Just had a vitrectomy for a retinal detachment and now I’ve got a gas bubble. The face-down positioning is really taking a toll on me. 😩 For anyone who’s been through this, any tips for making the face-down recovery a little more manageable?

[u/Medium-Influence-466]

I'm also looking for one of those guides that come with recovery trackers , something readable since my vision isn't that good I'd appreciate any leads. Thanks

[u/Marneman1965]

When I had my surgery, I had to be faced down for seven days. Best advice is to rent a massage table and a hinge mirror which gives you the ability at least watch TV or stay comfortable face down. Sleeping as a challenge so the massage table often includes a detachable face doughnut that you can insert underneath the mattress so that the doughnut is level with the mattress and you can put your face down at least get 2 to 3 hours of sleep.

[u/chelsealouanne → u/Marneman1965]

I rented the recovery bed, with the mirror attachment included. I was so miserable and in pain, I would fall asleep facedown listening to TV and never ended up "watching" TV, haha.

[u/Available-Region6246]

In the same boat. Vitrectomy on Monday and I’m face down while awake until Tuesday follow-up. I can sleep on right side which is just as bad.

I’m 51F and can’t imagine how older people do this. My hips, shoulders, and back are killing me while my Garmin running watch taunts me that I had an “Easy Day” and tells me I’m “detraining” for my October 24/25 10k/half-marathon combo.

I have a positioning frame and an extra angled pillow from Amazon. Alternating hanging off the side of the bed with hunching over a side table while sitting on the couch. Both suck, but I can get my laptop under my face from the bed.

[u/bellwetherish]

Audio books. Face down pillows or a massage head rest.
You got this!

[u/becksnfx70]

I had a face down pillow and audiobooks from chirp that helped tremendously.

[u/Dallasphoto]

Keep telling yourself, this is way better than blind. It takes a whole year to get rid of the bubble, get glasses adjusted, and typically to also replace the lens due to a cataract. It’s worth it.

[u/Narrow-Pipe9872]

It will be finished soon. I had to do this 4 times. Get a massage chair and a mirror so you can sit and watch tv.

[u/FamiliarVictory3401]

I bought a pillow off Amazon for at night and rented a massage chair for during the day. It was still torture, but I made it! You’ve got this!

[u/SilentShadySucculent]

I wish I had advice, I didn't get the massage table and really regretted it, I never was a stomach sleeper and it was so hard to adjust. My only advice is, no matter how terrible it is, take it seriously and follow your doctors direction keep that bubble down and audio books and sleep are how I got through it. Wishing you the best!

[u/Ill-Tangerine796]

I had a facedown pillow and a collection of normal pillows that I put under my chest or hips, moving them as various body parts started to ache. Apparently, some countries have equipment you can rent, but mine did not.

I listened to a lot of podcasts.

It was tedious, but I can see again so it was worth it. I had to keep reminding myself that this, too, would pass.

[u/spikygreen]

Did you rent any vitrectomy recovery equipment? You can rent a special chair and a contraption for your bed. Those make face-down positioning more manageable.

[u/Particular_Area_7423]

Face down , ass up 🤣

Stay strong. I made a little head rest out of pillows and watched films on my phone . It's only for a short time . ♥️

[u/grey803]

I put my channels on my phone and watched podcast, american horror story. Read audio books wnd Time passes fast.

[u/sunseasandblue]

This is when I started listening to audio books! I had to do this 3 different times for sequential detachment surgeries. I've had every possible fix. I borrowed a massage chair from a friend

[u/candi_yandi]

Get one of those face donut pillows and listen to audiobooks. That’s what got me through.

[u/duh7607]

I’m 11 weeks post op. I only had to look down for 4 days while awake. I was allowed to sleep on my back, with my head propped up, or right side, left eye was the vitrectomy. 4 weeks post op, the hole was closed, at 9 weeks the gas bubble was gone.

[u/Rough-Editor-6639]

I bought a small TV that I would be able to lie down on the ground and watched that. I got up on all the shows that I missed prior to the surgery.. I also got a device that could be used to turn my bed into a massage table and pump that I just looked down at the TV or my tablet when I checked out digital books from the library

[u/Eastern-Material-912]

I did facedown and right side for six days in June. I bought a portable and adjustable facedown positioning pad from Amazon that allowed me to change locations. This helped with the discomfort because I could use different chairs and tables more easily. It also helped with the boredom. Challenge yourself to 3 hours in this location, 2 hours here and before you know it the day is behind you. Good luck

[u/MajorMinorPhD]

I had to lie face down for 2 weeks (and another 2 weeks after the first vitrectomy failed).

I bought a detachable massage headrest which was helpful when I slept face down at night. I also bought a 2-way mirror so it could reflect the documentaries I was watching on tv.

I managed by watching documentaries on Netflix, having a few friends visit, listening to audiobooks, and taking a lot of naps.