Graves' Disease Support Group
Graves-Basedow disease is a medical disorder that may manifest several different conditions including hyperthyroidism (over activity of thyroid hormone production), infiltrative exophthalmos (protruberance of one or both eyes and associated problems) and infiltrative dermopathy (a skin condition usually of the lower extremities). This disorder is the most common cause of...
Finally I am cleared for surgery! I will be having orbital decompression surgery this coming friday. I am terrified but excited about fixing my eyes. Before surgery I am forced to overcome my smoking addiction. I do not want to take any chances of poor healing due to smoking. I am on my 28th hour smoke free but I am going to need all your prayers to get through this. I will post photos of before and after as soon as I am feeling well.
I wish you all the best with your Surgery.
Maybe Marpo can help you with a lot of info as she has been through eye Surgery for TED.
My thoughts are with you and hope you post by the weekend as I am scheduled for Surgery(keyhole) next Monday (15th).
You will probably feel a little sore the first few days but you go there Girl...and you kick BUTT!
Be POSITIVE and this will help you in your healing process.
I will be thinking of you xxx
Debs
I'm currently dealing with TED and have an appointment with graves eye specialist in a few weeks.
As for the surgery... I have had decompression on both eyes. I insisted on being asleep because I get really bad panic attacks before surgery of any kind. It has nothing to do with GD, it was from another operation that I started getting them. I was in pain for a few days...I had a good pain killer that helped. I also had to have an ointment put in my eyes every so often. My husband and granddaughter took turns cleaning my eyes and putting in the ointment. They also kept a log of everything they did. I kept ice on my eyes for the swelling for 15 minutes at a time ans coated them with vaseline and wore a sleep mask. I still do that. I slept propped up for a week now I just use two pillows.
The worse part of but surgeries was the swelling and black eyes.
So don't worry. If I can do it you can do it. I am the biggest coward here. I am here if you need more support . My prayers are with you.
Can you do it....YES YOU CAN