Trainee Injector

[smiler6044]

Hello, the good news is Mr Smilers vision with BRVO is still at 72%, the opaqueness remains reduced and is now at the edge of his eye.

Sadly yesterday at his 9th Eylea injection he was the first patient of a trainee. Alarm bells rang and the session lasted 3 times longer than the norm. Too busy for any much needed reassurance! It was a nerve racking procedure for my poor hubbie and the trainee didn’t seem to have any idea of the injection position, with the trainer constantly interceding. On a positive note the injector was gentle and the recommended dose of anaesthetic had been doubled but the procedure has left my hubbie totally traumatised. The eye was left very blood shot, with periods of intense pain during the day despite taking paracetamol, ++ more light sensitive than normal but there was no larvae bubble.

We live to fight another day, after only the 2nd of 9 injections that were really awful. We are now resting as the actress says.

Good luck to everyone on your personal journey.

From The Smilers

[Hidden]

Hello Smilers,

Ouch! That sounds awful. I suppose every injector has to learn, but not on us patients. Don't they practice on pigs or calf eyes? There should be plenty available from the abattoirs. Or better still, why don't the staff practice on each other? Then they'd know what it is like.

At least the eye condition seems to be kept at bay. I am glad for you both. Good luck with future injections. By the time you have to go back to the clinic the learner may have become more proficient.

Just to add, the trainee was probably as frightened as you were.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Everyone has to learn a skill, and practice makes perfect. The trainee would have been very nervous I can assure you, and practicing on dead tissue is no where the same as having a live patient in front of you. To even suggest practicing on each other is plain ridiculous. Surgeons remove eyes -enucleation, they practice on the deceased, that is not the same as a live person in theatre, where they can bleed etc.....I wouldn't want to practice that on each other would you!!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Oh dear wheezyl. maybe you take life too seriously. The suggestion that staff ought to practice on each other was merely meant "tongue in cheek". You did not really belief that anyone sane would suggest such a thing in earnest?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I can not comment on your sanity, but have indeed questioned my own on occasion!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Cheers, wheezyl

[Hidden]

Hi sorry it was a bit traumatic, glad they were gentle. They will have taken longer just because honing a new still to become slick takes time, repetitions and confidence. I feel they will have been very nervous too. When they take longer the eye dries out more and that would account for the discomfort. Glad the injections are helping, remember the main aim in RVO is protecting the body and other eye so BP, diabetes, lipids, smoking need addressing and maintaining at good levels.

Take care

[rosyG]

sorry to hear of this experience- I hope I don't get a trainee on Tuesday!

Good news about the stability- sounds promising.

[Hidden]

Oh smilers, good that eye is holding up but hugs and commiserations on the trauma. Do ensure eye isn't dry as that just adds to the pain ( if it's watering its dry so use soothing drops).

I live in dread of getting a trainee. I know they have to practice etc but I'm afraid I do think we should be asked if we're ok with it esp if we're known to be nervous or already had traumatic experience with inj. It must be in injectors best interests confidence wise too to be ' blooded' on folk who routinely breeze through it ( yes I believe there are some lol) before coming to those of us who might present more of a negative performance feedback!

[smiler6044 in reply to Hidden]

Morning Eyesright, thank you for your response as you are always so practical and supportive.

I think you are right re dry eye as the procedure took around 15 minutes and so clamp in position for such a long time. Mr S had no knowledge that a trainee was doing the injection or that it turned out to be her first ever, until the exchange with the trainer, who was also unknown to Mr S. The Clinic seemed in disarray, not the usual calm efficiency and so something is definitely happening there. It has changed to Reviews with Consultants present and then Injection Days when Consultants weren't present, other than the trainer.

Best wishes to you

From The Smilers

[Hidden in reply to smiler6044]

My clinic is separate days for consultant review and inj too. Makes each trip shorter at least but does introduce potential delays if there are inj cancellations - pros and cons for each process I suppose. I do think it was naughty of them not to give hubby the option of declining trainee before he was stuck with it ( literally lol x) - I had trainee at my review and was asked if it was ok and all she did was look in my eyes! Hey ho, it's done and he got through it which is the main thing. Big hugs x