At 70ish, the eyelids were hanging way too low. It was getting harder to see without lifting my head up or farther to the side to see better. My primary eye doctor sent me for an evaluation to see if the specialist felt surgery was in order.
Lucky me! I passed all the vision tests with flying colors, and this past Wednesday was my surgery. I got an EKG and an IV for fluids and anesthesia. My blood pressure was 209 over 90 due to not being able to take any medication. They had to give me a drug through the IV to lower it before they could operate.
Post Surgery Day 1
Needless to say, it was an experience. I had to tell the surgeon three times that I could feel what he was doing. He asked me what my hair color was when I was a young girl. I told him Strawberry Blond, and he said that explains it. Apparently, blonds and redheads bodies absorb/use anesthesia quickly and need 20-30% more than others.
Now, I know why every time I have dental work, they have to stop and inject more Novocain before continuing. Nice time to find that out at my age; it would have been nice to know all along. lol
Upon arriving home, I had to immediately start icing the eyes 20 minutes on, 20 off to try and keep the swelling down. The entire first day I had a little bleeding throughout, which was to be expected, they told me.
Post Surgery Day 2 Morning
I could barely open my eyes upon waking. They were so swollen shut and still oozing quite a bit. It would be another long day of icing every 20 minutes with the eye pack. The only pain medication they let you have is Extra Strength Tylenol. Thank goodness, because the deep aching was a bit much around the brow areas. The ice really did help to keep the pain level down, too.
Post Surgery Day 2 Afternoon
Later in the day, I started to look like Rocky the Raccoon, or as if I had just done 7 rounds in the ring with Sylvester Stallone. It looks so icky, I know, and I still had a hard time seeing because I could not open my eyes very much. I went outside and sat on the porch for a little while for a change of pace. Sitting in the recliner all day for two days was starting to get to me. I'm not used to sitting still for very long.
Post Surgery Day 3
This morning, a lot of the swelling has gone down, and I can see well enough to share this gruesome post with you. It looks like another day of icing with the eye pack. I might have to find a couple of movies to watch to keep me occupied.
I have another round of seed planting to do, and cabbage and onions that need to be planted. But the doctor said no gardening or getting near soil or dust for over a week. I may have to enlist the hubby and supervise him very closely, which is a bit unnerving, to say the least. I have never let him plant all these years, lol.
I started the post with a tulip and will end this one with some more. I hope you didn't get too squeamish seeing my eyes after surgery. Too bad I couldn't convince the doctor to do the rest of the sagging face. Dang!
