Cataract Op tomo

[Joanbill13]

I’m having a cataract op tomorrow. Should I increase my pred dose? Have been looking for a pinned post but can’t find one. I’m currently on 6mg. Not feeling great at that achy top arms and thighs but manageable with paracetamol

[PMRpro Ambassador]

The Sick Day Rules are here:

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

Speak to the surgeon when you get there - it is possible he'll advise taking an extra dose so take it with you.

[Joanbill13 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you. I did print this off when I had bladder tumour op but can’t find it any where and I’m not good at finding the pinned posts. thanks for reposting it for me. Much appreciated

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Joanbill13]

On laptop they are at the right and you click on the See all to get all of them up on one page. Not sure on a phone/pad

[Joanbill13 in reply to PMRpro]

I use an iPad will have another go though thank you

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

I was on 8 or 9mg, didn’t take any extra, but was feeling okay...but follow PMRpro’s advice.

[Joanbill13 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you

[SheffieldJane]

Good luck Joan! I have heard nothing but good about this op. I hope it is a great success for you. Make sure everybody knows about your condition and the steroids.

[Joanbill13 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Will do thank you

[MrsNails]

Good Luck Joan 🍀 hope all goes well, we’ll be thinking of you 😘

[Joanbill13 in reply to MrsNails]

Thank you xx

[Flosy in reply to Joanbill13]

Good luck Joan,hope all goes well.

[Telian]

I didn’t increase my dose before my cataract op and all was okay with excellent results. I would listen to your surgeon’s advice though - as pro says take some pred with you. Good luck.

[Joanbill13 in reply to Telian]

Thank you I can’t think why I need to increase dose but thought I had read somewhere it was s good idea to increase but couldn’t remember where I’d read it

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Joanbill13]

It is to compensate for poor adrenal function after long term pred. Normally when you were stressed in an op or other procedure your body would produce a spike of cortisol in the "fight or flight" response but it doesn't happen reliably when you have been on pred a long time. In a bigger operation the anaesthetist would give you some in a drip during the op. I suppose it depends how worried your are in a smaller procedure.

[Joanbill13 in reply to PMRpro]

I will be worried I panic over everything even when there is nothing to panic about.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Joanbill13]

It'll be fine - just explain to them before they start and take some pred with you in case.

[Joanbill13 in reply to PMRpro]

Will do thanks for your kind words as usual.

[misha453]

I just had cataract surgery in March and I didn't need to increase my Prednisone. I am on 2 mg...but I stilI brought some with me just in case I needed it. After 5 years on Pred, I never go anywhere without it! I was nervous before the first surgery but it was so easy and now I see brilliantly without glasses...I still can't read without glasses but this result is much better vision than I had before! I hope everything goes well for you!

[Joanbill13 in reply to misha453]

Thank you that is very reassuring. I won’t worry quite so much now. Great to hear from someone in the same situation 😃

[cool4bob]

Hi Joanbill13 I had my right eye cataract op in January whilst on a 5mg taper no probs but just before my left eye op I had a flare so I increased back to 20mg to get me over the op then reduced back to a much slower taper with no problems and excellent vision apart from I needed varifocal glasses for reading, The ops were so were so quick about 15 mins.

[Joanbill13 in reply to cool4bob]

Thanks that’s helpful

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to cool4bob]

Variofocals for reading? After a cataract op? How strange.

[cool4bob in reply to PMRpro]

I was advised by my ophthalmologist after op to have an eye test by optician and optician recommended a pair of variofocals to improve my sight all round and they do but my distance vision without them is excellent.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to cool4bob]

I wouldn't pay the premium for variofocals after a cataract op when the distance vision had been set as it should be - but then, I'm told I could give lessons to Aberdonians ...

[2013mayo]

Hope all goes well.Xx☘️

[LWNE]

Hi, I have recently had cataracts done in both eyes, 8 weeks apart. I then had a squint operation a short while later which involved a general anaesthetic. Im on 5mg of Pred, and did not increase - I was absolutely fine. The cataract operation is really straightforward, and I am sure it will go well!

[Joanbill13 in reply to LWNE]

Thank you good to know

[Jo1947]

Joan, I had 1st cataract op Jan last year and 2nd in June. Asked about taking more pred but didn’t have to. Operation is very quick, it only took about 5 mins each time but the waiting before hand is 1hour 1-1/2 hour waiting for dilation. Dont worry about it honestly, you’ll be amazed at the results. Good luck and check with surgeon as PMR pro says

[Joanbill13 in reply to Jo1947]

Thank you. The wait is the worst isn’t it. Just off now to go to hospital

[Meggsy]

Hi Joan, I’ve had both eyes done - easy peasy. Just be prepared for your first glance in the mirror afterwards. The op seems to involve gaining extra wrinkles. 😱

[Joanbill13 in reply to Meggsy]

You are right!

