I have just had a corneal transplant at Mid Yorkshire Hospitals two weeks ago. However, the post operational care is something to be desired. Is it advisable to seek out another consultant, possibly in another NHS area? Has anybody else had similar experiences? I look forward feedback.
Regards,
Andrew Bell
Re: Post Corneal Transplant Care
Moderators: Anne Klepacz, John Smith, Sweet
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Anne Klepacz
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- Keratoconus: Yes, I have KC
- Vision: Graft(s) and contact lenses
Re: Post Corneal Transplant Care
Hello Andrew and welcome to the forum,
I had all my post-op care at the hospital that did my transplants. And as a general rule, I'd have thought it was better to stick with your hospital - they're the ones who know exactly what was done and should be best placed to deal with the after care. Can you say more about what's bothering you about the aftercare? If you're ever worried about how the grafted eye is looking and you don't have a follow up appointment, don't hesitate to go to A&E or ring the hospital for advice. Grafts need tlc in the first few weeks and months!
All the best
Anne
I had all my post-op care at the hospital that did my transplants. And as a general rule, I'd have thought it was better to stick with your hospital - they're the ones who know exactly what was done and should be best placed to deal with the after care. Can you say more about what's bothering you about the aftercare? If you're ever worried about how the grafted eye is looking and you don't have a follow up appointment, don't hesitate to go to A&E or ring the hospital for advice. Grafts need tlc in the first few weeks and months!
All the best
Anne
Re: Post Corneal Transplant Care
Hi Anne,
Basically I'm told by my consultant at my first post op appointment that he wants to see me in another 3 weeks, which I thought was a longtime to wait for a second appointment! Then this w/end I receive a letter taking it out to 5 or 6 weeks for my appointment. In addition, my steroids runout before then also. So overall I just think the Hospital Trust is failing to give a continuation of care and that is why I am thinking about going to a neighbouring trust.
Andrew
Basically I'm told by my consultant at my first post op appointment that he wants to see me in another 3 weeks, which I thought was a longtime to wait for a second appointment! Then this w/end I receive a letter taking it out to 5 or 6 weeks for my appointment. In addition, my steroids runout before then also. So overall I just think the Hospital Trust is failing to give a continuation of care and that is why I am thinking about going to a neighbouring trust.
Andrew
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Anne Klepacz
- Committee
- Posts: 2307
- Joined: Sat 20 Mar 2004 5:46 pm
- Keratoconus: Yes, I have KC
- Vision: Graft(s) and contact lenses
Re: Post Corneal Transplant Care
Hi Andrew,
A gap of 3 wks after the first post-op appt is pretty standard, though 5/6 wks is not so good! Have you tried ringing the hospital to point out that your steroids will run out before then and asking them what you're supposed to do? I used to get my steroids from my GP after the first month, though that was more than 20 yrs ago, so the system might have changed since then. Worth contacting your GP to get him/her involved. The trouble is that if you go to a neighbouring trust, I doubt if you'll get another appt any earlier. As you say, it's your existing hospital that should be providing the continuing care.
Good luck
Anne
A gap of 3 wks after the first post-op appt is pretty standard, though 5/6 wks is not so good! Have you tried ringing the hospital to point out that your steroids will run out before then and asking them what you're supposed to do? I used to get my steroids from my GP after the first month, though that was more than 20 yrs ago, so the system might have changed since then. Worth contacting your GP to get him/her involved. The trouble is that if you go to a neighbouring trust, I doubt if you'll get another appt any earlier. As you say, it's your existing hospital that should be providing the continuing care.
Good luck
Anne
Re: Post Corneal Transplant Care
HI Anne
Spoke to my consultant's secretary, who checked through his notes, as he is on holiday. As you did in the past going I'm going to my GP for the second lot of drugs. I've decided to stay with my consultant for now, but i'm still not generally happy with the situation. Maybe Consultants should be much more forthcomng with patients as what to expect post operation.
I know I keep checking online to see what I expect at various points in time, the diaries I don't find that useful I'd rather see images as to how the healing process is going/should be going, which I have to say I am not finding easy to do.
Andrew
Spoke to my consultant's secretary, who checked through his notes, as he is on holiday. As you did in the past going I'm going to my GP for the second lot of drugs. I've decided to stay with my consultant for now, but i'm still not generally happy with the situation. Maybe Consultants should be much more forthcomng with patients as what to expect post operation.
I know I keep checking online to see what I expect at various points in time, the diaries I don't find that useful I'd rather see images as to how the healing process is going/should be going, which I have to say I am not finding easy to do.
Andrew
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Anne Klepacz
- Committee
- Posts: 2307
- Joined: Sat 20 Mar 2004 5:46 pm
- Keratoconus: Yes, I have KC
- Vision: Graft(s) and contact lenses
Re: Post Corneal Transplant Care
I'm glad you've got the steroid drops sorted out at least. As far as stages of healing is concerned, reading people's accounts of their grafts on this forum over the years has made me realise that people heal at different rates. And I'm not sure that images of the cornea would help - I suspect a lot of the healing is invisible. When I had my first graft in 1986, I got roped in to a research project which involved someone at Moorfields following up grafts over 18mths or so. All sorts of measurements were taken and it also involved lots of photographs of the cornea. One test that sticks in my mind involved the researcher brushing my cornea gently with a very thin wire to establish when I would get any sensation in the donor cornea. As far as I remember, it took months before I felt anything! The results of the research did get written up as a PhD but a quick 'google' didn't produce anything - this was all before the days of the internet! The crucial thing is to go to A&E if you suddenly get any of the RSVP signs (redness, soreness, vision becoming blurry, photosensitivity). Of course in the first week or two, all those are present anyway so it's if you suddenly go backwards in respect of any of them that you need to take action. But hopefully all will go smoothly and it will all seem worthwhile in the end.
Good luck
Anne
Good luck
Anne
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