Recovery from Vitrectomy Surgery

[Janicev]

I am having a macular hole in my retina repaired on Jan. 4. Would appreciate comments from others who had this surgery.  Any tips on how to get thru the 2 weeks with your head down a little easier.  What equipment you rented.  How fast was your progress.  Thanks.  Janice

[Lefteye625]

I was very concerned about hair washing too!  I bought a hand-held shower head that you attach to the spout of the bathtub, and I bent over the tub and washed it that way. This put me in the required position!  But I found it was easier just to bend and stick my head under the spout itself than to try to hold the shower head.  I also took baths, not showers.

I had my first surgery in mid-August of 08, with a scleral buckle put in, and a gas bubble.  When the gas bubble was almost gone, the retina detached again, endo f Sept, so had another surgery, this time with silicon oil instead of the gas bubble

The oil was taken out in Jan 09, and since then my vision has improved quite a bit, though not perfect.  It's pretty warped in that eye, but thankfully the right eye compensates quite a lot.  I get Avastin injections to help to continue to improve that.  Best wishes ot you...keep me posted!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[Janicev]

Thanks for your advice.  That's exactly the kind of info I was looking for.  I never thought of button down shirts... I am going to get my short hair cut even shorter.  I am worried about sleeping in the same position, but I'll do what I have to.   How did you handle showers and hair washings without getting your eye wet?  I know this is a silly thing to ask, but when my hair is clean I feel so much better, so being a woman, I think of these things. But then again, I may not when the time comes I suppose.  Thought I'd ask tho.  How come you had to have 2 surgeries?  How long ago and is your eye sight better now?  Thanks and happy holidays.  

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[Lefteye625]

Hi Janice,
I've had two surgeries after which I had to stay in the face-down position for a couple weeks.  I rented a chair which was similar to a massage chair, where you can rest your head and take the strain off your neck.  Try googling "vitrectomy chair" to see what I mean.  It came with a 2-sided mirror which allowed me to watch TV and talk to people.  I watched a lot of TV, but I also borrowed books on tape from the library.  It will help to have button-down shirts...um, let's see what else.....I did get some painkillers, as I found it difficult to keep the position without them.  Oh, get some straws.  Soft foods are easier...I talked on the phone a lot too (speakerphone).  Sleeping got easier after the first couple days of getting used to it (I also had a contraption to put my face in to sleep).  
I know it's going to be tough, but you'll get through it!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Use the search feature and archives there are many many discussions by people that have had this type of surgery.

JCH MD