[Meggsy in reply to Joanbill13]

I kept going back to the mirror to check whether they were still there.

[Joanbill13 in reply to Meggsy]

Although I have a huge moonface thanks to Pred do they could be a lot worse!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Meggsy]

And a dusty house I gather - as if mine weren't bad enough without cataracts!

[Joanbill13 in reply to PMRpro]

Lol funny you should say that. Mine is filthy and the sun is making it even worse

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Joanbill13]

Two years ago I bought a Karcher window washer but couldn't get my head around using it! As the sun came out this spring I decided I couldn't ignore the state of the windows any longer and saw the guy with the shop downstairs had also decided to use his on the showroom windows - they must have lost the cleaning woman again plus she costs and they must be struggling a bit in Covid with months of being shut. So I screwed up courage - and it was fantastic! Lord knows what is in the cleaning fluid - it really works - and the suck of the wiper blade part is very efficient. Used exactly as the picture shows (absolutely straight vertical sweeps) there are almost no smears and they come off easily with a window cloth! I have clean windows when the sun comes out - and no back/arm pain which I do usually. Now if someone could make dusting as easy ...

[Joanbill13 in reply to PMRpro]

I’ve got one but no cleaning liquid just use washing up liquid but not very successful. Maybe I need the real thing

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Joanbill13]

I think it is worth buying the real deal. It came with a sample sachet but it disappeared! So I got a proper bottle of it - so glad I did. It'll last for ages!

[Meggsy in reply to PMRpro]

Oh yes, I bought one last year. I used it before Christmas as my windows were disgusting. Lord only knows how long it had been since they were cleaned.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Meggsy]

I know mine were last done over 5 years ago!!! The guy downstairs says he was so impressed he went out and bought the professional version - has 2 batteries so he can manage all the shop windows in one go.

[Meggsy in reply to PMRpro]

5 years - Quentin Crisp would approve! I think mine would also have been that long.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Meggsy]

I looked behind the TV yesterday - he'd definitely approve of that! But it has stirred me to feel something needs to be done ... No hurry though

[Joanbill13 in reply to PMRpro]

Don’t mention the tv mine is disgusting and after 48 hours with new eyes it’s even worse and the sun is shining. Surgeon said don’t bend too much for 48 hours so will leave till tomorrow 😃

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Joanbill13]

There are so many stories - one lady told her daughter off for "letting me buy those dreadful curtains". What she had thought was a soft gold was a strong mustard ...

How's it going?

[MrsNails in reply to PMRpro]

My Mother blamed the Consultant for her hair going white, she was still blond up until her operation! 😂

Though she did eventually admit that the ‘dull looking net curtains’ were actually white! I could write a book on the Sagas of the Net Curtains!

[Joanbill13 in reply to MrsNails]

I can imagine. Mine don’t look good. It’s like a whole new world opening up. No one tells you about this before the op 😃 think I might get a cleaner for a spring clean

[Joanbill13 in reply to PMRpro]

Ok - everything is just so bright it feels very strange. The sun is still shining amazing for England. I’m wearing sunglasses indoors and out. I hate my moonface even more now it’s so clear in the mirror. How long does that take to go down even slightly

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Joanbill13]

Depends - I don't have a moonface as such now, I did for a few months when I was on Medrol/methyl pred, but when I cut carbs and went onto prednisone it faded away. I know a lot of people found the bad moonface didn't appear when they avoided carbs from the start - that was the constant but it might have been coincidence (I don't thinkso though).

[Joanbill13 in reply to PMRpro]

I’ve cut carbs but not completely. I read wholemeal pasta and bread wasn’t too bad so have small portions of those sometimes. Occasionally chocolate. I didn’t know about carbs from the beginning so moonface got a head start

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Joanbill13]

When it comes to carbs, they are as bad - they may be better in terms of nutrients and the glycaemic index so the BS doesn't go up as far but that is another consideration.

[Joanbill13 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you will give them up too

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Joanbill13]

They are fine as treats - anything is fine as a treat but you have to count it all up, every little counts

[Joanbill13 in reply to PMRpro]

I know you are right. What a pain it all is and covid arrived to make things even more miserable. Thank goodness it’s spring again.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Joanbill13]

I suppose I'm lucky in a way - low carb is my preferred way of eating anyway. No excuse needed to eat salmon and salad and asparagus and ...

[Meggsy]

I cleaned the top of the fridge. I can’t see it but was expecting a tall visitor. That will do for a while. Definitely no hurry!