Loki Loc: Georgia

I would wait, for now. I had back surgery some time back. It was not as successful as it might have been, but new techniques have been developed since then which would probably have had better results. Hell of it is, they began being used barely a year later. If nothing else, it would have cut down on recovery time. (Unlike my heart surgery; 15% chance of death if I had it, 100% chance of death if I didn't, not much choice there). I cannot presume to make your decision, just give you my experience. Had I waited a few months, if nothing else, I would have had far less rehab and recovery.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

I agree with several on here. I would not have the surgery until I had the peace of mind that should accompany such a procedure. Advancements could be made that would make your decision easier...down the road.

As you obviously know, there is no easy answer. Good luck with your decision...only you can make it. You will have our support wh**ever that decision is.

bmac32 Loc: West Florida

OK why is the wife not comfortable? Thought about this last night while going to sleep and if it were me I'd hold off until they prefect it.

1OldGeezer

Lone ghost,
I have read most of what you post on these forums and I personally h**e to see you not continue in the event things did not work out. (I'm being a little selfish here)

I'm over 80 myself and have found that when I come to something like you have here I simply defer the decision (unless there is a drastic downside to the deferral). I usually wait until things have progressed to the point where I feel comfortable making the decision. A deferral is a decision in itself, but it is not a decision to never perform the operation later if conditions change and become favorable or the operation becomes necessary.

One thing I have learned to NOT do; is gamble with my LIFE on an outcome unless there is sure, imminent danger in my not doing so, or the odds of success are EXTREMELY good in my favor with a SIGNIFICANT improvement in the situation.

The decision has to be yours alone, I can only say that you should feel confident that it is a good tradeoff in wh**ever that decision is or wait until you do if you can.

God bless you, thanks for your service, and Good Luck.
1oldgeezer

Donmac Loc: Lincoln, RI

I am 83 y/o and I would never tell you what to do, but I can relate to you what my Uncle Alex did. He was in WWI, yes WWI and he had a piece of shrapnel in behind his right ear his whole life.
He fathered ten beautiful children in Canada, worked on the Railroad all his life as the Engineer and was the happiest person you could ever meet.
He, of course, worried about that piece of shrapnel, but he didn't let it stop him from living a complete life.
I will pray for you and hope all works out well.
Don

lone_ghost Loc: Wisconsin

Thanks everyone for your input. This is a new procedure that my doctor heard about and is elective. I do not have to have the surgery to save my life or anything, it is just a possible way to restore some of the sight to my eye. It is only being performed at UCSF neurosurgery center so traveling half way across the country has to be considered as well. My wife wants me to do it not just because of the regaining vision. I suffer debilitating headaches and if my sinuses become swollen due to a cold I lose all vision in that eye until it is gone. That is why she is pushing to do it. If you do not know, my wife is an RN, and certified trauma nurse so she knows a lot more about these things than I do.

bmac32 Loc: West Florida

Will it solve the headaches and/or the sinus problems? I know, I know it's science, big chance.

God bless you.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Having two sister-in-laws that are RNs, I can appreciate the knowledgable support your wife gives you. It has to be comforting to have such support! She certainly has your best interests in heart/mind. :thumbup:

Tasine Loc: Southwest US

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am 75 years old as of next month. Grew up with vision about 20/400 - HORRIBLE. Corrected with quite thick glasses. About 13 years ago, I had RK surgery of each eye, TWICE, and gained eyesight to 20/30. I KNOW the desire to see better. But to see at ALL would be, for ME, the top priority. If I were doing O.K. with what I have, I'd not opt for an iffy surgery at my age. If I were considerably younger, I possibly would opt for the surgery.

As we get older, we make decisions that we would not have made even 15 years before. For instance, I have made the decision to avoid the medical problems I had to watch my husband eventually die from. He had a major surgery at age 79 and following the surgery could not get off the ventilator, could not breathe adequately without it. Hospitalized for 4 months, suffered kidney failure, sepsis, had to have a tracheotomy.

