Post trab expectations

[Ritualhazard]

Hi folks. I’m heading in for my first trab next week and apart from being terrified I have no idea what to expect in terms of lifestyle changes during the recovery period. I’ve read that you need at least two weeks off work, you can’t wash your hair or do any aerobic exercise. I’m worried reading may be an issue ( I don’t really watch tv) and wondering what I’m going do with myself. Im an IT manager so spend my work days on a screen. Outside of that I live on a small farm so there’s always a lot to do there and I live hillwalking ( we have a spaniel who needs a lot of exercise). Any advice would be gratefully received.

[Toby_from_London]

Hi Ritualhazard,

I’m sure lots of lovely people on this forum will respond and put your mind at rest but yes, you’ll need to take it easy for a couple of weeks as your eye pressure will drop significantly immediately after the procedure, and the eye can be easily damaged when pressures are low.

You will be given written instructions on aftercare and while I’m no doctor I do believe that the first couple of weeks are vital, and following these guidelines to the letter will maximise your chances of a successful outcome.

So it’s really a case of protecting your eye while it settles, not doing anything too vigorous, not bending down, not getting your eye wet and sticking to the schedule of drops, which does restrict you for a couple of weeks but will be worth it in the long run.

Reading shouldn’t be an issue as that won’t damage your eye but I would suggest taking at least a week off, just to limit your movements and allow you to rest as the eye drop regime can be quite tiring. Sorry to be blunt but your eyesight is infinitely more important than your job.

As readers of my posts will probably be tired of me saying, you can contact Glaucoma UK and ask to speak to a “Buddy” who can talk to you about their experience of the same procedure, which I personally found very helpful when I had my microshunt inserted.

Take care and try not to worry; it really won’t be as bad as you think. I was terrified before my op but now 5 months on my IOP is stable at 12, and everything is going well.

Try to think long term and see these next few weeks as a chance to have a bit of down time!

Good luck for the op and wishing you a speedy recovery.

[Ritualhazard in reply to Toby_from_London]

thank you

[Beaudidily]

From what I can gather it depends on the outcome. Some people seem to fair easily whereas others (me!) struggle. Ive been walking the dog now for the past 3 weeks. I walk quite briskly for an hour and apart from having to wear sunglasses Ive been fine. My consultant wasnt happy for me to ride my bike yet but think that was him thinking I might fall off. Ive had ups and downs. Last Thurs/Fri the eye suddenly felt so much better and I thought great Im on the mend and now its gone back to being achy and irritable. Ive tried to avoid lifting but physically I feel good so its hard to avoid doing things. Then yesterday I felt rubbish so spent all day on the sofa. For me recovery is taking longer than I expected. Theres no way I could have gone back to working at a computer yet. It states 2 weeks in the booklet. Maybe some people can. Wish I could but 5 weeks on no chance. On the plus side I havent had any trouble reading and watching TV. Good luck!!

[Cornwalleyes]

Hi it really does seem to be different for everyone but as the others have said try not to exert yourself in the first two weeks. After that just ask your consultant at the follow up appointments. If you can shower with your eye shut that will be ok, you have to be really careful not to rub your eye, just gently pat above and below with a towel. I could read and watch tv fine within two days. I also walked the dogs twice a day, but tried to do flat walks so they were not too strenuous. I went back to swimming after four weeks but only when the sea was dead flat and only breast stroke so my eye didn’t get wet. I’ve only just gone back to the gym after six weeks and it’s still no heavy weight lifting. You will know if you have overdone it as your eye will ache. Nearly forgot it’s 2 hourly eye drops during the day after the op and one of them has to be kept in the fridge so that limits how far away from home you can go! For me that lasted a fortnight before it went to four hourly. As Toby says you can ask for a buddy or just post any queries on here. Everyone is so helpful.

[buzzbee2]

Hi there, it does seem to vary from person to person, some seem to be back to 'normal' vision fairly quickly. I had various complications (leaks, very low pressure) that needed further interventions unfortunately so I found I had to rest a lot. But I think mine was unusual so don't let that panic you! They told me it was fine to wash my hair as long as I kept my back to the shower and my eye closed. I listened to audio books and podcasts, as I didn't feel up to reading straight away. They said no childcare or housework for 2 weeks. They gave me a leaflet, I'll try to upload a photo. There is also a booklet you can download as a pdf:

glaucoma.uk/product/trabecu...

I was really terrified so I totally understand, but you'll get through it. Are you having general or local anaesthetic? You'll come home with a bandage over the eye and have to keep that on for the first night. They give you a sterile cleaning kit, so the next day you can take the bandage off and gently clean the eye. If you have any concerns just ring the hospital, mine were really good at seeing me quickly.

restrictions after trabeculectomy surgery