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Macular Hole surgery and recovery
I'm having a vitrectomy in July. I have the furniture on order but what can I do during recover other than keep my face down? My husband and 3 teenagers can fend for themselves, but does anyone have ideas to keep me busy other than movies? Can I read? How do I sleep? I'm not used to sitting still...I welcome all suggestions. Thanks!
Just don't let the hospital give you one of those terrible pink foam cushions...terrible things! Makes my angry to think medicare had to pay for it. They are scratchy and nasty and I was better off just fighting with the pillows and my forearm.
Books on tape are a good option instead of reading. My friend had heads down position for a week. It wan't easy but she followed directions and rented the furniture. I believe she even rented an extension pillow device that she was able to insert between her mattress at the foot of her bed. Her bed of course didn't have a foot board. She slept face down looking through that pillow with the rest of her face supported by the softness of the pillow. Best of luck. Above all stick to the program That way you'll know YOU did all that you could do to help yourself.
You are welcome.
While lying face-down, don't be surprised if some weird and creative thoughts come to mind. Lying and sitting in a prone position is not natural for most of us, and I'm convinced that the orientation lends itself to seeing the absurd side of circumstances.
I found myself wishing that I could be one of those ancient Egyptians seen in drawings, who would have been comfortable face down, based on their impossible anatomy. If you were an Egyptian, all you would have to do is lie comfortably on your side, and your eye socket would automatically point south! :-) But then, what would I do with my feet, which would be turned all wrong?
While lying face-down, don't be surprised if some weird and creative thoughts come to mind. Lying and sitting in a prone position is not natural for most of us, and I'm convinced that the orientation lends itself to seeing the absurd side of circumstances.
I found myself wishing that I could be one of those ancient Egyptians seen in drawings, who would have been comfortable face down, based on their impossible anatomy. If you were an Egyptian, all you would have to do is lie comfortably on your side, and your eye socket would automatically point south! :-) But then, what would I do with my feet, which would be turned all wrong?
Thank you! While I'm not looking forward to the recovery I would like my eyesight back!
Hi 5JB5
Well, TV and movies are pretty good and you'll be able to see them through the mirror they provide you. I'm a big radio listener and so that kept some of the time flowing by. I didn't try to read. I felt it was too difficult. But some people can put a laptop computer on the support they put between your mattress and get some net surfing time accomplished.
I did the face-down positioning for 3 days. I haven't slept on my stomach since I was a teenager, so it's not easy, but you can adjust. If I'd had a friend with a massage table who wasn't using the table, that actually would have been the best option, because there's that hole where your face goes. Certainly it is easier to breathe lying on a massage table.
As you're female, let me just say that sleeping face down is a lot easier if you're small breasted like me! One of the few times I was grateful for such anatomy! :-) Women with large bosoms have a more difficult time.
If you're having difficulty sleeping face down, you'll probably fall asleep and nap some in the vitrectomy chair during the day. It happened to me.
Frankly, I had an easier time just putting my face down on one of those satin horseshoe shaped pillows -- the kind that are supposed to go around your neck. I had the pillow resting on my padded card table, which was the perfect height. A padded card table sure helps provide a cushion for your elbows, which do tend to get rough and dry during the time spent face-down. In the vitrectomy chair, it's sort of like a kneeling chair, where your knees have pressure against them. I found the card table and chair was a better bet, unless watching movies.
Buy plenty of drinking straws. My sister was around me the first full day, and one of the Visiting Angels for 1.5 days. I spent the last afternoon alone and did fine. It really depends on how strict the positioning is recommended to be. And mine was not terribly strict.
I hope this helps you.
Well, TV and movies are pretty good and you'll be able to see them through the mirror they provide you. I'm a big radio listener and so that kept some of the time flowing by. I didn't try to read. I felt it was too difficult. But some people can put a laptop computer on the support they put between your mattress and get some net surfing time accomplished.
I did the face-down positioning for 3 days. I haven't slept on my stomach since I was a teenager, so it's not easy, but you can adjust. If I'd had a friend with a massage table who wasn't using the table, that actually would have been the best option, because there's that hole where your face goes. Certainly it is easier to breathe lying on a massage table.
As you're female, let me just say that sleeping face down is a lot easier if you're small breasted like me! One of the few times I was grateful for such anatomy! :-) Women with large bosoms have a more difficult time.
If you're having difficulty sleeping face down, you'll probably fall asleep and nap some in the vitrectomy chair during the day. It happened to me.
Frankly, I had an easier time just putting my face down on one of those satin horseshoe shaped pillows -- the kind that are supposed to go around your neck. I had the pillow resting on my padded card table, which was the perfect height. A padded card table sure helps provide a cushion for your elbows, which do tend to get rough and dry during the time spent face-down. In the vitrectomy chair, it's sort of like a kneeling chair, where your knees have pressure against them. I found the card table and chair was a better bet, unless watching movies.
Buy plenty of drinking straws. My sister was around me the first full day, and one of the Visiting Angels for 1.5 days. I spent the last afternoon alone and did fine. It really depends on how strict the positioning is recommended to be. And mine was not terribly strict.
I hope this helps you.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
There are a whole series of discussion on this very topic by people that have been through the surgery. Use the archives and search feature to access them and read.
JCH MD
JCH MD
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