Gold weight implant operation

[msswartz]

Hello all,

I had surgery to implant a gold weight in my right eye to help my blink reflex yesterday 2/17/2010 at Kaiser in Stockton.  The doctor and staff were very nice and they were kind enough to take these pictures for us.  I have posted them for your review.

First they hooked up an IV and then cleaned my face with iodine.  The doctor then made a cut along the top of the eyelid to create a little pocket for the gold weight.  He then carefully placed it in the pocket and secured it.  He then tighted up my lower eyelid since it had sagged a little and once the swelling goes down, I should be good as new.  I was conscious durnig the whole thing but only felt mild tugging now and then.  I relaxed and just waited for them to finish.  It was not too bad at all.

Here are the links

http://www.itsupportnet.com/surgery/eyeop1.jpg

http://www.itsupportnet.com/surgery/eyeop2.jpg

http://www.itsupportnet.com/surgery/eyeop3.jpg

http://www.itsupportnet.com/surgery/eyeop5.jpg

http://www.itsupportnet.com/surgery/eyeop7.jpg

http://www.itsupportnet.com/surgery/eyeop9.jpg

And now I just ice my eye and rest.

It aches somewhat, I'd say on a pain scale of 1-10 it's about a 2 or 3 sometimes.  Not too bad.

I hope it works as intended.

Hope that is interesting

Michael

[Kaybo]

Michael~
Thanks for taking time to post this.  I have had a few eye surgeries over the years and have found them to not be bad at all.  I'll look at the pics tomorrow...Question...why did you have an IV?  That is a new one for me...

K   

[msswartz]

Hi,

They put me on an IV so they could control pain and keep me mostly a sleep but just conscious enough to make sure that they where not putting in too much weight or tightening my eye up too tight I guess.  But I felt it when they put in the medication so I know they used it for that.

Michael

[saralynn143]

I had an IV too, Kay, but I was never close to being asleep during the entire operation. Interesting pictures. I never thought to ask for pictures to be taken. I had a great experience with my platinum weight and did not even have any bruising past the second day.

Sara

[aj44]

Hello Michael.

Thank you for putting up the pictures. I found them very informative. How long did the surgery take and how long were you in hospital?

I am probably going to get a gold weight put into my eyelid, as my eye hasn't improved in the last two months since I had my operation. Having to lubricate your eye every two hours is really annoying.

- AJ.

[gman100]

Thanks!

Now I have a good idea what they did. My poor little eyelid.

[msswartz]

Hi,

I was actually in surgery for a little over an hour.   I was at peace and very relaxed and almost sleeping.  I was actually aware that the doc and staff were there and that they were doing something but I didn't feel much.  I just rested and waited quietly until they were done.  It was ok.

Afterwards my eye swelled up and then with time and ice the swelling has gone down.  Today is the third day after surgery and it has improved quite a bit.  Movement in the eyelid is returning and I can tell that now I can blink.  So it appears to be helpful.

Michael

[Jeanlea]

Michael, thanks for posting the pictures.  Now I know what my gold weight must look like.  When I got my gold weight I was only about 5 days out from surgery.  Never really had to think about it.  They just told me they were doing it.  At that point I was agreeable to anything.  :-)  Mine was put in in the doctor's office.  It seemed to me that it took five minutes.  I'm guessing it was a little longer than that.  I've been happy with it.

Jean

[nancyann]

Thanks Michael, I'm glad to see what it looks like inside my eye too.  I was awake during the whole procedure also, I was sitting up in the chair.  My doc had a couple of residents watching & was talking to them about it the whole time.  I didn't have an IV in like you did(but I also didn't have the extra lid lift - I had already had it done).  Was in my regular clothes !  The only thing that hurt was when he put the needle into the area to numb it. 
Yes, I remember the ice I kept on afterward.   You will love the results. 
Always good thoughts,  Nancy

[aj44]

Do you still have to lubricate the eye after getting gold weight implants?

[saralynn143]

Do you still have to lubricate the eye after getting gold weight implants?

I do. Not as often, though.

Sara

[mimoore]

Way to go Michael!
I am too nervous to get a weight - go figure I had brain surgery!
Although I cannot blink all the way I have avoided a weight so far... time will tell if I will need one in the end... but really is there an end to evaluate things. Hmmmmmm
The photos are cool - creepy but cool!
Michelle 

[gman100]

Do you still have to lubricate the eye after getting gold weight implants?

I still need to lubricate mine as well. I am under the opinion that if the facial paralysis recovers somewhat, then that with the weight would allow a full blink and I might not need to lubricate it. Hasn't happened yet though, I don't know what other experiences prove. I still like the operation though, my eye is not open as much and it closes from 10mm to 2-3mm now.

[nancyann]

Because my paralysis is so bad,  I have to blink really hard to get any kind of closure, even with a 1.6 gram weight!  & I had a pyrex tube inserted into the inner corner of my eye b/c my tears welled up & would just roll down my face,  so now I'm putting in even MORE lubricant !  (the vanity in me didn't like the looks of that - go figure).  I still wear the NightEye Bubble patch every night also to keep humidity up while I sleep.

Michael:  the 1st time I had a weight put in the anesthesiologist put me totally under (that's when I had my first lower lid lifted also), & I wore a hospital gown, etc.
This last time it was totally different,  different doctors,  different approaches to the surgery.

Always good thoughts,  nancy

[msswartz]

Hey,

I'm glad you all liked the pictures.  It was very nice of them to pause now and then and do this for us.  I told them I was going to post them on the ANA forum so others could learn about the procedure.  And they were very agreeable to that goal.  Nice.

Anyway, the swelling continues to go down.  I can see the bruising of my upper lid now.  It closes all the way and I'm tearing up more now.  I have to carefully wipe my below my lower eyelid several times a day.  I still have trouble blinking the right eye independantly most of the time but I think it is getting better.

I'll keep you posted.

Best wishes to all.
Michael