After Surgery, Things are Looking Up

Editor's Note: Marketing Department writer Sandra Crockett had eye surgery in May at the Krieger Eye Institute and is sharing her experience with our blog readers. You can read about her preparing for surgery here.

It was all worth it. The four separate surgeries in May, two weeks apart by two Sinai physicians, were all worth it. The six weeks at home on medical leave from work? Worth it. The "no exercising" and "no driving" directive, the “roller coaster” of a ride that meant terrific vision some days, not so great other days? Worth it.

I’m six weeks out from my last surgery and my vision is vastly improved. I will even say it’s great.

I had glaucoma surgery and cataract surgery on both eyes (May 5 for the right eye and May 19 for the left eye). These surgeries caused a reoccurring autoimmune disease - called uveitis - to flare up big time. I knew and accepted this going in. I was warned – having to sign a document that I understood this would most likely happen – before the surgeries.

In fact, it was my years-long struggle with treating uveitis that caused the cataracts and glaucoma to develop at a somewhat younger age than usual. The cataracts were causing seriously impaired vision, and the glaucoma meant my eye pressure was dangerously high. I had been treated at other health facilities, with no good outcome, before I came to Sinai two years ago.

The uveitis could be brought under better control once the cataracts were gone and the eye pressure dropped, said my primary ophthalmologist, Gerami Seitzman, M.D.

I asked her what I could do pre- and post-surgery to facilitate the best surgical outcome. She said the best thing I could do was “have a positive attitude.”

It was kind of crazy right after the procedures on May 5. The next day, the huge bandage came off my right eye. There was an eye chart on the wall and Dr. Seitzman asked if I could make out anything or if it was “all just one big blur.” Turns out, everything was crystal clear! Better out of that right eye than I had seen in, well, I can’t ever remember seeing anything that clearly.

Dr. Seitzman told me great vision right away was unusual. I was thinking, maybe that “positive attitude” paid off. She cautioned that it might be “a roller coaster” and the next day could be different.

Boy, was she right. The following day things were blurry. And so it went for the next few weeks. And let’s not forget the medication! I needed eye drops for the uveitis, plus an antibiotic and oral steroids. The eye drops were administered in different dosages at different times of the day. For instance, one medication in the right eye every two hours. Another medication in the right eye four times a day. A high dose of oral steroids that kept me up at night. And that was just for the first week.

Then my left eye was operated on. I had an entirely different medication schedule for that eye. Finally, this week, I am using one eye drop twice a day in both eyes. And the oral steroids, thank goodness, are gone.

So six weeks out from the last surgery and things are looking good. Make that things are looking great! It is exactly like Dr. Seitzman told me. It took time and patience. For someone who got her first pair of glasses in the third grade, imagine my shock at learning I was now cleared to drive without them. Everyone who has had cataract surgery knows the joy of having the “veil” lifted from one’s vision.

I am hoping that I am done once and for all with the uveitis as well. Only time will tell. Right now, I am maintaining that positive attitude.
-Sandra Crockett

Preparing for Surgery: A Testimony

Marketing's Sandra Crockett had successful eye surgery at the Krieger Eye Institute last week. This is an account of her preparation for eye surgery.

My eye surgery at Sinai Hospital is scheduled, and I am filled with trepidation and hope.

It has been more than a year since I’ve learned surgery was an option. I had uveitis (inflammation of the uvea; cause unknown in my case) which has given me both cataracts and glaucoma. The surgery can not be done if the uveitis is active, so I have had to wait.

Getting to surgery requires some necessary steps, which increase if you are over age 50.There is the pre-admission evaluation and testing, which must be done within thirty days of the surgery. This includes blood tests, a urinalysis and an electrocardiogram.

My primary care physician completed my outpatient history form, which states any sort of physical issues. And, I’ve been told to have a complete list of medications (for me that is three different eye drops and one twice-a-day pill, for eye pressure) to present to the nurse the day of surgery. I started on a heavy dose of steroids three days before surgery, but won’t take it on the day of surgery.

Those preparing for surgery are reminded not to eat, drink or smoke after midnight the day of the surgery. Aspirin is not allowed, but other medications are sometimes allowed - check with your physician. No make-up is to be worn the day of surgery and any jewelry is to be left at home.

It's important to plan who will be there with you after surgery. Obviously driving home after eye surgery is a non-starter. If there was no one available to take me home after surgery, it would be canceled.

Behind the scenes at Sinai, the PASS department is busy watching out for all the hospital’s preoperative patients. PASS stands for Pre-Anesthesia Screening Service.

“We review all of the paperwork,” says Tina Sewell, PASS nurse practitioner. If necessary, they also see patients.

PASS' ultimate goal to physically see all preoperative patients, regardless if the patients have a primary physician to provide screening. Only some patients see a PASS nurse.

“If a patient can’t get to their primary care doctor or if they have had anesthesia issues in the past, we will see them and discuss it,” says Patricia Valentino, a PASS nurse practitioner,

Some patients need guidance on which medications should be taken before surgery, says Patricia Drummond, PASS nurse practitioner. “We do a consult on what they need to take, whether it's blood pressure, psychiatric drugs, whatever," she says.

My best advice for people facing surgery is to put yourselves in the hands of good doctors and good hospitals. Ask questions and make sure you understand all of the answers.

That’s the medical part. There is also the rest of life after surgery. I will be out of action for about a month. Running is my exercise of choice but that will be out of the question for a couple of months. Ouch! Besides weight control, running provides stress relief. A long-time running buddy is already looking ahead. He is planning on running a November marathon in New Hampshire.

“And there’s a half marathon for you!” he says.

I know that November will be here before I know it. In the meantime, I’ll be a woman walking for the next few months.