Having cataract surgery for this feel uncomfortable and a bit dizzy lying flat anyone know if your head can be elevated a little. Also concerned about the surgery itself. What can be seen during the procedure and where do you put your mind /thoughts as you can't distract yourself
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Hi it's totally natural to be concerned about surgery,I had both eyes done 18 months ago about 6 weeks apart and the terror I felt prior to operations was totally unfounded. I can't answer your question about whether head can be elevated or not but as for what you can see ,the answer is nothing apart from a bright light. The consultant puts a gauze drape over your face and there's a bright light above your head and I had to stare straight ahead at it.
The operation itself was over in roughly 5 to 10 mins and although you know your eye is being worked on there is no pain. I just lay and distracted myself with thoughts of my partner, son and dog and places we like to go, I also did my yoga breathing to calm myself. I guess you try to think about things that make you happy and take yourself away from the surgery itself.
My eye was blurry for about an hour afterwards and then I could see clearly. You are given a plastic shield to wear during the first day and night and then just at night for following couple of weeks. Antibiotic and steroid eye drops have to be taken, in my case 4 times daily and you can't bend over or lift anything heavy also for 4 weeks.
I hope this helps and good luck with your op. I think our brains are actually very good at taking ourselves from places we don't want to be in the actual moment.
Thank you so much for your reply. Like you I need both eyes doing too. I am used to distracting myself with crafting to take my mind elsewhere. I like the sound of the yoga breathing though. The diamox I am taking has depleted my potassium levels so I am trying to get that sorted at the mo. Perhaps I will feel more comfortable when I feel better in myself. Thanks again for the tips, kindness and reassurance.
So you have more to contend with than just your eyes at the moment, one thing at a time is more enough health wise to be dealing with. I do hope you start to feel better soon and get your potassium levels sorted out.Distracting yourself with thoughts of new crafting projects whilst having your surgery is a good idea.
Any other questions you may have I am more than happy to try and answer.
Thank you, it helps to talk with some one else. Seem to have lots of side effects from diamox and trying to find out if I could split doses and spread them out more during the day to hopefully ease side effects but pharmacy or Dr not open today so had to take full dose again. Also had covid vaccine last week. It seems impossible to work out which side effects belong to what.
I agree talking definitely does help as keeping things to yourself always seems to make it worse in your head. It's unfortunate your pharmacy is not open today, our little village one is open Saturday mornings which is great and they are always so helpful with advice. Definitely give your Dr a call on Monday and see what he says about your side effects, splitting your doses does seem logical but possibly not the right thing to do.
As you said some of side effects could be from vaccine, some of my friends have had none and others have felt nauseous, exhausted and feverish. One bizarrely even had a metallic taste in her mouth.
Fingers crossed when your reaction to vaccine goes you will feel at least a little better. Feeling poorly physically also affects your mood mentally unfortunately.
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