Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Recommended Posts

Let me give some background first. I was about 12 when I first noticed I wasn't doing well in school. My mother and I didn't understand why cause I did really well in some classes and not too well in others. (Because I sat in the back in some classes and in the front in others. DUH!! LOL!!) We talked to my teachers and none could shed any light. This went on for another year till I was 13 and started "aunt flo". SORRY guys! Just bear with me. Lots of headaches, cramping, etc just normal things that are associated with it. RIGHT? Well the headaches lingered longer that the um,...er,... "aunt flo". LOL!!! So I went to see our family doctor. He suggested we get my eyes tested.

Lo and behold I needed glasses. GO figure!! LOL!! So that the age of 13 I started wearing glasses. Anyone remember when they didn't have the light weight plastic lenses and we had to get the heavy glass lenses. Well I needed the heavy lenses. UGH!! And it took two weeks to get your glasses not the nifty swifty one hour like at Lenscrafters.

Fast forward to Sept 2003. I hear about this really cool Lasik surgery. I go in for an extensive 2 hour eye exam to see if I am a candidate. I AM!!!! HOORAY!!!! My sweetie pays the $4500 fee. OUCH!!! I just love that man. He also paid for my LapBand as well. DOUBLE LOVE HIM!!!!!

October 2003 I have Lasik surgery and can see 20/20 immediately after surgery. I cry and wail and gnash teeth,... oh wait no gnashing of teeth but I do cry and wail. I am thrilled with the results.

I notice about 8 months after surgery a deterioration in my vision. The distance is not a crisp as it was right after surgery. I schedule an appt to get my eyes tested again. They say my eyes are still adjusting. I wait four months till my yearly checkup. NOTHING changes. I schedule another appt. They tell me that I still have what is considered 20/20 vision. I ask about will it get worse or better or what. They said if it wasn't better in a couple of months to come back.

I just got home from the eye doctor TODAY. I have a second LASIK surgery scheduled on March 22nd. I am having monovision with custom vue to make the vision better in the weaker eye. If they try to correct both eyes I will lose all close up vision in both eyes. This way I can still have close up vision and my distance will be much clearer and still not have to wear glasses. HOORAY!!!!

I am just not looking forward to another surgery right now. I will be in and out in under 15 min or less actually. It takes longer to set up for the operation than the operation itself. LOL!!

My doctor is Charles Manger, III and his clinic is Saddleback Eye Center. It is located in Laguna Hills which is in the Irvine area. So on Tuesday the 22nd, I go to the clinic for the surgery and stay overnight at an area hotel. Then the next morning go back to the clinic via their shuttle for a checkup then I will take a taxi to the train station and come home. My sweetie is driving me down and staying with me and then taking me to the hotel afterward, but he has to get home that night so he can take my 17 yr old son to his driving school classes the next morning. UGH!!

I am not at all anxious about it, I just didn't wanna have to do this right now. But if I don't do it now I would have to wait till May. I will be out of town for the month of April. OH well it is what it is.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Betty: Did it take you long to adjust to the monovision? That is my only concern right now. I don't wanna be walking lopsided. LOL!!!

Good Luck Penni - I have the monovision and I love it!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had lasik also Penni- wore "coke bottle glasses" as a kid from 3th grade on. Several of my friends have had the surgery as well- only one did the monovision & she adjusted quite well after about 1 month. I pray all goes well & that it works out perfectly - sounds like you have a great doctor!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

No Penni actually I could see good from the start with no troubles. My Dh was the one worried, she said you won't be able to adjust just wait and see. But, I really did adjust fast.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Good luck, Penni. I had the monovision done right before Christmas. It does take some getting used to. My reading vision was great right off the bat. My distance vision is still adjusting and I'll probably need an adjustment done on it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have monovision and had to have my distance eye done twice. I also still wear my glasses. I am definitely NOT satisfied with the damage I've done to two perfectly healthy eyes. :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Please explain the monovision. I can see a fly on a billboard across the highway, but I can't read the newspaper or the phonebook, would I be a candidate for that? I had both of my sons fixed by Lasik, they're sooo thrilled with theirs. My youngest even called the doctor at home and told him how happy he was.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Monovision is actually 2 different correction surgeries. A correction on one eye for nearsightedness....(being unable to see things faraway). This is what you get when you're young. And a correction for the other eye for farsightedness (being unable to see things up close.. (like reading). This is what your eyes do as they age.

With the monovision correction, you have to learn to use one eye for distance, the other for close ups. It takes getting used to.

Younger people usually just have correction done for nearsightedness.

Of course the ideal thing is to have perfect vision and no correction is needed!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Of course the ideal thing is to have perfect vision and no correction is needed!!

Yeah I want that. To be young again. Fix that for me Marie. PUHLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sigh!! Now I am not so sure I should have the surgery. I am so afraid that I will make my eyesight worse. Right now I see fine up close and far with my left eye. My right eye is the one that has problems with distance. They are correcting that part of my vision. SIGH!! Oh well I can always cancel the surgery.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

That is correct. So only a patch over the one eye. LOL!!! Hey, I will be like a pirate then. Ahoy matie!! All I need is a parrot then. LOL!!

So they are just correcting the right eye, correct?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×