ANA Discussion Forum
Post-Treatment => Eye Issues => Topic started by: satman on June 30, 2007, 11:55:22 am
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i have read that eye weight make you lid flap open when lying down or tilting of the head.is this true?do all of them do that?
it just never ends,yea life gets better at 40,lets really think about that.
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I have a heavy gold weight in my eye lid and it basically helps close the lid when I lay down and sleep. It has been a life saver for me. I could not close my lid after my AN was removed and I had to wear gauze and tape over my eye which did more damage to my eye so I insisted on my third hospital stay (had two CSF leaks after my AN was removed) that I was not going home with an eye patch that I wanted my eye lid to close on its own. That was almost a year ago and my eye lid is doing fine. The current weight is a little too heavy at this tiime but we are going to wait until this fall to remove it and put in a lighter weight. I am having eye surgery in August to correct my double vision and we want to make sure my eye closes well after that particular sugery.
The procedure for placing a gold weight in your eye lid is a very simple, about 30 to 45 minute procedure.
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The eye weight works with gravity. If you are laying with your head tipped back a bit it will be much harder for you to close your eye. That's how I test to see if my eyelid is working any better. But when I'm laying down normally, my eye will close just fine albeit slowly most of the time. I had my eye weight put in about 5 days after my surgery. I really don't remember much about what is what like without it.
Jean
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I'm just sounding off here: "I WANT MY EYE WEIGHT PUT IN ALREADY!!!" My next appt. is Aug. 8th with a lid specialist. Since I had so much trouble with the gold weight, Dr. Jewett is concerned that the platinum weight will cause the same problems. So I'm WEIGHTLESS SINCE MARCH !! At 1st because of swelling I could still close my eye, but now ? - FORGET ABOUT IT !! - & it's starting to drive me nuts !!!! I'm back to the saran wrap every night. All I have to say is GEEZ LOUISE !!!! (okay, I feel better)
Nancy
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Nancyann, I am so sorry you've had to wait this long. I remember when I didn't have my gold eye weight and I literally was going bonkers. I know what you are going thru and I can sympathize. I am having eye surgery in less than two weeks to hopefully correct my double vision. I am so thankful I finally got a prism for my eye glasses and now I am ready for surgery. I know we all really just want to have some normalcy in our lives and we are constantly reminded of these pesty side effects. I hope you won't have to wait too long after you see your sprecialist before he/she puts your weight in, I will be praying for you!
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Hey TP, thanks for the kind words - it helps knowing others out there know exactly what I'm going thru. I wish you all the best with your upcoming surgery too.
Always good thoughts, Nancy
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Nancyann
What was the problem with the gold weight? Did you have an allergic reaction to the metal? Do they ever use titanium?? Hope you can get it fixed soon
Best wishes
Sam
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nancyann:
Have you tried the stick on weights?
Kathy
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Hey guys, Sam: after the weight was in my upper lid remained swollen & red. At 1st they thought an allergic reaction, but my optomologist thought maybe a duct was being blocked by the weight. The next try may be platinum - titanium is too lightweight. Kathy: I asked the doc about that, he called the company, & since they use gold & he thought it might be an allergy, he wouldn't order it for me.
Last night I used the 'NitEye Comforter', a moisture chamber & it worked like a charm ! - & much easier to put on than saran wrap !! So at least I'm set with the nighttime eye care. Thanks for all your thoughts, Nancy
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Hi Nancy,a couple of words for ya,"LOVE YA !"man, after all you have
endured,you always seem to reflect a good mood.I personally dont know how you
do it.i havent got that far with the eye yet and i am already FED-UP!i i'm so sick of
putting in lacrilube i cant stand it , there i go venting again,sorry guys.
anyway,hang in there Nanc. John
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Hey John, believe me, it's all 'smoke & mirrors' - I have my moments. I geuss since I've been doing the lubricant thing for over a year now, I'm use to it. Believe me, I'm about fed up too - did you see my 'sound off' a few posts back? ( Oh, BTW, was that a 'love ya' or a 'love you' - from 'Something's Gotta Give' Diane Keaton & Jack Nicholson lol). Always good thoughts John, Nancy
ps: I heard from Daylilly that a Dr. Wojno at Emory in Atlanta does a different kind of lower lid surgery where he uses cartilage from the back of the ear & puts it in the lower lid - it prevents the lower lid from drooping down again due to gravity (I had the lateral tarsal strip done twice so far) & you may not need to use drops/lubricant if your eye produces tears on it's own (my eye produces tears, but because I can't blink they don't bathe the cornea). Anyway, I'm in the process of making an appt. with a reconstruction doc at Johns Hopkins - I may check out Dr. Wojno too (one thing at a time !)
