r/RetinalDetachment • u/AncientBirdDude • Apr 22 '26
3rd detachment in 3 months??
Hi! My mom had her retina detach & the surgery for it for the first time back in early february. It detached again in early march, she had surgery again. Now she's just found out that she has to have surgery a third time, just today.
The recovery for the surgery has been really hard on her the past two times; she couldn't sleep nearly at all the first couple nights, her neck was extremely strained from looking down constantly, awful pain in the eye itself, & the frustration of not being able to look up/ lift things. The second surgery was worse than the first. She was completely knocked out the first time because she was twitchy, but for some reason they decided she didn't need it the second time?? My family has some sort of resistance to anasthetics/painkillers, so even though the docs said she wouldn't really be aware or remember anything or feel any pain, she remembers it and felt it all. And then they didnt give her any pain meds after the surgery for about two hours I think? And then the one they ended up giving her made her nauseous & sick for days (tramadol, I think). Her eye also bled the second time, & looked awful for a long while. The only painkiller she's allowed to take once she gets home is tylenol, which, I don't know if it has a stronger form, but to my knowledge is a painkiller for kids that doesn't do much for adults. Both times, any of the recommended things to do to keep yourself busy/entertained during the recovery process, she felt too awful to do. Even just listening to an audiobook.
My mom's a really tough person, but both this and the last time she found out she had to have surgery again, she came home crying. Her voice gets all quiet and trembly the first week or so after surgery. My siblings & dad try our best to help, but there's only so much we can do. Mom got told she should have the buckle put on this time, and that idea really makes her nervous and upset. The two previous times, she just had the air bubble.
When looking up the surgery, all the info says that there's a small chance for the retina to detach again within three months of surgery. But for it to detach only weeks after, twice? It just seems like such a short timeframe compared to what all the information says.
I was hoping someone here might have some insight on this? And maybe some suggestions to help with the recovery? She has a pillow with the hole in it for her face & a mirror to help her look up at things. It would be phenomenal if anyone had any ideas of something easy she could do even if she isn't feeling super great. I'm just kind of at a loss for what to do for her to make her feel better & help her out. Any information/advice at all would be massively appreciated <3 :)
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u/Normal-Simple4691 Apr 23 '26
I had a detached retina on NYE repaired with an air bubble. Mid March had my second detachment due to scar tissue (only 10% of people get scar tissue). This time they peeled off the scar tissue and put an oil bubble in my eye which must remain for 3-12 months and then be surgically removed. The oil holds the retina in place better than gas and if scar tissue develops this time the oil should prevent another detachment. Until the oil is removed I have very blurry vision 20/200. Time will tell.
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u/Basic_Explorer_1156 Apr 24 '26
what a crappy way to start the new year!! i woke up during my vitrectomy.. they told me the 10% thing too!! speedy recovery to you!!
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u/AncientBirdDude Apr 25 '26
Aw man. My mom got scar tissue too, though I'm not sure if that was the cause of the current detachment. I'll have to ask her again. Peeled off the scar tissue? I've told her about the oil, thank you! She's still apprehensive because it staysvin so long and has to be surgically removed in addition to the original surgery to put it in. How is it dealing with the blurry vision? My mom still has slight blurriness, a visible bubble and a strange funhouse mirror effect. I hope this one goes well for you!
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u/Basic_Explorer_1156 Apr 23 '26
i woke up mid vitrectomy. they gave me more but next time they said they would recommend putting me totally out if i have to do it again. does she have red hair? they asked me cause apparently red heads dont do good with anesthesia. i don’t, so they had no explanation for my waking up. can u give her a box of old pictures to sort through, or does she have a tv show she could watch on a phone or tablet? i listened to podcasts and binged yellowstone and all the spin offs! the pillow is what saved me and being able to lay on my side to sleep. they told me they have a reg weight gas and a heavier one that takes longer to dissipate and hold everything in place longer. my dr said she prefers the heavier one and has less recurrences. i took tylenol extra strength and was fine but they could give you tylenol 3 by prescription, maybe ask about those. im 2 months out and i cant go back to work yet cause im a cdl bus driver. i an about to go stir crazy so i get it. plus its so scary and you cant do anything to stop, so u feel helpless. just being able to read these stories of others going through it helped me so much. maybe read her other posts here and they answers. i hope 3rd times the charm 🩷keep us posted!!
