New here, surgery in 36 hours

[piper]

Hello and greetings to my fellow KC carriers.....I sure wish I'd found this place and all of you several years ago. I thought I was all alone in the wilderness of multiple vision, eye pain, and confusion. Now, I am headed to surgery for a transplant, my first, on Thursday morning. I'll look forward to asking lots of questions after.....wish I'd been here earlier and could have asked lots of questions already.

Piper

[Matthew_]

good luck.
There are some very helpful and knowledgeable people here who have been through surgery. I am sure they will be able to help you with the next few days and weeks.
All the best.

[Alison Fisher]

Hi Piper

Good luck with your surgery. I hope it all goes well for you.

[brigid downing]

Hi Piper

good luck, I'm suer we will be talking more later
Brigid

[piper]

Thanks everyone. I was first told I'd be having a PK then yesterday on the phone they casually mentioned that the operating room was scheduled for a Lammellar (sp?) . I understand there is a major difference between the two. Should I be concerned that they have changed the game plan? I reallly need good, clear, focused vision for my work when I am healed. Do the Lammellar grafts every really let a person focus clearly? I hope to wear contacts again for basic correction. Is this normal?

Yes......I'm nervous and apprehensive...probably about like all of you were. Thanks again.

Piper

[Andrew MacLean]

Piper

PK is the fall back position; sometimes they start out to do a DALK and decide during the operation that a PK is more appropriate. I had a PK in my right eye nearly three years ago. I am listed for a DALK on Friday, so as you are having peeled grapes fed to you by the lovely nurses in your hospital, I shall be heading for the operating theatre in mine.

All the best tomorrow. I'll be thinking of you.

Andrew

[Sarah M]

good luck piper, hope all goes well

sarah
x

[John Smith]

Good luck Piper.

A Lamellar graft will take longer to optically heal than a "full thickness" penetrating graft, and may not give quite the vision eventually (though many do - noone can tell in advance unfortunately).

The advantages of a DALK (lamellar) graft are huge though - a shorter recovery time from the surgery and a much reduced risk of rejection - almost zero or exactly zero depending on the technique used.

Do keep in touch; we'd love to hear how you get on.

[piper]

Andrew, as WE head into eye surgery, the thought of PEELED GRAPES is not appetizing!!

Funny, though. Actually, mine is outpatient, as are most surgeries in the USA...and I will be riding about 2-miles across the City of New Orleans to a friends house to spend the night and motor back to the Doctor on Friday for a check up. Then back to work on Saturday, I guess.

I am hoping for good visual accuity, and will be happy to wear RGPs if that will do it. As a full time professional violinmaker I truly depend on my close-up vision. Otherwise, I'll have to get a job packing bags in the Walmart Superstore.

Best of luck to you, new friend. We're all in this together.

Cheers,

Piper

[Michael P]

Piper,I hope all went well this morning and look forward to hearing from you again soon.