I might have to have laser eye surgery? please help with my question. im scared?

[maddog19]

so I've been noticing a change in my eye sight. I went to the eye doctor today. He called me in and I called my mom to come down ahead of time bc I wanted help picking out frames because I need glasses, I'm nearsighted. He sat down and said, "now her complaints are complaints I never heard before. It made no sense to me whatsoever. If someone else asked her, they would think ok is she hallucinating or what? I looked into her eyes and I've been doing this for 30 years and I never saw what I saw in her right eye before! He explained it on a piece of paper. He said it was so rare that he didn't even have to learn it in college. I have a lesion meaning a tumor in my eye that is blocking some of my field of view. I never really paid attention to it until he pointed it out and the grid test they make you do. I can't see the corners of the grid when I was looking at the dot. He told me that I need to go to an opthamologist for an MRI of my eyes and said don't be surprised if you have to go to Geisinger for surgery.
I am petrified! I've been told you don't feel a thing, but I have to be awake for surgery! I then need to get glasses afterwards.
Has anyone ever experienced laser eye surgery before?
I'm also dating this guy and I want to tell him. I'll definitely be fine bc they will kill the tumor and it's like nothing was ever there. But, how do I tell him when he had an immediate family member pass away from cancer? I don't want him thinking I have cancer bc I don't know if I do have eye cancer or not. It wouldn't matter bc they are going to completely destroy the tumor and it'll stop growing. You can't see it if you just looked at me. The tumor is in the middle of my eye like inside of my eye dead center.
as he told me this I was shaking bc I thought, I'm going to need eye surgery, and this is my vision we are talking about.
I don't know how to feel.

[BadOmen]

It's simple to trick yourself into being glad this sort of thing happened. First you need to realize that the tumor was there, whether the doctor discovered it or not. Once you realize the inevitability of the tumor you can come at it from a new point of view where you are actually very lucky they were able to spot it and will be able to completely remove it. The turns a seemingly bleak outcome to something positive. As for your boyfriend, just tell him how it is and try to emit that positive vibe towards him. Cause if he feels you're nervous to tell him, he is going to think it's worse than it actually is. But if you tell him how this doctor has helped you deal with a relatively rare issue, that gives you something to celebrate over. Good luck with the surgery! ^^

[maddog19]

thank you very much!

[NearlyNapping]

The doctors and technology have gotten VERY good at this sort of thing. The advances in technology are amazing. They can do things now as routine that would not have been possible 20 years ago.

Let them do their job. You have a job to do also. Your job is to do exactly what they tell you to do. They will give you instruction for after surgery. Do them just like they tell you. Don't hesitate to call and ask as many questions as you want (you'll probably talk to a nurse).

It's normal to be anxious, even for people who have had multiple surgeries. You might be awake, but they'll give you something. You'll be OK.

Write a list of questions to ask before going to the opthamologist.

[maddog19]

thank you! I've had 2 surgeries before but they were hell. I guess out of all surgeries id def. want the tumor to be in my eye bc the eye is one of the fastest if not the fastest organ to heal and it should be good in I think 48 hours after surgery? I guess they put numbing drops in your eye before surgery?
helps a lot being reassured that I will be ok.
id if I should tell the guy im dating like I want to be open about things but im nervous

[NearlyNapping]

You're asking questions you should be asking the doctor or nurse. I'm not qualified to answer. :)

The recovery period will depend on exactly what they do. And I have no idea just what they are doing. You might recover in 48 hours of less.

My sister had retina surgery and it was more than a month before she could even look up. She had to look downward 24/7 for a month. Even sleeping she had to sleep with her eyes pointed down. (They didn't want gravity pushing the against the retina, or at least I think that's the reason). What she had done was entirely different than what you are having done.

I assume they will put drops in your eye. They might also give you the "don't give a shit drug". Ask them.

Yes, tell the guy you are dating.

[archiz]

doesn t tumor means cancer?
anw, I ve heard that laser isn't painful. just think you re not the first nor the last to do it. and the outcome is for your own benefit.
I know it s hard and you need support.
your boyfriend should know.
tell him

[maddog19]

there are two types of tumors, benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous). The MRI will look at the shape and size and will determine if it's cancer or not. thank you!!

[kletendre826]

It is understandable to be afraid. I had laser eye surgery to correct my vision. It was not so bad, and I was only down for a day or two. I would trust the doctor's opinion.

Also, you should tell your boyfriend/date partner. I would hope he would understand and be supportive. If not, he isn't that great.

[mits777]

I haven't had laser surgery, but I know that they are painless and last for about 10 minutes. You may have some blur and other vision problems up to 1 month after the surgery then you will be fine. GOOD LUCK!

[maddog19]

thank you