Post Trab Recovery Problems

[Beaudidily]

I had an emergency trab 10 days ago and then had to have revision surgery as the pressure had dropped from 50 to 2 a week later. The eye is very red and sore now and the vision is so blurry. The IOP had improved to 12 the day after the revision but I'm feeling quite low as its been an uphill battle so far and feels like normality will never return. I read that there shouldn't be much pain or discomfort but mine is quite hard to tolerate. Can anyone throw a beam of light to me as its a long dark tunnel right now.

[stephanie1977]

Hi!

I too had complications after my Trabulectomy. The pressure wasn't low enough so a stitch was eliminated, and then another and the pressure dropped to 2 with hypotony. They put a contact lens for two weeks with no raise in pressure so I had to have a second operation wherein they tighten up the overfiltering bleb. Then those stiches drove me crazy and I went through a lot of eye lubricant until they finally removed the stitch that was poking. Finally, two months post trab the eye is good! Pressure at 6. I had plenty of discomfort all along and low spirits..BUT it will get better I promise!!! Hang in there..bug your Dr. as much as you want .I practically lived at the eye clinic. Stay positive!!!!!

[Beaudidily in reply to stephanie1977]

Thank you for that news. I seem to be at the hospital most days of the week and although I'm normally quite positive I'm loosing it now. Feel quite low. Its so good to hear you got through difficult times post trab and that gives me hope.

[Beaudidily in reply to stephanie1977]

Hi Stephanie1977. I had a 2 week checkup yesterday and all was good with the pressure at 10 and the doc said the bleb looked very good but oh boy is it driving me insane. It feels so very uncomfortable. The stiches are driving me mad and the vision is pretty rubbish. I cant wait for the stiches to start dissolving. Im wondering if the steroids are contributing to the discomfort and blurry vision as I looked up dexamethasone and its all there in the common side effects. Could I not be put to sleep and awaken in 6 weeks time!!

[stephanie1977 in reply to Beaudidily]

Hi Beaudidily! It will take weeks for your eye to feel normal. I basically spent a lot of time laying around listening to audiobooks with my eyes closed...only then did my eye feel peaceful. Get a really good eye gel lubricant and use it every couple of hours to keep the stitches from bothering you. Try not to analyze the eye situation too much and worry what is causing problems..it will all pass.. you have to ride it out a bit. Think things like " its just a bleb" and that you can move past it! Hang in there! Your pressure is great and the eye will heal. Vision will or will not get back to as it was before. I have to have new glasses. And now I feel the Dr is pushing to do the other eye. Im not ready yet!!!

[Beaudidily in reply to stephanie1977]

I have a feeling my other eye might go down the trab route too but as you say not yet Im nowhere near ready for a repeat. Thanks for the support. Its so very hard doing nothing isnt it. Ive got 2 bottles of Theoloz Duo, one for each eye and Im using it between 2 hourly steroid drops. Its really full on isnt it . Cant waIt to get back on my bike but think thats some way off. Maybe around xmas!!

[Toby_from_London]

Hi Beaudidily,

I’m sorry to hear you are having such a hard time.

I haven’t had a trab but have recently had a shunt inserted and unfortunately recovery can be a long process; the op itself is just the beginning. However I’m sure things will continue to improve for you and you’ll start to feel better very soon.

It’s common for vision to be blurry for the first couple of weeks but I’m sure those who have had a trab will be in touch to offer reassurance and advice.

I know it’s difficult but try and take things easy for these first couple of weeks. In case you don’t know Glaucoma UK can put you in touch with a “Buddy” who has had the same operation if you feel speaking to someone will help.

This forum is full of lovely people so reach out if you need to.

Sending love your way🙂

[Beaudidily in reply to Toby_from_London]

Thank you so much. I did connect with a Buddy who was absolutely lovely but she didn't have complications with her trabs so thats when I thought I'd throw a line out on the forum to a wider audience. It helps to know you're not the only one and others have got through difficulties.

[stephanie1977]

Hi again, just wanted to add that I had quite a bit of discomfort when my pressure was very low..felt like my whole eyeball and surrounding area was hurting,, blurry vision and even saw flashing lights..hypotony maculopathy. But once they corrected that, the pain eased up. It will be important for your Dr to keep the low pressure in check because too low is not good either. Its a bit of a roller coaster and was scary, but they know they have to do the tweaking. Just make sure you are well attended to even if you feel pesty. 😀 let us know how you get along and again it will get better!

