Signing off for now

the cat · Post by **the cat** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 10:06 pm

Mette Did you get my card????

laura n. · Post by **laura n.** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 10:21 pm

opps

Sorry Mette

I get confused so easily... I can hardley keep track of myself somedays

But I did really mean the part about you being 100% soon.

and the brain teaser driving me nuts

Oh, Thanks Cat .

Laura n.

SharonM · Post by **SharonM** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 10:58 pm

Great news Mette.

I can well understand. You take care so you don't strain them too early.

ann3120 · Post by **ann3120** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 11:53 pm

Great news Mette - Yes, you're so right. I know exactly what you mean about being able to see without glasses or contacts.
I just wish my parents were still alive to witness the miracle.

Your vision will continue to fluctuate for a while. Mine still is. I just can't wait for July 25th when I have my next Dr's appointment
and hopefully he'll be able to give me a prescription for glasses - then I'll be able to see everything

even all the way from TX to London and Lillian's Alan Wickers

mette · Post by **mette** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 11:58 am

Hi all,

I'm back with my next eye update

My vision is still a little blurry, but it seems to me, that it gets a little better each day. My eyes are better in the morning than in the evening, but I suspect that's because my eyes get tired. Otherwise my vision don't fluctuate as much any more.

The main difference between before the surgery and now is being able to see everyday things without being dependent on contacts or glasses. I can see the kids in the morning, I can watch TV in bed and I can see my hubby when we say goodnight. We're visiting my Dad these days, and yesterday I walked through my childhood town without contacts/glasses for the first time in 18 years. It's truly amazing.

I found the surgery very unpleasant and I was very scared during the 15 minutes it lasted, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Ann -- I can certainly understand that you're looking forward to your next doctor's appointment. Seeing is fantastic

I hope everything will continue to go well for you

the cat -- Yes, I did get your card. It was very sweet

Didn't you get my email

?

Lillie -- Don't worry about me seeing too much in your house. I'm sure everything is perfect.

And besides....my vision ain't that good

Mette

Btw what's "Alan Wickers"?

Duiveltje · Post by **Duiveltje** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 12:52 pm

Hi Mette,

It is good to hear that everythings get well with you.
Don't sit to long behind your PC to soon.

Take care of yourself

Rose

Lillian · Post by **Lillian** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 12:53 pm

Thanks for the update Mette - take it easy

ALAN WICKERS = KNICKERS

the cat · Post by **the cat** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 1:33 pm

Yes Mette I got your E-mail

after I ask.

Good to see you out and about.

Do peolpe look differant then you remeber them???

ann3120 · Post by **ann3120** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 1:54 pm

Lillian wrote:ALAN WICKERS = KNICKERS

For the US crowd: Knickers = Under Pants.
Not Plus Fours (which are sometimes know as Knickerbockers) - as seen on the golf course.

mette · Post by **mette** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 3:43 pm

Aha! Knickers

People look very much the same. I haven't decided yet if that's good or bad

Mette

Davimad · Post by **Davimad** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 3:53 pm

Hi Mette, I'm so glad everything went well for you.

Wonder if it's a good thing being able to see all of us at the convention.

Something we all take for granted but you and Ann have made us realise how lucky we are. I wish both of you all the very best for the future.

Thank you for sharing this experience Mette and Mrs. P Hat.

popo · Post by **popo** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 6:51 pm

Glad your op has gone well Mette. No more Mrs. Specky Foureyes for you.

I took 4 different pairs of specs with me to Mo's. Daytime, reading, posh ones, and sunglasses. Needed a suitcase just for them.

bmcper · Post by **bmcper** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 7:51 pm

Glad to see you back Mette and that everything went well. Take care and recuperate slowly.

ann3120 · Post by **ann3120** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 8:33 pm

mette wrote:People look very much the same.

My husband's not too happy about that aspect of my "new"vision. He says he has to shave more often.

I know what you mean about your eyes getting tired at night Mette. Mine do too, and some evenings when we're watching television, I get double vision.
We're watching reruns of "Dallas". and two JRs is not a good idea! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

I am glad your vision is clearing. You must be so thrilled. I still am, I love telling everybody about it.
Will you still need to wear glasses for reading? I will, but then I'm older than you, and I guess I have to admit that is does make a difference. Oh well

kaz67 · Post by **kaz67** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 9:33 pm

ooops .. how remiss of me .. I don't always pop in this forum.

Lovely news that all went well Mette - i want to hear all about it, chapter and verse ... considering ending my days as a specoid too but not feeling brave enough yet

See you soon

Kazza

ann3120 · Post by **ann3120** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 9:58 pm

kaz67 wrote:... considering ending my days as a specoid too but not feeling brave enough yet

I promise you, there's nothing to be afraid of. Mine was so easy.
Literally, only 10-15 minutes in the surgery suite, they gave me I.V. sedation, so although I was awake, I wasn't at all concerned what they were doing to me. It didn't hurt and then I could see. The only bothersome bit was wearing a clear patch that I could see through, over my eye the first day and then for the next five nights in bed. Except for a fairly strict routine of eye drops for a month, that's all it was.

Famous Wonderland saying: Easy-Peasy-Lemon-Squeezy

Lillian · Post by **Lillian** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 10:02 pm

And that WONDERFUL whoozy sedation feeling is too good to miss

SharonM · Post by **SharonM** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 4:22 am

I'm so glad for you, Mette.

Wish I could get rid of my glasses, but my insurance considers the surgery elective and won't pay for it. So, I guess I get to keep mine. You take care not to overdo.

Liz Mayhew · Post by **Liz Mayhew** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 7:00 am

Brilliant news Mette! Don't get impatient and overdo it for a while.

