Iridotomy Update .

[Lovemy2woofs]

Hi All.

It went well , though he had some issues with my right eye . I had a bleed , so he had to press on my eyeball that was uncomfortable , most of the zaps were fine , though did feel a few , but after zapping and zapping he stopped and said he couldn’t do it .

He then did my left eye . After that he said he would try right again and might have to change laser. More zapping and finally did it phew! I do have blue eyes too, that are suppose to be easier lol.

I asked him at the end how many zaps he said about 80.

I was fine , pressure took before was 20 in both eyes after it was 16 and 15 , go back in 2 weeks .

He was much nicer than the other guy I saw.

I had no side effects and even popped into Tesco on our way home .

This morning was different though, I woke up blurry and it took 3 hours to clear and have felt tired all day .

I think that more down to the steroid drops I have to put in hourly for 2 days , then every 4 hours for 6 days .

I find them uncomfortable to use at times .

I did wonder if it affected my blood sugar this morning as to how I was feeling as steroids can do that to diabetic , but that was ok.

Feel better now though, just hope I don’t get same again tomorrow morning .

Now hoping it works 🤞🏻 For a long long time , But at least if it has to be repeated I know it’s nothing to fear .

I emphasise with those having to do hourly drops for life, that hour goes fast , feel like I’m forever putting drops in 😬

Thanks for your support on my other thread, much appreciated xx

[Sunshine88888888]

Ah bless you such good news! So pleased it went and pressures are well down. You must be so relieved that it’s done. Have a lovely weekend x

[Lovemy2woofs in reply to Sunshine88888888]

Thank you . They do put Glaucoma drops in before doing the laser so that probably helped too.My eyes are sore though with the steroid , can’t wait to get off that in a week lol .

Have a good weekend too x

[callie77]

Well done. Hope it all goes well and you improve each day. You are so brave! Wish I was the same. Sending hugs

[Lovemy2woofs in reply to callie77]

Thank you.

Irridotomy is nothing to be fearful of , when he first started zapping I felt nothing , just a few times I felt it but it was just a bit of discomfort .If you ever need to have it , don’t worry about it , it’s not painful Callie x

[callie77]

Consultant has said I need to have a trab op but in the meantime has put me on monoprost which I'm finding a struggle. I'm getting headaches dizziness and gritty eyes. Phoned eye clinic today and they said to stop drops if im struggling. Dont know what to do. Im still on cosopt which i can tolerate. Sorry for long rant. X

[Lovemy2woofs in reply to callie77]

You’re not ranting at all.

Not all the drops suit people , and it’s finding the right ones that work best for you .

I was not put on any so can’t comment on what you use personally. I know some fair better if preservative free and also using lubricating drops might help as you might have dry eyes if feeling gritty and headaches ..

Try a warm compress on eyes that might provide you with some relief .

Having a trab is more involved But a few on here have had them , which I’m sure you’ve seen . Natural to feel scared about any pending treatment .

Also if you go onto the Glaucoma UK website it has various podcasts etc... available which a lot now on YouTube, I’ve found some of them interesting and reassuring .

Hope you get sorted soon x

[Hidden in reply to callie77]

Hi Callie that's not good that you are having such horrible side effects with your the monoprost. The grittiness could be due to dry eyes as Lovemy2woofs suggested and lubricating eyedrops may be a help. Was it the actual consultant who suggested you stop using the eye drops if you are struggling ? Usually an alternative would be prescribed . It's a difficult decision for you to make.

Take care x

[callie77 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Witchie thanks for your reply. I'm on lubricating drops already and they do help somewhat. It was a registrar that said to stop them if I couldn't cope with the side effects. I am still taking cosopt. They have tried me on several drops but none seem to be bringing pressures down enough hence trab op. My consultant is away at moment but I have an appointment for 16th Sept. I'm trying to carry on with monoprost in the meantime. Take care x

[Hidden in reply to callie77]

It's awful when the drops just aren't doing their job,I totally empathise with that as it's the same with me. I am fortunate in that I don't have any side effects, but I can understand what a struggle it is to try to carry on taking drops that are making you feel rubbish. The registrar obviously feels that stopping monoprost shouldn't be detrimental between now and your next appointment but I would probably try and carry on too but you know stopping is an option. I know you are worried about your trab but it really isn't that bad at all. Not being on drops is obviously the best thing for you,the same as it is for me. X

[callie77 in reply to Hidden]

Yes I'm petrified of having the trab op and even more terrified that it won't work. Is yours a total success? So scared of medical procedures. Thank you for talking to me x

[Hidden in reply to callie77]

I hate anything medical too Callie, I hate even just going to a see doctor never mind getting anything done but for us we don't have a choice unfortunately. We need to do everything we can and in both our cases that means trabs.My eye pressure so far is stable at 16, I have thick corneas which give a false high reading so actual pressure will be lower. My consultant wanted mine at 14 as he's a very cautious man, which I like but he's decided 16 may be ok. I was very fortunate I only had to take all the post trab drops for 4 weeks and then that was me done but others do have to take them longer. I heal very quickly and that was an issue initially but my consultant showed me how to carry out an occular massage and it was fine. So far a success story and long may it remain that way. I will be scared the day of my next trab as that's natural but I know I can cope with it and it's my best option.

