant... then they put the flap back in place--they irrigated and wiped my eye as needed. Then they taped the done eye closed and I went through it all again. Philip watched the whole procedure and by the end was white a ghost--or so I they said, even the staff was asking if he was okay. Chris told him that they didn't used to have chairs for people watching the procedure and they used to hear the occasional thunk from people fainting in the hallway!
When I got up from the operating table everything was so blurry! Someone had told me that they could see perfectly after getting it done, so it was sort of disconcerting, but Chris said it was normal. The biggest thing was all of the lights had bad HALOS! Thanks for coming, Chris, and answering all of my questions! I took another Xanax before leaving and they sent me home with one as well to take when I was ready to go to sleep.
I had been instructed to keep my eyes closed as much as I could for the remainder of the day and all through the night. On the way home, even though it was dark I kept on the sunglasses they gave me and for 99% of the ride home I had my eyes shut, which I had thought would be annoying since it is a 20 minute car ride with NO traffic, and we were leaving during rush hour.
When we got home, I ate some and talked very briefly and got ready for bed. I went to bed before the kids did! My eyes were hurting and every time I sort of opened my eyes I had tears coming out. About an hour into my sleep (Philip said) was when I woke up and my eyes had teared so much I had tears in my ears! At that point I groggily made my way to the bathroom for a towel to dry my face and ears. Then I was still so uncomfortable that I finally called Philip for a some ibuprofen. Then I was able to sleep the rest of the night.
In the morning I could see! I did three different kids of eye drops and I drove myself to my 7:00 am appointment! Philip stayed with the kids while I hurried off. I got there SO early! I was told that my vision was 20/20 already, even though it was noticeably harder to see the chart with my left eye. I didn't think too much of it at the time, but it seemed to get more noticeable throughout the week--or perhaps I was just focusing on it more. I did my three types of eye drops 4x a day for a week with the occasional artificial tears--it took away the feeling that there was a hair in my eye. The first few days were SO frequently with the tears, but I tapered off the past few days. It has been SO weird not having to "take out my contacts" I caught myself saying that on more than one occasion those first few nights.
Today I went to another follow up appointment and I think my left eye was worse than before. I questioned them about it and was told I have a dry spot in that eye which is distorting my vision. So I was given a thicker drop to use 4x a day for that eye! Hopefully I can keep it lubed up enough so that clearer vision will come! I have another follow up appointment next week to check on that problem spot. Hopefully we can take care of it before it causes any real problems!!!! Wish me luck!
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