The scenery in Northern Ireland will be worth the wait. Can't wait to see you and for you to see all of us.

mette · Post by **mette** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 9:33 am

Hi all,

Chances are that I'll still need glasses for everyday use, but now I won't need them anyway nearly as much as before.

Tonight is the last night I have to wear plastic covers over my eyes when I sleep. I'm looking forward to throwing them in the bin. They are hot and the tape we use to fasten them, makes my skin itch. And tomorrow I'm going to a checkup at my eye doctor's. I hope I'll now more about excactly how well the procedure went after that. I only have one more week of eye drops to go. So things are definitely looking good.

Mette

SharonM · Post by **SharonM** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 12:57 pm

That's great news, Mette.

I know those plastic things are pretty annoying. You're progressing so quickly! I'm amazed at how fast recovery is.

You and Ann are inspirations. Bless you both.

wonderland01 · Post by **wonderland01** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 7:49 pm

Glad you Can see better!

laura n. · Post by **laura n.** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 1:59 am

Mette, I'm so Happy for you

I've only just started to "HAVE" to wear glasses all the time to see. (I think that magic age of 40 had somthing to do with it

) My last exam, my Dr. said I was a great candidate for Lasik, but alas I'm in the same boat as Sharon, Insurance Co. says "no pay for glamor surgery"

I'd love to be able to see the TV in bed at night, or read & not worry about falling asleep with glasses on, only to find twisted frames in the morning. I once woke up and found them stuck to my "backside"

Anyway, please keep us informed on your progress, I'm so excited for you

Laura n.

SharonM · Post by **SharonM** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 5:33 am

Your backside, Laura?

I can only wonder how they ended up there!

the cat · Post by **the cat** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 5:57 am

Sharon that is so funny

mette · Post by **mette** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 9:37 am

Hi all,

A lot of you have asked to hear about the operation in detail. I'm happy to tell, but I must warn you, that it sounds rather gross. If you don't want to know, just skip the next section.

GROSS WARNING (highlight to read)

I lay on my back on the operation table with my head taped down, so I couldn't move it. My right eye was sedated by eye drops (nothing mind altering, so I was still very much capable of fear) and my left eye was covered by an eye patch. I've never felt so scared and alone in my life, but luckily a nurse held my hand. When the doctor had the machinery in position, my right eye was forced open with a pair of tongs to prevent me from closing my eye. At this point all I could see was a flashing green light. Then the docor placed some kind of round meassuring device on my eye apple and mumbled something incomprehensible. Next came another round device which the doctor used to cut a flap off the cornea. It made a sound like a small drill and gave a little sting in the eye. He then pulled the flap back to expose the area beneath. During the two seconds he moved the flap, I could see nothing at all. The world was grey. Then the flashing green light returned. The light changed to a lot of small red dots, and then it starting pulsating (the laser started). This made some of the tissue in the cornea evaporate (the whole point of the operation), and this gave out a smell of burning hair. This lasted 10-20 seconds (I think). Afterwards the cornea flap was put back in place with some white spatula looking devices, and my eye was dripped with some more eye drops. I then waited two minutes (looking at the green flashing light again) before the pair of tongs could be removed. It was great to be able to close my eye again. Now my right eye was done. Lastly they did the same things to my left eye. The whole ordeal lasted 15 minutes.

When I walked out of the operation room to where DKgiz was waiting, DKgiz allmost fainted. All his bottled up anxiety came out at once and he was the one ending up in a hospital bed. He was all white and clammy and the nurses checked his blood preasure and heart sounds. Everything was thankfully OK, and when he'd had some water and coffee he was fine again. We were then allowed to leave the hospital, which we did.

END GROSS

Sharon and Laura -- you made me realize how lucky I am to be living in Denmark. We have a goverment financed health system that covers everybody for free (we pay for it by tax). That means that we can allways get the best care in case of illness and we can even get a lot of "glamour" operations for free. They've set a limit for LASIK operations, so you can only get them for free if you're very myopic, which I was. Otherwise I would never have been able to afford it either.

I'll report back in when I'm home from the check-up by the eye doctor.

Mette

Lillian · Post by **Lillian** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 9:48 am

If ever the expression "TOO MUCH INFORMATION!" was supposed to be used - it was on this post! I loved the "END GROSS" bit - too funny!

It does sound gross - but well worth it! Good for you Mette. Poor DKgiz - men are rubbish sometimes!

Now, let me tell you about the birth of my boys.......... there I was, legs akimb .................

kaz67 · Post by **kaz67** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 9:56 am

Aw Mette - you are so BRAVE !!

I've read, with interest, your graphic tale ... well done you ! - however, for me, for now ...

SPECS RULE OK !!

Kazza

ann3120 · Post by **ann3120** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 1:44 pm

Don't panic yet - my surgery experience was nothing like what Mette had done. We have to go out today, and my husband is telling me I don't have time to write (he's always telling me that), but I will give you some details later. I didn't have Lasix, it was the same sort of surgery they do for Cataracts. More later and I'll explain.

mette · Post by **mette** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 1:58 pm

I know it sounds very gross, but I did warn you, didn't I?

I just got back from my eye check-up. The good news is that my eyes are healing perfectly. I have nothing to worry about in that regard

.

The bad news is that my vision hasn't improved as much as expected

. I'm allowed to drive a car without glasses/contacts, but the goal of the operation has not been reached. My vision is at about 60-65% of normal vision

. If I have enough cornea left, I might be offered a re-operation. If that's the case, I'll take the offer, but I won't know anything before October

. I must say, that I'm a bit dissapointed

Well, I have no regrets since my vision is much better than before, and I'd still do it in a heartbeat.

Mette