There were two of us in the waiting room at 5PM, the time designated by Doctor Martin ... he was coming to do both of us at St. Joseph's Hospital after he closed his office for the day in Hamilton. I have wondered if he ever goes home!
The other patient was Elizabeth from Stoney Creek. She was a bundle of nerves so Mar and I engaged her in steady conversation, trying to get her mind off of the impending operation.
Her retina had not dislodged as much as mine and her procedure was going to be simpler and easier ... all done by laser. It didn't help me when I heard her groaning out load through the door with the odd muffled scream thrown in ... especially knowing my operation was going to be more invasive!!!!
Within 15 minutes the door opened and Liz came out fast, grabbed her husband and left in a hurray. My turn.
Settling into the "barber chair", Doctor Martin applied an instrument to hold my eye open. It proved to be discomforting, but not painful.
Here is the exact procedure as explained on another website, (LINK):
The other patient was Elizabeth from Stoney Creek. She was a bundle of nerves so Mar and I engaged her in steady conversation, trying to get her mind off of the impending operation.
Her retina had not dislodged as much as mine and her procedure was going to be simpler and easier ... all done by laser. It didn't help me when I heard her groaning out load through the door with the odd muffled scream thrown in ... especially knowing my operation was going to be more invasive!!!!
Within 15 minutes the door opened and Liz came out fast, grabbed her husband and left in a hurray. My turn.
Settling into the "barber chair", Doctor Martin applied an instrument to hold my eye open. It proved to be discomforting, but not painful.
Here is the exact procedure as explained on another website, (LINK):
Pneumatic retinopexy is an effective surgery for certain types of retinal detachments. It uses a bubble of gas to push the retina against the wall of the eye, allowing fluid to be pumped out from beneath the retina. It is usually an outpatient procedure done with local anesthesia.
During pneumatic retinopexy, the eye doctor (ophthalmologist) injects a gas bubble into the middle of the eyeball. Your head is positioned so that the gas bubble floats to the detached area and presses lightly against the detachment. The bubble flattens the retina so that the fluid can be pumped out from beneath it. The eye doctor then uses a freezing probe (cryopexy) or laser beam (photocoagulation) to seal the tear in the retina.
The bubble remains for about a week to help flatten the retina, until a seal forms between the retina and the wall of the eye. The eye gradually absorbs the gas bubble.
During pneumatic retinopexy, the eye doctor (ophthalmologist) injects a gas bubble into the middle of the eyeball. Your head is positioned so that the gas bubble floats to the detached area and presses lightly against the detachment. The bubble flattens the retina so that the fluid can be pumped out from beneath it. The eye doctor then uses a freezing probe (cryopexy) or laser beam (photocoagulation) to seal the tear in the retina.
The bubble remains for about a week to help flatten the retina, until a seal forms between the retina and the wall of the eye. The eye gradually absorbs the gas bubble.
The operation, though quite quick, was very painful. Doctor Martin did say I was a good patient, asking several times if 'that had hurt' and wondering why I was not flinching. I explained I was "compartmentalizing the pain" ... that I had severed my Achilles tendon years ago and that pain had been extreme ... so I was remembering that pain instead, minimizing the current pain on hand. Hey ... whatever works!
BUT TO OTHERS ... I believe two Tylenol 3's should be ingested an hour before this procedure, if allowed by the surgeon!!!! It did hurt enough to warrant them!!
