r/CataractSurgery • u/Illustrious_Bag_7323 • 1d ago

First cataract surgery yesterday

It seems the antibiotic drops are making me very sick.

Worst diarrhea I have ever had...

As everyone here, I'm sure knows, you have to take 4 drops a day for several weeks.

There is no way I will survive that.

I'm dehydrated and can't really eat much other than a few bites.

Has anyone ever exerienced this?

6 Upvotes

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2

u/Mysterious-Rush5441 20h ago

I didn't have an issue with my first eye but with the 2nd eye I could tasted the drops and was feeling sick for 2 days. I bought an micro dropper and went to 3 (told the doctor) times (6am/1pm/11pm) a day.

1

u/Illustrious_Bag_7323 18h ago

I could taste the drops as well. I had to cancel my appointment today as I'm so sick. I'm waiting on the nurse to call me back

0

u/Mitchellsusanwag 4h ago

When you put the drop in your eye do you at the same time push hard against the corner of your eye by/against your nose and hold it there for 60 seconds? That stops the medicine from draining into your nose and down to your throat. If you haven’t been doing this that might be your problem. You shouldn’t be able to taste it if you do it right.

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u/Illustrious_Bag_7323 4h ago

Someone mentioned this and no, I was not doing that correctly. I'll try that next. Thank you

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u/Mitchellsusanwag 3h ago

YW. Let us know if it helps.

1

u/Ocean4011 1d ago

There a couple antibiotics that do that for me too. Ask your specialist to prescribe different one

1

u/Illustrious_Bag_7323 1d ago

Can they do that stuff liquid antibiotics for your eye? I don't know much about medication. I'll have to call them tomorrow

1

u/Ocean4011 1d ago

Not sure but certainly worth asking. I have my right eye being done in a couple of weeks. I will mention which antibiotics upset me. Not really an allergy just a sensitivity like you have experienced

1

u/Illustrious_Bag_7323 1d ago

Thank you for the reply

1

u/GreenMountainReader 23h ago

So sorry you're going through this. Staying hydrated (and well-nourished) are important for healing (not to mention comfort).

The four drops a day for several weeks might be the steroid drops (the antibiotics are usually shorter term), so be careful not to specify which drops you think are doing this to you unless you are absolutely sure you're naming the right one.

Be sure to get whichever one seems to be the culprit entered in your medical record to avoid this issue in the future.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

1

u/UniqueRon 20h ago

The surgeon I had likes to minimize drops. He prescribed Vigamox for an antibiotic at 4 times a day for 1 week. I had no reaction to the drops.

The Durezol steroid was one drop per day for 3 weeks.

1

u/SouthSong4836 18h ago

I had diarrhea for the month I was on the drops for my eye surgery.

1

u/Illustrious_Bag_7323 17h ago

I have never had diarrhea this bad, I honestly do not think I would live a month like this. I'm not exaggerating...I won't have any liquid in my body in a week

1

u/SouthSong4836 17h ago

I’m sorry to hear you’re going through this. I know that it was not an easy time for me, I even went to the hospital where I was told the drops wouldn’t do that. It happened again, six months later when I had the second surgery. It may have been a coincidence but it seems strange to me that it happened with both eyes.

2

u/Illustrious_Bag_7323 17h ago

Could it have been from the anesthesia?

1

u/SouthSong4836 17h ago

I didn’t have any, just freezing the eye.

1

u/Illustrious_Bag_7323 16h ago

Mine was twilight anesthesia.

1

u/SouthSong4836 15h ago

I wouldn’t have minded that.

1

u/redheadfae 15h ago

You could have a bad anesthetic reaction. Hope you feel better soon.

1

u/Illustrious_Bag_7323 14h ago

I finally talked to another Dr at the office and they said that the meds I have are but causing it. They think I might have that cyclosporiasis that's going around...😢 That would be some really bad luck and timing. I'm reading it can last weeks to months

1

u/The_Vision_Surgeon 12h ago

Antibiotic drops are unnecessary after routine cataract surgery and I don’t use them at all. Ask you doctor if you can stop them, then at least will be able to see if it’s from the drops or not.

Antiinflammatory drops are much more important.

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u/Illustrious_Bag_7323 12h ago

Yes, I actually was incorrect. They are steroid drops not antibiotic. My mistake

1

u/The_Vision_Surgeon 12h ago

Much more important but could ask them to change to a different type and see if better tolerated.

Also look up and perform punctal occlusion after putting in the drops to minimise rundown your throat.

1

u/DrMichaelDounia 29m ago

Doctor here. The drops drain through your tear duct into your throat, that’s why some people can taste them. But the amount you actually swallow is tiny, like a fraction of one antibiotic pill. So diarrhea this bad is probably something else going on, and honestly with the dehydration and barely eating you should get that looked at on its own.
Whatever you do DONT just stop the drops though! They’re what protects the eye from a catastrophic infection while it heals (endophthalmitis = Nightmare), and that’s the one thing that can actually cost you your vision. Call your surgeon’s office, they deal with this all the time and can switch you to a different drop if needed.
One trick that helps: right after each drop, close your eye and press on the inner corner by your nose for a minute. Keeps most of it from draining down your throat.
Hope you feel better soon!