TWO DAYS OUT from bilateral strabismus eye surgery at M Health Fairview Surgery Center at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, I am looking less Frankenstein’s monster than I did. Not that I look exactly like the fictional monster created by Dr. Victor Frankenstein in Mary Shelley’s novel. But I feel like I appear as ghoulish with my red, fluid-leaking eyes.
All humor aside, surgery to correct my eye misalignment went well. Neuro ophthalmologist Dr. Collin McClelland and his team performed the 1 ½-hour surgery on both eyes Monday morning with adjustable sutures stitched in my left eye. Post surgery, Dr. McClelland pulled the left eye stitches to tweak the alignment before tying them off. Yes, I was awake. Yes, it was painful.
On surgery day, the surgeon was pleased with results. Healing, time and my brain adjusting to my new vision will determine the final outcome. But I am optimistic that my double vision will be mostly, or totally, eliminated.
In the meantime, I’ve dealt with pain managed by over-the-counter meds and have tried to rest my eyes. For someone who likes to read and write, it’s a challenge to limit both. But when my eyes hurt, I’m relieved to shut them.
Finally, last night, I slept well. Each day brings improvement. Less pain. Less blood and fluid seeping from my eyes. Healing takes time and patience.
Randy has been a great support along with serving as resident nurse and pharmacist. He squeezes ointment into my eyes thrice daily to prevent infection. I struggle with putting anything in my eyes and would likely misjudge and stab my eyes with the ointment tube. I can’t have that happening.
Occasional blurry vision and double vision, especially upon awakening in the morning, continue. My eyes feel gritty. This is not unexpected. My eyes have been through a lot of trauma with this surgery. The surgeon found extensive scarring in both eyes from this same surgery done in 1960 by Dr. Theodore Fritsche in New Ulm. Dr. Fritsche’s corrective repair of my misaligned four-year-old eyes lasted 60-plus years. If my new surgeon’s work lasts that long, I will be good to go.
Onward.
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FYI: I will continue to limit my screen time as I recover. But feel free to leave comments because I will read them at some point. I likely will not reply, though. I appreciate all of the support, encouragement and prayers from you, my dear dear readers. Thank you.
Once I’m feeling better and am able to write more, I will share more about my surgery day experience. I assuredly have stories to tell (once a journalist, always a journalist) from my time at M Health Fairview, where I received excellent and compassionate care.
© Copyright 2024 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Best wishes as your healing process continues!
Thank you, Charles. Time and patience.
Thank you for the update. Praying for a full recovery and pain free days to come soon.
Janell, thank you for your prayers. And thank you for the book, which arrived yesterday. It may be awhile before my eyes and brain can focus enough to read it. But the book is on my stack of reading materials.
So glad to hear of improvement, though not as quick as I’m sure you’d like. Please take good care of yourself. And thank goodness for your Randy. He sounds like one of life’s good people, as are you. All the best.
Oh, Kathy, thank you! Thank you for your wishes and for recognizing just how much I love Randy and am grateful for his care.
Sending prayers and healing vibes. Take it easy and rest those eyes for healing. Glad to hear from you and that the surgery went well. Take Care (((((loveandhugs)))))
Thank you, Renee. I’m trying to pace myself, pausing when I feel my eyes hurting from too much use. Patience and time. Time and patience. And, yes, lots of prayers.
Prayers for a full recovery! I’m glad you could give an update. God is good all the time!
Amen to that, dear Dee.
So happy to hear everything went well. we will continue to pray for decreased pain and increased healing every day. I am thankful you have Randy to be with you and help with ointment.
Keep up the good work. Hard when your main way of communicating is limited but soon it will be all behind you. prayers and lov Kathy
Kathy, I feel your love and care and I appreciate both as I continue toward healing.
Good news. Thank you for the update.
Best wishes for healing and an excellent
outcome.
Ann
Thank you, Ann. I feel so much love and support in the comments you and others have written. That encourages me as I move through healing and recovery.
I’m glad the surgery is behind you and even with all you are going through, you are headed in the right direction- recovery. However that looks you have yet to realize , but I know it will be an improvement. How lucky you are to have so many caring people around you to help you on this journey ❤️
Thank you, Beth. Yes, I’ve been surrounded by many caring friends, family and healthcare professionals. And this blogging community is incredibly supportive, which makes me feel even more loved. Yes, I’m moving in the right direction for sure.
Wow, it looks like you had quite the surgery! Best wishes for an uncomplicated recovery. You are very lucky to have Randy to help you with the recovery process. Good luck cous!
Thank you, dear cousin. Yes, it’s a bit of a surgery. I did have to clarify with my brothers that the surgeon did NOT pop my eyeballs out during surgery. They always teased me that Dr. Fritsche did just that in 1960. He did NOT. That all said, Randy told me NOT to watch any online videos of surgery.
Hope you see improvement as each day of healing takes place. Glad Randy is there with you, Audrey. Thinking of you and wishing you well ❤️
Thank you, Ruth. Yes, I am seeing improvements each day. Morning is always a little hard for me until my brain and eyes start working together. This morning I thought I had two Tylenol in my palm. But as I tried to picked them up, I found I had poured only one into my palm. But my eyes saw two. Argh.
Guess healing takes time. Thinking of you ❤️
Thank you for your thoughts, Ruth. Yes, healing and recovery take time, as I am discovering.
Thanks for the update, prayers for you and your nurse as you recover😊
I appreciate your prayers for BOTH of us, Becky. Randy has been incredibly patient and helpful.
Sounds like all good news; happy the healing is happening.
So far so good, so it seems. I’m happy, too. To be through the surgery and now in the recovery and healing phase.
Thank you so much for the update. Glad the surgery went well. Many wishes and prayers for progress in healing.
You’re welcome, Colleen. And thank you for your encouragement and prayers.
Glad to hear you are slowly recovering!
Thank you, dear cousin. As you know, healing takes time.
Oh gosh! That does not look fun! Prayers continue!
I am thankful to have surgery behind me and be on the recovery side of this journey.
Sounds like a normal outcome to your surgery, glad you are doing well.
I don’t always feel like I’m doing well. But your brother reminds me that I am progressing in healing.
Best regards on your healing journey Audrey – Wicozani Wo Wokiya, Dakhota affirmation “balanced health – surrounded by the abundance of Creation” Tom W Faribault Native to Wakpecute lands Mnishota Makoce
Tom, I am honored to read your Dakhota affirmation and your caring words. Thank you for sharing this with me, these lovely words for “balanced health.”
I’m glad to hear it went well.
My goodness, that second paragraph made me cringe. I’m glad you’re following directions.
Are you allowed to rest a warm, damp compress on your eyes?
Michelle, thank you for your kind comment. I am putting ointment in my eyes thrice daily. Otherwise best to keep anything away from my eyes.
So grateful for your updates. Prayers continue!, for complete healing and patience and strength and peace.
It’s hard to look at the picture. ;-(
I’m feeling the need for lots of patience right now as I feel like I’ve stalled in my recovery. My brain is struggling to adjust to my newly-aligned eyes.
Hallelujah…Onward!
Trying really hard to look beyond recovery and healing to the outcome. As Randy says, “One day at a time!”
So glad that you continue to improve, Audrey. You’re missed! Get well soon! ❤
Thank you, my dear Penny.
I am so happy you had a great team and now Randy’s home care will be the best medicine!
Yes, it takes many people to help in all phases of this journey.
Good to hear how your healing is progressing. Continued prayers and well-wishes sent your way. 🙏🏼❤️
Thank you, dear Rose.