Update: Sedative for Eye Procedure?

[beech]

The cataract repair job is now behind me - I trust!

During the pre-op assessment with the Consultant I mentioned I would like a sedative before the procedure, and he happily agreed, so it very obviously wasn’t an unusual request.

About 30 minutes before the op I was given a diazepam to chew up and swallow with water (no horse pill to force down!). Then a nurse sat with me and chatted, distracting me before it was my turn, which was also a great help.

I was pleasantly relaxed without feeling out of control, just a slight awareness of things happening off to the side of me that I couldn’t see, and then it was all over. No urge to cough and the lying flat with a paper shield over my face wasn’t a problem. The sedative effect wore off gently, with a cup of sweetened tea and biscuits, and then I set off in a taxi about a hour later. My eyeball looks like a horror film 😳 but fortunately I can’t see that, and it’ll heal before too long 🤞🎉 2 days later and my sight in that eye is clearing and improving, so I’m very happy.

The other eye will need the cataract sorting in due course, and I’ll definitely be going back to this surgeon again!

Thanks to everyone who replied with suggestions and experiences, buoyed me up and encouraged me when I was feeling wobbly! 🤩🤩🤩

[sassy59]

Glad the op turned out well for you. Good luck next time. Xxxx💖

[Spacecat1]

Glad it all went well. Which hospital was it

[beech in reply to Spacecat1]

It was via Southampton General Hospital. Fortunately they have special equipment to deal with complicated cataracts, but also do the straightforward ones too! The surgeon was Mr Stephen Lash; I was very pleased with his care 👍

[leo60 in reply to beech]

Glad all went well 😊 That's a great name for an eye surgeon 😆 My mother went out with a German eye surgeon for a while, his name was Peter Eisinger!! 😂😂

[beech in reply to leo60]

I rather childishly chuckled to myself over that - I think ‘Eisinger’ falls into that too! 😆

[Greenthorn in reply to beech]

I wouldn't want it done by Dr Blind!

[beech in reply to Greenthorn]

😂😂😂

[Troilus]

Pleased it went well for you beech

[Alberta56]

That's good to hear.

[Greenthorn]

Splendid news!

[janedivney]

That’s wonderful to hear, beech 😊

[Patk1]

I'm glad it went well for u x

[B0xermad]

So pleased for you to have got through the op

[watergazer]

That’s wonder news beech. Glad all went well and your sight is improving cx

[Izb1]

Such good news that all went well for you beech x

[Karenanne61]

That's good to hear. Glad it went well.

[Loopylorre]

So glad everything went well for you, have a great Christmas 🎄🤶😊

[Ern007]

Glad you op went well and over and doen with now. I wen to optition this week and my cateract on good eye has grown, I am under the care of the eye clinic for ARMv and she said when I go, ask if we can referr you. if I am I would not want a sedative as I have some as part of my dailt meds. just lie there and hope if I have to have it done.

[beech in reply to Ern007]

Hopefully that sedative you already have will tide you over should you become anxious. If all runs smoothly, it is only a short time plus pain-free due to the anaesthetic eye drops; I haven’t heard of a single word-of-mouth problem experience that anyone else has encountered. Indeed, the original consultant surgeon hadn’t had such a case for 15 years 🤷‍♀️ just luck of the draw.

I was glad also that the sedative didn’t affect my breathing, another anxiety I was harbouring 🤦‍♀️. All over now!!!

[Ern007 in reply to beech]

Thank's for the post- sedatives and breathing, well I take Lorazapam and no problems, I also take Morphine for spain Pain, no problems either. I doubt they would give me anything else on top. I haveas they to get permission from eye clinic for my optition to reffer, that's not cut and dried as they have never seen it as a problem like my ARMD ,

[jackdup]

the anticipation is almost always worse than the actual procedure. I: glad it all went well and hopefully puts your mind at ease for the other one.

[beech in reply to jackdup]

Absolutely right! I’d got myself into a tizzy, quite alien for me. The last time had been for a GA for a gallbladder removal op. I think the joys of lung issues do mean I worry about procedures that might affect my lungs, breathing or give rise to possible infections. Yet again on that occasion, absolutely no problems during or after 🤷‍♀️. That’ll do me 👍😂

[Mavary]

I wish I’d gone for a sedative. I was really scared when I had mine done. They wouldn’t let me go home until my blood pressure went down enough.