ANA Discussion Forum

Post-Treatment => Eye Issues => Topic started by: CROOKEDSMILE on October 01, 2008, 03:38:49 pm

Title: Is it unrealistic to expect my blink to come back after 14 months post op?
Post by: CROOKEDSMILE on October 01, 2008, 03:38:49 pm
Still not blinking..........Trying to decide what to do about a weight. Keep wearing this external one or get another implant. Just need to see if anyone out there got there blink back after this long.
Angie
Title: Re: Is it unrealistic to expect my blink to come back after 14 months post op?
Post by: Kaybo on October 01, 2008, 03:46:16 pm
Angie~
Does it not blink AT ALL or just not all the way??

K
Title: Re: Is it unrealistic to expect my blink to come back after 14 months post op?
Post by: CROOKEDSMILE on October 01, 2008, 06:16:01 pm
Hey Kay!
It blinks some in the morning then fatigues and then I have to wear the weight. I can close it all the way and at times like I said blink it but not for very long then it gets lazy. Sometimes I can even wink with that eye it is just very weak. I don't know if it gets stronger with time or if I need to take action now and get something done.
Hope you are well Kay.
Just a funny side note.......I was doing my facial exercises in my backyard today since it was so pretty in the high 70's...I was sitting in the lounger with a mirror and there were guys working on my neighbor's roof and I would bet they could see into my backyard and see me winking, smiling and puckering in the mirror. I'm sure that gave them something to talk about all day long!!!! They probably thought....Geez~what a vain chick! Kissing herself, winking, etc.
Angie
Title: Re: Is it unrealistic to expect my blink to come back after 14 months post op?
Post by: 28Lisa on October 03, 2008, 10:03:41 am
get the weight implant, what are you waiting for?
Title: Re: Is it unrealistic to expect my blink to come back after 14 months post op?
Post by: CROOKEDSMILE on October 03, 2008, 10:46:57 am
Hi Lisa,
I had a platinum eyelid weight in that a plastic surgeon put in but it was too heavy and had to be removed 3 months later. Upon removal of this weight I got a terrible post op. infection from removal of the weight and it turned into cellulitis which in its most serious form is like the flesh eating bacteria. It did eat away at the eyelid some but we caught it pretty early on and was put on massive doses of antibiotics and required daily visits to the eye surgeon to make sure I was responding to the meds. I've also had a lateral canthoplasty where they cut the muscle and tendon from the eye bone and pull it up to tighten the lower lid. So I have been proactive and now all of the doctors are telling me to wait it out before doing anything else. I see a facial retrainer and she said wait at least 2 more years. My eye/neuro guy said to wait it out. My needle emg showed regeneration to the orbicularis oculi (eye muscles) and that is why they want me to be patient. It is just hard to wait and was wondering if anyone had their blink come back after 14 months or longer.
Angie
Title: Re: Is it unrealistic to expect my blink to come back after 14 months post op?
Post by: 4cm in Pacific Northwest on October 03, 2008, 12:24:29 pm
Angie,

I too am @ almost 14 months here- and have not had to wear the eye weight all week.  :) (The previous week was different – as was the stress   :-\  However when I first work up from surgery I had full eye lid function- the eye issues came as a result of post operative brain swelling. My neurotologist and follow up ophthalmologist were confident that this eye-lid function would all come back as I did have eye lid function – post surgery. This is why I went with the stick-on vs. the implanted weight model.

How much eye lid action did you actually have when you first woke up from surgery- 14 months ago?

Your answer to this may have some bearing as to how realistic the expectation is- that you will regain full eye-lid function.

DHM
Title: Re: Is it unrealistic to expect my blink to come back after 14 months post op?
Post by: 28Lisa on October 03, 2008, 12:38:01 pm
CS

Im so sorry to hear that I didnt know all that

((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))

I hope everything works out for you
Title: Re: Is it unrealistic to expect my blink to come back after 14 months post op?
Post by: CROOKEDSMILE on October 03, 2008, 02:11:35 pm
I had complete facial paralysis with no eyelid function although my needle emg did show that the nerve is now innervating the eye as of April 08. This is new as my original emg showed nothing to the eye.
ANgie