I began my antibiotic pill (Cipro) and anti-viral pill (Valtrex) to ward off infection and breakouts from the Hetter (chemical) peel. I am not anxious, usually I am before any surgery, but this time I'm just ready to get going. I take pictures before surgery and will take pictures of the healing process everyday.
Day 2--Surgery day: Fortunately, surgery is early in the morning and I don't have to sit around for hours waiting and anticipating. We arrive at the surgical center admissions at 6am, surgery is scheduled for 7:30am. I check in and then am sent upstairs to the surgical center at Northside Hosptial in Alpharetta, GA. I am taken to the surgery prep area, change into a gown, get hooked up to the blood pressure machine and have the oxygen wire attached to my left forefinger, have the IV hooked into my left hand (the most uncomfortable part of the surgery), have blood taken from same area in my hand. The nurse comes back and said the blood did something when taken, they have to poke my right arm, no pain, just more blood... all is well. The nurse keeps asking me if I need any anti-anxiety medication, I tell her, "No, I'm fine and would like to wait to talk to the Dr. before receiving it." I speak with the anesthesiologist, she wants to test my blood for potassium levels as I told her I take a potassium supplement because I can't eat bananas. I also ask for anti-nausea before anesthesia because I have had a serious issue in the past and ended up at the ER and admitted to the hospital. She tells me she is giving me some by IV and a patch behind my ear that will last 3 days, she will also be giving me 3 during surgery. Test comes back, all is well with levels in blood. Dr. Burke Robinson comes in, talks with me, I hand him a photo (the worst one I can find on the internet) and ask him if I will look like this, he tells me "maybe!" I am given the anti-anxiety medicine, I'm out. I wake up in recovery, feeling very, very groggy, somehow get dressed and into the wheelchair and into the car... this part is still foggy.
At home, I eat some soup, sleep for about 3 hours and then get up. I only have some slight pain under my eyes from the chemical peel, take 1/2 a hydrocodone, which helps. My eyes are swollen, slight drips of blood from time to time, my eyes are scratchy (as if pollen was in them). I apply the ointment under my eyes a few times (especially after putting bags of frozen peas on them). At bed time I take the other 1/2 hydrocodone to make sure I sleep... elevating my head (not my favorite way to sleep), and take 3 Arnica Montana. No nausea at all, after the soup at lunch, I am able to eat regular food and feel fine, extra thirsty... a lot of water.
Day 3--Day after Surgery: No pain at all today, but heavy swelling...like baseballs with slits for eyes. Today I begin the steroid pills, hopefully once that gets into my system, the swelling will be helped. I continue the antibiotic, anti-viral, as well as Arnica Montana, which is supposed to help with swelling and bruising. http://www.yestheyrefake.net/arnica_montana.htm but hard to tell at this point if it helps. The only thing bothering me is the swelling and scratchy eyes, but I can use Tears Naturalle Free for eye drops to relieve the scratchy feeling. I ice and reapply the ointment throughout the day, when I cleanse (with the special cleansing lotion) 3 times during the day. Eyes are watery, so sight isn't the greatest, but still no pain. Swelling is down into my cheeks. I wore sunglasses out to get coffee with hubby driving, they hid all of the issues. No nausea, back to eating normal. I am drinking a lot of water. Looks bad, hate the swelling.
