full thickness macular hole plus retinal tear

On Monday April 11th. I am supposed to have surgery on my left eye.  I have full thickness macular hole plus a retinal tear.  The Doctor is supposed to repair both at the same time.  He told me I will have two gas bubbles.  
The eye surgery doesn't scare me as much as the face down position.  But he said maybe just one week face down.  
I've read where you must stay face down for up to six weeks or even longer after macular hole surgery.
I know for a fact I can't to it.  I am trying to convince myself that I can but I know I can't.  
I want to know if anyone had the surgery without face down position and was it a success.
Was the surgery painfull and what all was involved?
Please, I really need to know.  I was thinking of canceling the surgery.
Lillian

[homecrafter]

I know nothing about those details, but am facing Macular Pucker surgery this week and am thinking of cancelling the surgery also.  I cannot sleep and am totally stressed.
Like you, I believe I can handle the surgery but what I cannot handle is potentially entering into "the twilight zone" with future complications, infections, etc.
I guess that I am reading too many negative posts, but my husband says there are many more successes that don't take the time to post.

How are you handling all of this deciding ???  Do you have access to any other forums or anything where patients that have been going thru these similar surgeries share their experiences ?

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

Use the search feature: there are many extended and informative discussions about macular hole surgery and macular pucker surgery.

JCH MD

[lillianvalovich]

I'm sure your husband is right about more successful surgeries.  After having the surgery you don't really think about doing a search on what had already taken place.

I couldn't sleep at all last night just thinking about my surgery.  The future complications and infections have me very scared.  I don't think I could handle looking through a fish bowl in my left eye for weeks or even months.  I get woozy when I bend over and get up too fast....plus I get sea sick.

I called the support systems and left a message to put a hold on the face down unit that is supposed to be delivered on Friday.  I am going to call the Dr. today and cancel the surgery or at least postpone it until I can get more information about the success of having it done. It's already a "full thickness" so I guess it doesn't really matter if I wait a little longer.

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

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[Bramblerose]

I had a vitrectomy about 12 days ago.  My doctor only had me be in a facedown position for 20 to 30 minutes at a time 3 to 4 times a day for a week.  I have to sleep on either side and cannot sleep on my back until he tells me otherwise.  I stopped being able to see my bubble after 10 days.  My eye did not "hurt" after the surgery, but it does ache and the extra strenght tylenol is bothering my stomach sometimes.  I can see through my eye, but it is blurry and distorted.  To combat boredom, I went to the library and checked out a few books on cd.  I can read or watch tv, but after a while it strains my eyes too much.  I know 2 weeks sounds like a really long time, but is being at least somewhat blind the rest of your life a better alternative?

good luck!!

[Bramblerose]

One other thing for women having a vitrectomy.  Try to find equipment that is soft under your chest.  This was the hardest part of being face down for me and I only had to do it for 20 to 30 minutes at a time.  I found something to lay down on that was in a couple of pieces and replaced the piece that goes under the chest with a fat pillow.  That made it much more bearable.

[lillianvalovich]

Face down position for Three or four times a day for just 30 minutes?  I haven't read anything like that anywhere.  I've been searching for days about Macular hole and I've found nothing under two weeks face down.  That's having a stage one or two macular hole.  
What stage was yours?   I already have what they call full thickness which would be considered a stage four.

I must have had this problem for quite a few months because I've been very busy getting ready for our move from Pennsylvania to North Carolina.  I thought it was just a cataract that needed to be taken care of.  I figured I would let it go until I was settled in our new home.

I called and canceled the surgery for now until I get more information about the success of the operation.  I was told I wouldn't lose my peripheral vision not matter what my decision.    

[cathie77]

I had a vitrectomy to repair a macular hole last December and the operation successfully closed the hole,like you i was worried about the face down recovery period,but it was not as bad as i feared.
During the day i had to stay face down for 50 minutes in every hour but i was allowed to sleep on my side at night
The face down period was for 10 days.
You can hire equipment to help with the face down positioning,but i found it cheaper to buy a portable massage table on ebay,it was comfortable to lie on with a space to support my face,i passed the time listening to audible books and listening to the radio.
I am glad i had it done and if i ever had a problem with the other eye i would not hesitate to have it done again.

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

Thanks for sharing your experiences.
JCH MD

[Raza2464]

i had Ratina tear operations of both eyes ten years back but face down position was for a week and for most of the time while awake. I used to sleep sideways. Hope you would be fine ny now.

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

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