How to manage eye surgical procedure stress with dysautonomia

[Emmastath]

Hello everyone,

I was diagnosed with narrow angles in the eyes, a condition that puts one at risk of having an acute glaucoma attack, without having actual glaucoma. Doctors advise to do a preventative procedure called Iridotomy which is basically a hole drilled in the eyes with lazer. The procedure does have side effects, from minor visual disturbances like glare and seeing white lines to major ones such as having an acute increase in eye pressure and loosing one’s sight.

I tried to have the procedure done two years ago but failed due to adverse reaction to the Pilocarpine eye drops they give you before the procedure Which added to the already existing stress. The result was I semi fainted, literally collapsed on the stool they put you on to do the procedure. My muscles completely flopped, my head fell backwards and couldn’t talk. Took about half an hour to recover and then was relatively OK only exhausted with gastrointestinal upset and severe dizziness.

I used all the techniques I know to combat stress and remain calm, but nothing worked. This however is a procedure I need to have done as have been told that if I do get an acute glaucoma attack I risk loosing my sight, plus it is horribly painful. Also, I cannot travel or go anywhere further than 30’ away from a major hospital, because if this happens I need to have an emergency iridotomy. This is a huge problem and stress causing factor in itself.

Has anyone dealt with a similar situation before? If so, how did you manage it? How did you deal with the Dysautonomia symptoms to get yourself through with the procedure you had to have done?

[WinterSown]

My son has been getting zapped in an eye since he was four, he is now 35. He has been 'drilled' thousands of times. Ask the eye surgeon to do the procedure in a hospital or surgical center and knock you out. They will strap you into a chair with your head held in place. If stress is causing your eyes to jump around or you to faint then you need to be unconscious or in 'twilight sleep' for the laser, ask how it can be arranged.

I don't understand your comment about that you can't go more than 30 feet from a hospital or you will need to have emergency surgery.  You may be more worried than you need be.

 

[Clb75]

Not sure what’s in the eye drops they gave you but assuming that is a type of anesthetic, some of them have epinephrine in them which can cause a flare of symptoms. Talking to a doctor about the anesthesia options and how it reacts with dysautonomia may be helpful.