You will manage too and best of all you won't be aware of what's going on and an hour or so later you will wake up and it will all be over .

Anytime you want to talk I'm here. X

[callie77 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Witchie you give me hope. Looks like having the trab op was worth it. I hope your next one will be the same. Thank you for being there for me x

[Wales99 in reply to callie77]

Hi Callie. I had a Trab too because the drops weren’t keeping the pressure down. It was 44 at one point! I’m now 11 weeks post-Trab and last check-up the pressure was down to 10. Like you I was worried it wouldn’t work and at one point post-op (it was very early days) I had a complete melt down convincing myself that it had failed 😂. So far so good and I see the consultant again in December. I honestly think that they don’t/won’t do these procedures unless they are confident they will work. 😊. X

[callie77 in reply to Wales99]

That sounds really hopeful Wales. I think it's because the consultant only gave it a 60-70% chance of working that I'm panicking. I'm a glass half empty kind of a person.Its good that your pressures have come down so low and you don't have to see him in till December. Are both your eyes done? Can't remember if you said x

[Wales99 in reply to callie77]

Awww yes I can be a glass half empty person but I had some counselling & I have to say it helped me enormously. You can always phone the glaucoma UK helpline for reassurance. I only have glaucoma in one eye thank goodness but my sight in that eye isn’t great- my glaucoma wasn’t picked up & I have some optic nerve damage. I pray that I don’t get it in the other eye but at least they are on it now so even if I do get it in the other eye I will get treatment quicker.

[callie77 in reply to Wales99]

Thank you Wales x

[Hidden in reply to callie77]

Having a trab was worth it without a doubt , my eye pressure was never as high as other people on here but I have lost vision and have optic nerve damage nevertheless. I'm hopeful my next one will be the same and I do have complete faith and confidence in my consultant. I was petrified mine wouldn't work initially and felt pretty rubbish for the first ten days and then I was me again and I felt fine about it. X

[callie77 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you witchie x

[Hidden in reply to callie77]

It's good to talk to others who are going through or have gone through the same things. It definitely helps x

[callie77 in reply to Hidden]

Yes it does and thank you for being there for me both you and Wales xx

[callie77]

Thank you. Its good to be able to talk with someone in the same boat. Take care x

[Hidden]

I'm so glad that it went so well and brilliant that your pressures are low already.😄. Fingers crossed it lasts a very long time. It is a pain taking all the drops but you do just get into a routine. Hopefully you won't feel rubbish again tomorrow morning . X

[Lovemy2woofs in reply to Hidden]

Thank you . Tomorrow the steroid drop is only 4 times a day for 6 days so easier .I go back on 3rd Sept for a pressure check . X

[Hidden in reply to Lovemy2woofs]

The 6 days will pass surprisingly quickly. That's good you don't have too long to wait till you get your pressures checked . Let us know how you get on. X

[Lovemy2woofs in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, will do x

[Hidden in reply to Lovemy2woofs]

Just read your eyes aren't blurry this morning that's good. I hate being on steroids too and I'm always concerned about the raise in eye pressure . Update on Lu's diet she has lost just over 1/2kg so yesterday we made her doggy ice cream with watermelon and yoghurt as a wee treat. She totally loved it 🐶.

Have a lovely weekend . X

[Lovemy2woofs in reply to Hidden]

That’s brilliant , need to weigh Milly she lost, then when we weighed again was back to original ,then lost again , but only 1/2 kg , though was doing same things . Unless it’s our scales .I weighed myself today as can tell I’ve put on weight , I have half a stone and that was hard to get off in the first place . 😏

That sounds a nice ice cream treat . Mine have never had watermelon , not something I buy for us either .

Have a lovely weekend too, though weather not suppose to be great x

[Hidden in reply to Lovemy2woofs]

I guess dogs are like us sometimes they lose weight easier than others. We just bought new digital scales so we could monitor Lu's weight loss properly . I don't really weigh myself, I go by how my clothes fit and I think most people's clothes fitted a bit tighter during lockdown 😱. I reasonably recently took up skip rope and it's incredible for toning up and losing weight. I love working out and exercise anyway but this is my favourite by far.

The weather is dreadful here today,it's wellies and raincoat weather for definite x

[floki7 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Witchie, hope you are well, we make our little fella ice cream with yoghurt, honey strawberries and doggy peanut butter, in an ice cube tray, he would take your leg off for a couple of cubes !

[Hidden in reply to floki7]

Ooh that sounds good, I'm sure Lu would love it. She was going crazy when I was making it and yes nearly bit my partner's hand off when he was trying to scoop it out. 🐶😄.I had a horrible experience with a bee the other night, I got stung on the head whilst walking Lu and I was in agony, going hot and cold and feeling sick. Turned out the sting was still in my head and I felt awful until my partner figured out why I was feeling so bad and removed it . All anyone could say was how did it get through your hair as it is mad and curly, not a lot of sympathy in my family 😱🐝.

