Re-graft

[rosemary johnson]

Anne - sorry! Glad to hear you've had no more rejection trouble since then.
Lou - to be honest, I think it depends how likely you are to go ahead with the surgery and risk all the things you're worried about anyway, like a good compliant little patient who lets the mighty surgeon do as he like becuaes God Knows Best.
If you are - or if he thinnks you are - maybe not.
If he really thinks you've got a nice eye to carry out his nice neat little bits of snipping and sewing, and can see you backing out maybe at the last moment, if you're not happy, then yes.
That's up to you - but you won't get a chance to discuss anything with medics at the pre-op appointment, and you'll have max 5 minutes withthe surgeon on op day, when you're hardly at your best to have sensil discussions, while the whole set up is designed to railroad you along without giving you time or space to think through anything.
If you contact the hospital, or the consultant, and say that you've been thinking this over since your last appointment, are concerned about the possible effects of this on the rest of your health, and are not ahppy about the thought of going ahead without discussing these...... they ought to take this seriously. Of course, this may mean that, if you do decide you want to go ahead after the further questions/discussion, you may have to start again on the 3 months wait. In my personal experience, there are plenty worse outcomes....! - and yes, I do know I'm biased becasue of this; it's your decision.
You could, of course, ring up the hospital, ask for the appointments people, and explain to them the situation and ask how they suggest you proceed. They may book you in again. They may also be able to tell you how to go about it if you'd like to talk to an anaesthetist as well as the surgeon. And/or they may put you through to the consultant's medical secretary, who may (or may not) be helpful.
If you postpone and ask for further info/discussion, you can always reschedule - once it's done it's done and so is any damage to the rest of your health along with it.
Simialrly, you can always ask for a second opinion if you don't think your concerns are being taken note of.
SOrry if I'm being paranoid after my experience - I'm sure I'm very very unusual. But going mad on pred. tablets does sound very alarming to me.
I dont know your consultant - or the registrars (or fellows, which is different...) in that section, sorry.
Rosemary

[Loopy-Lou]

I apreciate all views Rosemary, I'm thinking of trying to contact his secretary to ask 'what do you suggest I do in order to ask a few more questions?' She might tell me to email the questions for example which I wouldn't mind doing.
From the research I've done and had done for me so far it appears that the stats look promising, one study of 223 transplants demonstrated 75% success [over 7 years] and as Anne has said KC has the best outcome compared to other conditions.

I am curious as to whether many people end up having to take oral steroids/immuno-suppressants for rejection and if so for how long?
When I say slightly mad for me, I mean mood being affected which isn't unusual with steroids but for a longer period I think that could much more pronounced.

If anyone else here has had to take oral steroids please could you post here and let me know about it*

Haven't been able to locate info regarding grafts triggering rejection in the other eye yet

[Loopy-Lou]

Ok, I've rung Moorfields and spoke to his secretary and she said I can email my questions to him and that she will print them off and he will either email them back or write, so I feel heaps better for this!

I'm now drawing up my questions and getting an academic mate to look at them cos I want to sound as intelligent as possible

[Andrew MacLean]

All the best Lou; ask as many questions as you can, and don't be shy to go back with supplementary questions if any occur.

Andrew

[Loopy-Lou]

Mmm I could ask about the meaning of life, whether chocolate reduces intraoccular pressure...

[rosemary johnson]

Chocolate? - of course it does; anything that is emotionally satisfying will increase the pleaseure and contentment feelings and reduce stress levels, thus reducing blood pressure, eye pressure, and other things.
On the other hand ..... chocolate counts as a "banned stimulant" under the rules of racing. FOr the horses, I mean; as faras I know jockeys are allowed to eat Mars bars (by the rules, if not by their weight) - and one is reputed to live on a diet of mainly kit-kats.
Seriously....
That sounds like all very good news - and a helpful secretary. I hope you get the answers you want - or at least, get answers to the questions you want answered, and if the answers aren't too reassuring, at least you'll know.
Good luck, and do keep us posted.
Rosemary

[Loopy-Lou]

I'm thinking RCT's comparing brands of choccie and then comparing to cake...*cue Homer Simpson style of dribbling*

Yes Rosemary the secretary was really helpful, she even emailed back straightaway to let me know she had pulled my notes out and would put it all in front of him. I've asked all the questions I want answers to clearly and succinctly so it's one side of A4 and not a book!
His answers will help me make my decision, and yes Andrew if I'm not happy with the answers I will ask supplementary questions. I feel so very different this time, I need to feel as informed as possible. I will definately let you know the answers I get as they be useful for others

[Andrew MacLean]

Let me know what he says about chocolate. And remember that the person in charge is you.

Andrew

[Loopy-Lou]

I didn't put the chocolate question in Andrew but I should have
I could have added frightful naughtiness with the unmentionables to the exercise question as well but I thought better not

[GarethB]

Lou,

Found an ideal medical research study for you to get involved with Chocolate Study Volunteers Wanted