LASIK: Update

Sunday night I did everything I could think of to prepare for the next day.  I made sure the house was clean, and got a head start on my Monday chores: laundry.  I put everything I would need in my purse, signed all my consent forms, and even checked for the fastest route to the eye center considering construction and traffic. I set out my clothes for the next morning and made a detailed to-do list for Dan.  But when I tried to go to sleep I failed miserably.  I tossed and turned for an hour.  I finally fell into a light sleep, only to wake up at 2:30am.  I began the tossing and turning all over again.  I just couldn't get my brain to turn off.  I think I slept again from 3:30 until 5:30.  But at five I wasn't able to back to sleep.  I gave up trying around 6:30 and got out of bed. 

I puttered around the house, did some more laundry and killed time on the Internet until 7:00 when I decided it was best to get in the shower.  I was nervous all morning, but was fine as long as I kept busy.  Keeping busy isn't ever a problem in the morning as I'm trying to get kids dressed and fed and out the door on time.  By 9am Tyson was on his way to school and Preston and Nolan were on their way to the babysitter (my wonderful neighbor).  Then began the long drive to the surgery center. 

We arrived on-time and were checked in quickly.  And then I sat in the waiting room while they called everyone else back before me.  I was starting to go crazy.  Just as I began pacing the floor they finally called me back.  They ran a quick check on my corneas, checked my vitals and gave me a Valium.  Then we sat in another waiting room.  This one was much better with warm chocolate chip cookies and a cute baby to make faces at. 

After a few minutes they took me to another exam room where one of the doctors took their final look at my eyes.  "Look up.  Look down. Look left.  Look right.  Alright, your eyes look great.  We can proceed with the surgery." 

If I hadn't been on Valium I would have cried for joy.  Instead I just smiled. 

The surgeon came in next to ask if I had any further questions and chat about the fact that our high schools were rivals 'back in the day'.

The next 30 minutes were filled with eye drops, blinking lights to stare at, more eye drops, a massage chair, more eye drops, holding very still while counting to 15, more eye drops, and more eye drops. 

And then I could see.  I Could See!  I COULD SEE!!!  When I first sat up from my surgery I looked through the large observation window and I could see Dan pacing the floor.  When I walked out into the hallway I could see the mountains out the windows.  I could see the nurses smiling at me.  Things were still a little blurry and 'milky' from all the drops but I COULD SEE! 

The doctor took one more look at my eyes, handed me a bag of candy and sent me home.  They told me to keep my eyes closed and let them rest during the drive home.  It was so hard!  I wanted to see the world, clearly.  But I obeyed (almost). 

Once home I rested on the couch while Dan made me some lunch.  I gave myself eye drops a few more times and took a nap while Dan picked up the boys from the babysitter. 

One of my favorite memories of this experience was the look on Tyson and Preston's faces when I told them that my eyes were fixed.  I told them separately but they both had the same response. Their mouths dropped open and their eyes bugged out.  Then they got a huge grin on their faces and said, "Really?!" 

By about 3pm my vision was perfect, and my eyes felt great.  No burning, itching, tearing, dry eyes, etc.  I just have to put drops in every hour (lubricating drops every hour, antibiotic drops every 2 hours, and steroid anti-inflammatory drops every 4 hours.  Never when I'm sleeping).

I thought the biggest shock would come when I woke up the next morning and could see right away, but the bigger shock for me came when I tried to go to bed that night.  I've been trained my whole life to never go to sleep with my glasses on or my contacts in.  So for the last 26 years the world has been blurry as I fall asleep.  But not now.  It took all my will-power not to "take out my contacts" before I went to sleep.  It felt so weird. 

This is such a huge change for me.  I think it will take several days before I can fully wrap my head around it.  No more glasses.  No more poking myself in the eye every morning and every night.  Never again.  No more stumbling around in the dark to take care of my babies at night. 

I am so blessed.