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Nsncy,
I had surgery in May of 2006 and now in therapy for my face due to synkenesis which occurred after the healing process of my facial nerves being traumatized. I'm happy with the progess I'm making in that area, but my eye is consistently red. I can close my eye when I try, but it may not close all the way when I sleep at night. You said that you used a Nit Eye Comforter which is a moisture chamber. I used something like that right after my sugery for a few months but it would not stay on my eye very well. It ciosts about six dollars and is not very effective. I'm curious to know if what you have might be better. After reading about everyone's experience with the spring and gold weights, I'm thinking I want to take a more conservative approach or take a wait and see attitude. Thanks, Jaycene
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nancyann,
I'm so sorry over your problem.
I only needed my eye weight for 7 months I couldn't wait to have it removed.
I was always asked what is wrong with your eye?
then it hurt when I rubbed it
But the eye weight was also a life saver because I couldn't close my eye and it was always burning since it was always dry
My prayers are with you
As you notice I am not much of a writer
eve
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Jaycene: the tel# for Medtronics is 1-800-535-4646. Tell them you want to order the Niteye Bubble Bandage, Non-sterile. They're 14 per box. If no one is at your home when they deliver, they'll either redeliver or you pick them up. (I had them redeliver at my job). One lasts me 2 nights (the adhesive wears off), though they say to use a new one every night. First time you call you have to get a member #, then, then next day you place your order.
Eve - thanks for the kind words - well, I get my platinum weight 11/20 when I have the temporalis tendon transfer for the facial paralysis - can't wait!!
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NANCYANN,
I HAVE A PLATINUM WEIGHT IN RIGHT NOW. I GO TO THE DOCTOR NEXT WEEK BECAUSE I NEED A LIGHTER WEIGHT PUT IN. WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT THE PLATINUM VERSUS THE GOLD WEIGHT? THIS DOCTOR USUALLY PUTS IN GOLD BUT CAN ORDER THE PLATINUM IF THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO DO AGAIN. IS IT LESS NOTICEABLE THAN THE GOLD? MORE COMFORTABLE? DO YOU GET FULL CLOSURE? WHAT WEIGHT PLATINUM DO YOU HAVE?
CROOKEDSMILE
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Hi Crookedsmile: I had a platinum chain put in most recently - it is flatter than the gold weight & less noticeable since platinum is a heavier metal.
I had an allergic reaction to the gold (very rare) - my eyelid remained swollen & there was a red spot right over where the weight was.
The platinum chain I have in now is 0.8 grams - I think it's too light so I have an appt. 3/3/08 with an eye surgeon to check on this.
My eye doesn't close at all when I blink; when I 'hold' the blink it closes enough to cover the cornea because my eyeball rolls up when I
try to close my eye (this is known as bell's phenomenon), but doesn't close all the way.
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NANCYANN,
I WONDER WHY THEY PUT IN SUCH A LIGHT WEIGHT? THEY PUT IN A 1.4 GM PLATINUM IN ME AND I CAN CLOSE MY EYE A LITTLE BIT WITHOUT THE WEIGHT. MY EYE CLOSES AND BLINKS COMPLETELY WITH THIS WEIGHT AND IT MAY BE A LITTLE TOO HEAVY. I THINK THE 1.2 GM WOULD BE PERFECT AND STILL CLOSE MY EYE ALL THE WAY. YOU MIGHT WANT TO SUGGEST THEY TRY A 1.2GM. I KNOW EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT. THE 1.4 HAS CAUSED A LITTLE BIT OF PTOSIS HENCE WHY I THINK IT'S TOO HEAVY.
GOOD LUCK.
WILL THEY DO ANOTHER REVISION ON YOU UNTIL THEY GET IT RIGHT?
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When Dr. Byrne (at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore) did my TTT surgery, he checked the weight externally 1st, & felt the 0.8 gram gave the most symmetrical look.
When Dr. Tse (at Bascolm Palmer here in Miami) had checked with an external weight (a month prior to my surgery), he felt a 1.0 gram was the weight needed.
I have an appt. with Dr. Tse March 3rd. I'll see then if he'll put in a heavier weight (I hope I hope...)
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THIS MESSAGE IS FOR NANCYANN:
WHEN I START FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF AND DOWN I REMEMBER HOW UPBEAT YOU SOUND AND THINK WHAT AN UNBELIEVABLE PERSON YOU MUST BE. YOU ARE A GREAT EXAMPLE FOR US ALL TO LIVE BY. I'M SURE YOUR MOTTO IS: WHAT DOESN'T KILL ME ONLY MAKES ME STONGER! YOU ARE AMAZING.
CROOKEDSMILE
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YOU are a sweetheart Crookedsmile.
I thank everyone on this forum for getting me thru the rough times & celebrating with me during the good times.
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MY WEIGHT IS PLACED MEDIALLY TOWARDS MY TEAR DUCT. IT IS NOT CENTERED UP ON THE EYELID. IT GIVES ME A STRANGE CAT EYE APPEARANCE. IS ANYONE ELSE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. IS IT SUPPOSED TO BE MORE UP ON THE EYELID CENTERED?