[Beaudidily in reply to stephanie1977]

Just arrived home from another checkup. Pressure was 10 and the anterior chamber is formed and stable. Phew!!! Still early days but I can relax hopefully until my next appointment on Tuesday. I attend Southampton Eye Unit and they have been superb through this. Thanks for your messages. Much appreciated.

[floki7]

Good luck, its a long and not always easy journey, but will get better, I had a Trab early last year, which has caused a small cataract to form, so I still have to continue on this bumpy journey, but it will get better I'm sure, just that I don't have a lot of patience lol !Best wishes

[Beaudidily in reply to floki7]

Thank you I too am finding this hard. Time usually flies in my life but not now!

[Longwalks3]

I really empathise as I too had complications after a trab and several revision operations. My glaucoma journey has been very bumpy but I am now in the care of a fantastic surgeon in the West Midlands and my pressures and vision are stable. The whole process has taken about 4 years but I got there in the end. I am so pleased to read your post saying that things have gone better. Good luck and never be afraid to tell your doctor when things aren't right or you are in pain.

[Beaudidily in reply to Longwalks3]

Good to hear you are now sorted. That's a long time to run a rollercoaster ride and sorry you had to endure it. But as you say a great outcome to get on top of it in the end. I'm finding the stitches and the blurry vision hard to tolerate but its only been 4 days since my 2nd op in 7 days so I guess I can't expect it to be good. I'm so used to being active and this is hard. Just got to find some patience lol.

[buzzbee2]

Sorry you're having such a tough time. I can really empathise with this, it really gets you down sometimes. I had a Trab in March but like you the pressure went very low and it was causing so much pain and blurriness. I have had two further operations, the first one did not do much but the second one in August seems to have improved things. The surgeon said there was a leak which they have repaired. It is still a bit achy and blurry but not as painful as it was. It can take 6 weeks to recover I think, and they said don't do anything strenuous for three months, which is really hard if you're active. I really hope things improve for you soon. Low pressure can be very painful and it seems so delicate to get the balance right - removing one stitch has made a difference for me (this was a very quick procedure in the clinic).

[Beaudidily in reply to buzzbee2]

Your message couldn't have arrived at a better time. I was just sitting here with a cup of tea feeling really low and wondering if things will ever feel better. I know its only 6 days since my 2nd op to fix the low pressure but my eye feels horrible. The doctor did say I have a lot of stitches so I guess thats not helping and the vision is now partly clear and partly blurred. It seems to change throughout the day as when I woke up this morning and peeped from beneath my eye shield I got really excited because the vision was clear. I thought wow I'm ok and then when I got up and took the shield off it was blurry again. So disappointing. I think its the fear that it will never improve. Its not so much painful now but so very uncomfortable. I'm an active person too and I don't do well being sedetary. So want to go out for a good walk but darent just yet. So I've made some sweet potato, carrot and coriander soup. I hope chopping carrots isn't too strenuous!! Thanks for your message. Its this site thats keeping me going atm. People are so kind and thoughtful.

[Beaudidily in reply to buzzbee2]

Hi Buzzbee2. I cant believe it I have another bleb leak. Went to the hospital yesterday. Pressure is ok but the bleb is leaking. Im finding this very hard to handle. Im thinking Im maybe one of the 20% that fail with a Trab. I really hope not.

[Ritualhazard in reply to Beaudidily]

so sorry to hear this. Hang in to the fact that the pressure is still okay and the sight is slowly clearing. I’m sure they will get on top of it all. Sending all the best x

[Beaudidily in reply to Ritualhazard]

😫😫😫 Thank you. Have a good weekend. X

[buzzbee2 in reply to Beaudidily]

really sorry to hear that, it feels never ending doesn’t it. Hope they can get on top of it soon for you. I’m a bit worried about mine too, been a bit more painful the last few days. Take it easy and be kind to yourself x

[Beaudidily in reply to buzzbee2]

Thanks Buzzbee2. It does seem never ending and gets you to a really low point. I had hoped the trab would get me away from the awful problems I had with high pressure. I havent got high pressure now but have equally awful problems still. Just have to try and keep positive I guess. Thanks for thr message and hope yours isnt anything serious. X