UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hi all

Well - the date is getting closer - 19th jan. Feeling ok about it at the moment but still time to get nervous. Main concern is having it done under local anaesthetic but i'm sure it will be fine.

Does anyone know how many items i will have on my prescription? I am considering getting a yearly prescription for £102 and all my prescriptions are free for a year. Depends how many items i will be getting as to whether will be worth doing or not. Anyone got any idea?

you are also able to get a 3-month pre-paid prescription (assuming you are in england with this information), the NHS website gives you an idea of if it is worthwhile for you if you dont have regular repeat prescriptions.

I have had a look at the site but still unsure on whether to do it or not. Was hoping i could get an idea of how many items i would be getting so could decide whether worth it or not. Might get a 3 month one and see how it goes.

Anyone else got any ideas?

Hi crakerjacker,
As regards prescriptions:
I was given bottles each of dexamethasone (steroid) and chloramphenical (antibiotic), each lasting for a week and then to be disposed of, the day after my graft op - these were just handed out, no prescription charge levied.
A week on I was given a prescription for another week's chloramphenical and another month's dexa... - 2 charges. Again, supplied in weekly preservative free bottles.
I was told to stop the Chlor... after a fortnight (so in fact I had a spare ottle left over), and nearly a year on am still on the dexa. The hospital give me prescriptions for a month's supply only fom their pharmacy when I go to appointments, and I have to get repeat prescriptions from the GPs imeanwhile if they don't see me for over a month.
I got an annual season ticket and it has been well worth it for me! - bt then....
I also have sthma, so have several presription charges for asthma inhalers - especially this year, as I've had to change inhalers, as the disastrous graft left me so hypersensitised to the old sort, I'd have two puffs on one of the old ones and start getting hallucinations again! So that's involved a lot of "try this one for a month and see how it goes".
I have also developed high eye pressure (IOP, technically) and have been given prescriptions for lots of different anti-glaucoma drops. And a change of anti-rejection steroids in case the dexa was setting off the glaucoma, which I used 4 drops of then stopped hurriedly as that set off hallucinations again.
Plus, i can get a months supply of contact lens fluids on prescription when I have a CL appointment.
So my annual season ticket has been well worthwhile! - with six types of eye drops, inhalers, antihistamines along with the inhalers, lens fluids.......
If all goes well for you, with no infections, glaucoma, etc, you might get away with antibiotics for a fortnight, antirejection drops for... well, likely all year, I'd think. If you can get repeat prescriptions from the GP in between hospital appointments for two months at a time, you might be looking at only 8-10 charges in a year.
But if you do get any infections, raised IOP or anything else that needs more eye drops, it can mount up as mine have done. And you can put any other meds you need during the year on the season ticket too - including cough syrups, hay fever tablets, painkillers, etc - yup, I've even had a doctor once write me a scrip for a pack of neurofen cos I had a season ticket!
In other words..... based on post-graft meds alone, it's probably a moot point; but if you need other medicines it could be valuable.
HOpe this helps - sorry not to be able to give a more definitive answer.
Rosemary

All the best on january 19!

Andrew

Good luck for the 19th, I have mine on Thursday 8th

Lucy x

Good luck Lucy

Best of luck for the 19th, but I don't you need any - as your going to a hospital, the most safest place you can be ! Lets us know how it goes for you, we are rooting for you !