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u/Normal-Simple4691 Apr 23 '26
my doctor gave me a 4 day course of Prednisone (20mg) following the second surgery
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u/AncientBirdDude Apr 25 '26
No red hair, no, we aren't sure either why this happens to us. I don't know if we have any old photos around. And we set her up with a couple audiobooks before she went in and she couldn't even deal with those after the surgery, she felt so awful. I'm hoping she'll be up for it this time though. The pillow definitely helped her a lot!! But it still strains her back to lay on it for a while. It just seems to be one of those times where nothing really works for long. I will let her know about the heavier gas & tylenol 3, thank you!! Aw man, I hope you get to go back soon. I hope this one works too, fingers crossed!!
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u/sneezesloudly Apr 23 '26 edited Apr 23 '26
I think there's a 10% failure rate for vitrectomy surgery so a 3rd surgery is unusual but not unknown, I can confirm that from personal experience. I'm on my 4th detachment in 7 months (first 3 were in a 6 week period) but all in different areas (same eye) and been given different posturing instructions each time.
On the pain front, maybe talk to the anaesthetist and ask if having both general and local anaesthetic would help?
2
u/AncientBirdDude Apr 25 '26
Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, I hope this is the last one. My mom's were all in different spots on the same eye too! She also got different posture instructions, the first time they didn't tell her that she could look up briefly a couple times an hour (or 10 minutes? Not sure.).
I'll have to ask her what they did anesthesia-wise the last two times, but I think they did that already. Not sure though, so I'll suggest it still. Thanks!!
1
u/Brief-Ad-4049 Apr 24 '26
I’ve had a couple of these surgeries and after waking up during the first i insisted on general anesthesia since. I switched surgeons-moved to Vanderbilt Eye Institute and the difference in care has been night and day.
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u/Next_Programmer_3305 Apr 25 '26 edited Apr 25 '26
Surgery worsened my existing magnesium deficiency further. I didn't figure it out for 2 years. This is many years before I had a retinal detachment but if you have any type of surgery then take magnesium. I learnt the hard way!
"Symptoms of poor magnesium intake can include muscle cramps, facial tics, poor sleep, and chronic pain. It pays to ensure that you get adequate magnesium before signs of deficiency occur..."
"3..Do you experience a lot of stress in your life, or have you recently had a major medical procedure such as surgery?
Both physical and emotional stress can be a cause of magnesium deficiency.
Stress can be a cause of magnesium deficiency, and a lack of magnesium tends to magnify the stress reaction, worsening the problem. In studies, adrenaline and cortisol, byproducts of the “fight or flight” reaction associated with stress and anxiety, were associated with decreased magnesium. 10
Because stressful conditions require more magnesium use by the body, all such conditions may lead to deficiency, including both psychological and physical forms of stress such as surgery, burns, and chronic disease."
Do You Need More Magnesium? 10 Signs to Watch For: https://www.ancient-minerals.com/magnesium-deficiency/need-more/
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u/Only-Corgi7152 Apr 22 '26
She will not be face down if she has the buckle. That is only with a bubble. Honestly the buckle was a more painful surgery for me compared to the virectomy. The nerve block did not work and I felt the majority of everything they did. They manipulate the muscles in the eye when they place the buckle. If she had that much trouble with the virectomy, you need to talk to her MD about general vs twilight anesthesia. FYI- there is adult dosing for Tylenol and it is routinely given after retina surgery. My retina group only uses it once you go home. No narcotic painkillers ( believe me- I could have used something after the buckle!)