My cataract surgery experience
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My surgery went well. My dr now uses a Halcion pill rather than an IV ( twilight sleep). He says it’s safer and you can be released sooner.
I was on the border of 1 or 2 pills ( dependent on body weight and tolerance- I have a glass of wine about 4-5 days a week) and decided on one. Next time I may do 1 1/2 or 2 , though if I have 2 I will have to have someone drive me to the post op appt 24 hrs later!
I didn’t feel it affected me at all. I found myself tensing up ( like at the dentist) and having to consciously take deep breaths and relax my muscles.
Three or four times I felt a tiny amount of pain. I hadn’t expected that and worried it might get worse and what if I’d jump and he had a scalpel in there.
After , the nurse told me that’s normal as long as what I felt was tolerable and it was.
He inserted a non- prescription contact for a day to help healing because the numbing drops can degrade the eye and cause corneal abrasions
I didn’t wake up the next day with great vision like my husband had after his surgery. The dr said it can take 7-10 days. I wondered if it was because I had waited 2 1/2 years to have the surgery and the dr said it was dense and a bit tough to remove.
2 likes, 26 replies
at201 susan44499
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One does not have to take any pill or be on IV for cataract surgery unless it is one's own choice. I did not take or was on any one of these. There is no pain. So, all these measures are to just relax you. I was very happy to be completely aware of what was going on during the cataract surgery.
susan44499 at201
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I do know some people have no meds at all - no sedation by IV or tablet, just the numbing eye drops.
Some drs do an anesthetic injection in the lower lid.
So you felt no pain but I did have a little, but very tolerable like I said. And the nurse wasn’t surprised when I told her that afterwards.
jantje32476 at201
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@at201 ~ I read from the pre-surgery brochure that rarely one needs anesthesia, except and including those who can't take instructions. LOL. No, the decision was not mine to make. At the hospital day surgery waiting bay, I noticed that all cataract patients had an IV cannula in the dorsum of the hand. The nurses explained "just in case".
At the start of the surgery, I could barely feel any pain until my eyeball felt like being turned 360 degrees (being ripped) and I must have reacted and that was when I completely lost consciousness.
The eye surgeon had postponed my 2nd cataract surgery, and I in turn had been dragging my feet to get my only good eye done. He has to be a good judge of character, even if he does not know I had a bad car accident before that caused amnesia.
Sue.An jantje32476
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susan44499
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derek40125 susan44499
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I'll be the odd one posting on this thread, but I love IV sedation. I've had several procedures done over the years so I've had my share of IV sedation and I totally see how people can easily become addicted to this class of drugs.
The laser portion of my surgery was done with only eye drops. I was OK keeping still for 40-60 seconds but I don't think I could have done that much longer, certainly not long enough for the surgery itself. Maybe if the pills were really strong I could do it but it's just so easy with the IV sedation, they do the injection, you have a few seconds of bliss, a few swirls of color and light and then you walk and drink juice and eat crackers.
susan44499 derek40125
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susan44499
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derek40125 susan44499
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Make sure that the combination of drugs and amounts are documented in your medical records. If you need sedation again in the future make sure to let them know you had nausea and vomiting during prior procedures
I've had several surgeries and other procedures due to prior injuries (and other issues) and I had issues with nausea and vomiting too but over the years they've looked at my history and adjusted everything and I haven't had problems in many years.
susan44499 derek40125
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I figured I’d just tell them and they’d give me anti nausea meds ahead of time.
Sue.An susan44499
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me87015 susan44499
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jantje32476 susan44499
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After the cataract surgery. at the eye surgeon's clinic his technician inserted a contact lens (bandage) on my operated eye.
susan44499
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britkennels susan44499
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Could you please tell us how you're now doing? I see that this is 15 days old. My doc is going to use the IV and if I had the option, I'd tell her to knock my ass out (sry) because of the yellow stripe down my back. I'm sorry to hear that your doc used a pill. I think having an IV is better because it can be controlled (more meds added, if needed).
Night-Hawk britkennels
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My surgeon used an IV just to keep you calm, but I think I fell asleep just after he was starting the surgery. The next thing I experienced he was saying "its all done"
susan44499 britkennels
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I'm doing well. My husband had an IV (different doctor) and he remembers less than I do.