Orbital Decompression Surgery - San Francisco, CA

I originally posted progress shots after my surgery to this blog. When I could finally see clearly again I noticed how graphic they were so I took them down. I've gotten several request about progress shots in my email so I will repost a couple photos. Each collage is over a two week recovery period. I received surgery on my right eye and two weeks later the left. The left healed much faster than the right.

I can't do an anniversary update without a silly picture of my in my new glasses...duck face and all!!

I am so happy to see so many people relate to my little blog! I'm sorry I've been horrible with checking the website and responding to comments. However, I've received several emails from Grave Disease sufferers regarding my experience and recovery. Keep em coming people!! Please email me at cookma0@msn.com. I love the fact that my story can help someone else get through Graves.

Now for the update! 1 year later I am wearing glasses for the first time!! My vision was 20/18 pre-Graves. I don't know if it's age or the surgery that declined my vision, but since Graves is the enemy the disease get the blame... HA! I found myself a few cute frames and kept it moving.
The mornings are tough for me. I get a lot of tearing, some double vision, and dryness (hince the tearing). I also experience lid swelling from time to time but I notice if I get an appropriate amount of rest the swelling is greatly improved. I still have a problem with light sensitivity. It improved greatly after the surgery but it never fully went away as I hoped.

My lids sit fairly evenly. I notice uneveness that no one else would ever notice if I did not point out. My doctor told me to get over it because it wasn't significant enough to fix :-P

My lids have not retracted behind my eye once since my surgery!! HALLELUJAH!!! That was the scariest part of Graves for me. Every time it would happen I would damage my cornea in some way from the feeling that my eye was falling out of the socket. I am still very nervous anytime anyone touches anywhere near my lids. Hopefully the anxiety associated with that will go away.

I found myself doing the angry Graves frown a lot. To help retrain/relax my muscles between my brows I started getting botox. It has really helped!! I don't look angry all the time.

That's pretty much it! Again, please email me with questions. In the spirit of my OD anniversary I've attached before and after photos. I'm so blessed and I just want to spread love :-)