He walked into the hospital and 4 months later was carried out by the mortuary people. He would have eventually died without the surgery, and he'd have died suddenly - had a huge aneurysm of the aorta, but he would have had a "normal" life at home and with family until the thing ruptured. I KNOW he wished he'd never had that surgery, and I KNOW I will never consent to drastic "cures" at my age. The cost can simply be too high. I don't want to influence your decision at all, but you asked for an opinion, and this was the only way I knew how to respond. I know what I would do, but I am not you. Perfection is not the most important thing. If you can see with glasses, and if the metal causes you no other problems, were I you, I'd not have the surgery without a really important reason.

bahmer

I see that AuntiE weighed in and I am not one to go against her.

My grandson had brain surgery at 4 mos. old and they removed a golf ball sized tumor from the center of his brain. They said certain death if they didn't operate. He is fifteen now and the best kid that I know of as he is helpful courteous and kind and knowing him now I sure would have missed him if something went wrong but it didn't.

My daughter in Hawaii had a brain tumor as well and she was afraid of having surgery as well. She found a surgeon in California who had not only developed a new surgery where he went up through the nose to do this surgery but had designed and built his own instruments to do the surgery with. She checked out his reputation and talked to other patients of his which he provided and calmed her fears. She went through the surgery and is doing fine and teaching school. The big thing with her of coarse was there were no scars.

Maybe you could talk to others as well if the doctor will allow it. The other thing to consider is that you heal faster when younger than when older.

Then you know the joke about the guy who's house was in the flood and he prayed to the Lord to help him. He passed on a canoe, a boat and a helicopter and drowned. After he got to heaven he asked the Lord why he didn't help him and the Lord said I sent you a canoe, a boat and a helicopter what else was I supposed to do.

GERARD A. SANCHEZ Loc: Las Vegas, Nv. 89123

In a critical Medical situation we need a good Dr. who studied in U.S.A. and before made an appointment call the AMERICAN BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS in the State where the Dr. practice medicine to found his medical record and if he had any malpractice sue in the pass, them called the BOARD OF MEDICAL SPECIALTIES to find if the Dr. is a BOARD CERTIFIED them get a 2sd. or 3er. Doctors opinions after investigate the Doctors first and pick the Dr. you like best. Believe in GOD is important but GOD isn't a Doctor.

GERARD A. SANCHEZ Loc: Las Vegas, Nv. 89123

Make sure the Dr. studied in U.S.A. passed the MEDICAL BOARD, call the AMERICAN BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS in the State where the Dr. practice to find his Medical record and if he had any malpractice sue, and later called the AMERICAN BOARD OF MEDICAL SPECIALTIES to find if he is a Board Certified. Get 2sd. and 3er. Doctors opinions and do the same investigation before the appointments and you decide the Dr. you like best. REMEMBER GOD ISN'T A MEDICAL DOCTOR.

octive9

For me, God is the best doctor. But like I said, it took me years to get to this point. Here is a link to my explanation:

http://www.octive9.com/healthins.htm

GERARD A. SANCHEZ Loc: Las Vegas, Nv. 89123

To Joe Furcinity: The quality of Medical care in U.S. declined when the U.S.Congress passed the creation of H.M.O. Health Maintenance Organization and President NIXON signed the law to provide a less costly medical care. H.M.O.s are poor quality Medical care providers and they save money denying or delaying medical care to see if the patient dies before expensive surgery. In 1979 when I was 48 years old I had an open heart surgery and 4 c****aries bypass in the St. JOHN Hospital in Calif. I had a private room and I didn't pay anything because I had the best Medical Insurance provided by my employer GTE of California today is "VERIZON". In 1988, I had the second open heart surgery 5 c****ary bypass in the same St. JOHN HOSPITAL in Calif I was 22 days in the hospital in a private room the hospital only charged $ 87,000 plus the surgeon, anesthesiology, cardiologist, etc. and I did't paid a penny because I had the best Medical Insurance provided by my employer. Today almost everybody has H.M.O. and members can't have a choice of Drs. or Hospitals and they receive a second class Medical care and many died.

CherylD

Ok,here goes.:
Its your body, if the surgeon can't give you a better answer then we have had 3 successes on only one fatality, find out more about the one that didn't make it. And if you are still scared,you can alway put your trust in the Lord. If you have been able to see for 20 yrs and are just starting to have trouble maybe it time. But if you decided not to do it, turn to your wife and tell her you love her, but to just SHUT UP. Stop harping on the subject. This is your body not hers.




CDM