first injection on Monday

[grannypemb]

I'm having my first injection on Monday. reading posts here, wondering wi it help to get systane drops this weekend and use them, and then use them after the injection.. advice would be appreciated, feeling nervous ..

[Hidden]

Hi grannypemb. I understand your concern. But don't beat yourself up until Monday. The THOUGHT of having a needle stuck into your eye is worse than the actual injection. Ask for lots of anaesthetic drops and tell the staff you are nervous. The nurse will hold your hand for reassurance if you ask her to. And who isn't nervous for the first injection?

As for eye drops, I use hylo tears for dry eye anyway for most of the time, but personally, I prefer to put nothing into my eye after the injection for the next 3 days as I am given antibiotic drops to use 4 times a day for 3 days, which apart from the obvious reason it also adds moisture to the eye. Some clinics no longer supply them, in which case artificial tears may be useful. Ask when you are at the clinic.

Your eye will probably feel a bit sore when the anaesthetic wears off. I usually go to bed as soon as I get home to rest the eye, taking 2 paracetamol and sleeping it off. The next day I usually feel fine. You will soon learn what works best for you in particular, as we are all different.

No courage needed when you know it has to done. All sorts of things are going on in preparation for the actual injection, but let it not unnerve you if you can. It is the normal procedure.

Good luck and a big hug.

[grannypemb in reply to Hidden]

thank you so much, I can't tell you how much it helps to get support and information from you... having a relaxing weekend, with yoga on Sunday night, breathing techniques to be used on Monday ...

[2468G]

Hi grannypemb

As ayayay has just commented, it's natural to be nervous of the first injection. We all are nervous of the unknown. Tell yourself it is a quick procedure and over with before you know it. It may feel a bit strange and scratchy afterwards or may not - we have all had different experiences on here as you have probably read. Usually by the next day you are fine. Have yourself a nice treat when you get home.

Let us know on here how you get on. We are all in the same boat.

Good luck to you. 2468G

[grannypemb in reply to 2468G]

thank you, so helpful to keep me positive.

[thom3patty]

That helps me but my dr does not allow me to use day of injection after it has been given I have to wait 24 hours

[grannypemb in reply to thom3patty]

Thank you, I’ll check with docs..

[yotboy]

As you have already seen, loads of experience here. In early days I found the deep breathing helped a lot immediately prior to the injection. The staff will know it's your first and should act accordingly.

Just remember what it was like the first time you had to have dental work done - scary, nervous, and all that. Apart from having to remind the nurse injectors every time that I am sensitive to any residual iodine (which you wont know until the anaesthetic wears off), I have NO after effects and am happily watching TV etc and getting on with my life a coule of hours after leaving the clinic.

Good luck - and come back and tell us all what it was like for you.

[grannypemb in reply to yotboy]

Thank you, every bit of support helps!!

[IvyRose2]

Hi I was very nervous too, but it is not half as bad as you imagine and the staff are lovely and kind. Personally I don't find the need to put any drops in after injection, my clinic don't give antibiotic drops for personal application, they insert one after injection. My eye has been much more comfortable without antibiotic drops and no worries about putting them in actually makes you forget what happened I find. I would ask the staff personally. The iodine yes does sting a bit, but rather that than an infection. Wishing you lots of luck for Monday, your yoga will be a great help.

[grannypemb in reply to IvyRose2]

Thank you..

[rosyG]

Hi

I didn't sleep the night before my first injection and wish I'd known that, although it's not enjoyable, it is 98 per cent better than I expected

[grannypemb in reply to rosyG]

thank you ..

[Lexxxus]

Hi,

When I went to the eye doctor after a weekend of blurry vision.

I found out that day that I had wet AMD & received my first injection that same day. I am glad they did it then because if I went home & had to worry about what to expect, I might not have went back. Not knowing is the worse part of it.

I do have a problem with the iodine. Now they flush my eye out twice as much as normal then use a gel with a patch over it.

It really helps me. I go home & sleep it off, in the middle of night I

usually take the patch off. The next day feel ok. Sometimes

I feel kind of sluggish till noon or so but don't know why. But

by afternoon I'm back to normal.