Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Caution: Not for those who get grossed out easily....

I have had a few requests recently from some friends to see my pictures taken right after my recent surgery. For those who may not know, in February, I was taken in for surgery on my eyes. Because I wear, and have worn, hard contacts for the past 11 or so years, my eye-lids began to droop quite a lot. The droopiness was a result of the way I took my contacts out (by tugging on the outter corner of my eye...the only way I was taught to) each day. The tugging then caused the tendons in my eyelids to completely detach, causing the droopiness, and a 50% loss of my peripheral vision. So, I went in for surgery. They cut my eyelids open, reattached the tendons, and sewed my eyelids higher than they had been before...but in my follow up visit, the doctor told me the first surgery was not successful. So, I was taken in a week later for a second surgery. The second surgery was a nightmare! They had me stay awake for the procedure so I could assist the doctor in where my eyelids needed to be placed (or sewn). The doctor gave me several shots in my eyelids before performing the procedure, but the shots were SO painful, and did not end up helping to numb me at all. So, I was able to feel the entire procedure. I would have told the doctor that I could feel everything, if I wasn't so afraid to get more shots...so I just toughed it out. :) Anyway, the second procedure was successful, and following are some pictures taken right after both surgeries. Enjoy! :)
P.S. Please don't dwell on how bad I look... I didn't shower for a few days. :)

















*The first picture was after my first surgery. The "D" on my forehead was the dr.'s way of knowing which eye was droopier of the two.
*The second picture I love because Curtis spent forever making me this really long straw out of several smaller straws that went from my drink on the nightstand to just over my head so I didn't ever have to sit up. :) He's so great.
*And the third picture was from the second surgery. That yellow nasty bruising was around my eyes for over eight weeks.