Race for life 28th June

5 weeks on

Well, it is 5 weeks since my operation and I am back at work part-time mornings. I went back yesterday and felt pretty dreadful all morning but today has been better. I am absolutely shattered! The eye is not too bad but I am having to use Celluvisc a lot to stop it from drying out.

I went to the opticians for a check up on my 'good' right eye yesterday and my sight has got worse and the prescription has changed since my last visit. I am going to try a new contact lens which arrives on Saturday and it is hopefully going to help. I had a feeling my sight had got worse and it has gradually been deteriorating over the last couple of years.

Eye still uncomfortable

It is two days since my bandage lens removal and it is still uncomfortable! I think I will see if I can get some celluvisc (lubricating drops) on Monday from my GP. Last night in bed, after a few glasses of vino, I had a thought about how weird it is that I have a second-hand cornea and that it has belonged to someone else before and how amazing really that it can be done. Tim said I was freaking him out so I went to sleep but thinking today it is quite amazing really so I am going to have a small plea to people to sign up to the organ donation register. I have added the link on the right hand side of this page!

Tim thinks he can see the stitches now the lens is out so is going to try and take some photos tomorrow. If they are any good I will post them here.

4 weeks on

Today I have been to see my consultant for my 4 week check up and all is good. I still cant see the Snellen chart unaided but with the pinhole thingy I can see the 4th line which is very good as this is an indication of how well it can be corrected. All my stitches are in tact and the graft is settling well.

I am allowed to start Yoga again but no pilates for another month, and no headstands! I have got a prescription for new drops, maxidex 3 times a day month 1, 2 month 2, and once a day month 3. I do not need to go back for 3 months unless anything is wrong thankfully and then Mr De Cock wants to see about removing the first couple of stitches.

A student had a good look at my eye today and as I was leaving asked my consultant when the bandage lens will be removed. Bandage lens? What bandage lens? Mr De Cock looks confused and double checks my eye. Low and behold there is a bandage lens in my eye that I was completely unaware of that has now been removed today with a pair of tweezers. My eye feels funny now but not painful. Just gritty and, sounds a bit weird, but naked! When I put my drops in now I feel them and they sting more but it is bearable.

I am STILL off work but plan to go back on Wednesday after my Occupational Health assessment on Tuesday. Cant wait!!!

The wonderful NHS!

I have been waiting for my next appointment date, which should be 5th February, to arrive in the post and today the usual letter with NHS postmark arrived. Excellent, so I open it up to find that my next appointment is.........22nd April!!!!!

There is obviously some mistake so I phone the number in the letter and sit in the queue for half hour. A very nice lady answers and I tell her what has happened but she informs me that she cant do anything and I need to phone another number. 2 1/2 hours of ringing this number every 15 mins and eventually I get an answer but its the wrong department! She transfers me to Mr De Cock's secretary who again is very nice and says she will speak to the department I had spoken to 3 hours ago and get it sorted. I still don't know my appointment time or date but I am past caring today.

Apart from that the eye is good just dry and a bit annoying still and the sight is fuzzy but I do think it is improving slightly. I am going to go and meet Tim in the pub when he finishes work as to top off my day I also have a man outside my home with a pneumatic drill that hasn't stopped since 9am! Argh!!!!!

Reality Check from Occupational Health

I have just got back from my meeting with the Occupational Health Nurse at work and after a lengthy conversation she has said I am not allowed back to work for another two weeks :(

I am gutted but can see her point as I arrived at work feeling really sick from the bus journey, I was squinting the whole time because my eye is so photosensitive, and basically shouldn't have been there! Her view is that I need to take it easy for another couple of weeks and then she will have a review with me. So I am again sitting watching daytime TV and going slowly mad :)

It is so sunny today I have lived in my dark glasses and again have worn them around Morrisons! The eye is uncomfortable and has been painful today but is easing now I am at home with the curtains drawn. Hopefully my brother may fly back from Dubai next week so at least I will have some company for a few days!

I might dig out my Learn French Cd's and give that a go!

My Massive Pupil

My left eye is looking very dilated. Have just come back from the Doctors and he has checked my retina and pressure and all is normal but he thinks I might be overdoing things so I am under orders to take it very easy still. I am allowed to see Occ Health at work tomorrow but if I am not happy he will sign me off work for another week. I think I shall just take it as it comes. This photo makes my nose look huge! It is NOT that big normally, it just my wonderful self photography!

I walked to my surgery (about half hour) and felt what can only be described as motion sick. I was nauseous and dizzy. Spoke to Doc about it and he says it is quite normal after graft and to take it slowly when walking. It was a horrible feeling though so took the walk home much slower.