Apart from that drama I am well. Weather is horrible hear today,I went along to local market stall with my friend but that's it for today apart from walking Lu.

How's life with you ?

[floki7 in reply to Hidden]

Yes all good here, getting the odd twinge in the trab eye and taking a few drops of dry eye drops. My wife got stung on the wrist a few weeks ago or bitten, her arm swelled up and very red, so off to A&E who said depending on the results of the blood she had taken, she may have to stay in over night, but didn't have to, but had to take antibiotics for a week. You be careful I've heard those Scottish insects are pretty fierce !

[Hidden in reply to floki7]

That's good you are doing ok apart apart from the twinge in trab eye, I think having to take dry eye drops is pretty common afterwards. Touch wood mine has been fine.Oh your poor wife she obviously got one nasty bite/ sting . You don't know what diseases some of these insects have !!!!

Scottish insects are definitely nasty wee things a bit like me when I have a chocolate craving and there's none in the house 😂

[floki7 in reply to Hidden]

😂🤪

[Carnationmac]

Excellent news, like you I’ve had both my eyes done and it was my left eye that had a bleed, but it cleared. Yes the drops drove me mad, having to use so often, I really do sympathies with folks that have to use drops every hour. Hope all goes well for your recovery and you have a great weekend 🤗X

[Lovemy2woofs in reply to Carnationmac]

Thank you. Not blurry this morning so relieved about that . The thing with steroids is they can cause pressure to rise and give you Glaucoma , it’s a bit scary really , be glad to get off them .Yes the bleed cleared straightaway after he pressed on it .

Hope yours is still working well?

Have a good weekend too x

[Carnationmac in reply to Lovemy2woofs]

I had mine done back in December and still doing fine, thanks, fingers X, glad blurriness has gone. Have a super weekend 🤗X

[Sufitzy]

Sounds scary but glad it’s over . Sending best for a full and quick recovery x

[Lovemy2woofs in reply to Sufitzy]

Thank you x

[Alison300356]

So pleased you have a good result so far. Hope all is well at your follow up. X

[Lovemy2woofs in reply to Alison300356]

Thank you .Is it just pressure check at follow up ? I go on 3rd Sept .

It was good that we could book the appt upon leaving .

Geran was nice, but I think there was communication issues as he didn’t get what I was asking Re my concerns on pupil dilation at my retina screen, so will try again next time I go . X

[Alison300356 in reply to Lovemy2woofs]

No it wasn’t just pressure check he checked angle was open also checked optic nerve for damage (there was none) no glaucoma and disc was clear?? Haven’t got letter to hand as not home but he did give a very thorough examination. Including dilation which freaked me out a bit but obviously he knows what he’s doing. Dilation lasted for hours, on a bright sunny day not good 🤣 make sure you don’t have to drive!!!

[Lovemy2woofs in reply to Alison300356]

Yes used to dilation as have to have it yearly for retina screening, I often have to wear sunglasses to walk home after. Normally have it done via a mobile van parked at our Drs surgery, though last year due to covid it was at Biggleswade hospital. Mine used to be in summer which was even worse lol , but again covid delays meant last years was Oct ,which this one will be . That’s the thing I most scared about as have to have dilation yearly.

Hubby is taking me again on 3rd Sept for follow up.

He put on form I handed in to reception for follow up IOP pressure check , but I did recall some of what you had done , so thats why I asked him , is it just a pressure check?

But he misunderstood and thought I was referring to the pressure check the nurse was going to be doing that day after my laser .

I did find it difficult to communicate with him , but he was nice and I reckon he’s been doing this for years going by the age of him.

This will make you laugh, when I got there I looked on the white board of names and next to laser it had the other guy ( 😉) we are not keen on .

I was like oh no, when the nurse called me in I checked with her if it was him and was so relieved when it wasn’t . I did tell her what he was like .

She said she was new and had been ok with her, but she’s not a patient , but agreed that how he was is not what a patient wants, especially when we are new patients .

[Alison300356 in reply to Lovemy2woofs]

You must be very local to me! I know what you mean about him and language barrier. I think he knew how worried I was, I asked him if he'd performed many iridotomy's? A bit rude I know but he laughed and said hundreds 😂

[Lovemy2woofs in reply to Alison300356]

At least he was more friendly , can you imagine saying that to the other one 😂

I’m in Sandy , whereabouts are you ?

[Alison300356 in reply to Lovemy2woofs]

I’m in Sandy too! 🤣

[Lovemy2woofs in reply to Alison300356]

😂Have to have a catch up sometime over a tea/ coffee locally x

[Alison300356 in reply to Lovemy2woofs]

Sounds good! Compare notes. 😊

[Wales99]

Bless you. Well done for getting through it. Yes I think I felt that with the steroid drops at first but it does pass. Look after yourself- it’s only a short (I think?) procedure but your eyes have still been through trauma so take it easy for a few days. X

[Lovemy2woofs in reply to Wales99]

Thanks Better now I only have to take steroids 4 times a day .x