Elderly Dad - cataract operation - aftercare

missbiggles1

sheramber wrote: »

My husband had his second cataract op four weeks ago.

He went in to hospital at 10am but was not taken until 11.15 am and came home at 12.30pm

There were 12 people done that morning.

He had no eye patch or bandages.

He had to wash his eye with sterile water ( supplied by the hospital) the following morning,

He had to use antibiotic eye drops 4 times a day for a week and steroid eye drops 4 times a day for a month- until he had seen his optician for an eye test. If that appointment was 5 weeks after then he had to use them for 5 wekks .

No bending to tie shoe laces etc or heavy lifting for two or three days afterwards and NO RUBBING THE EYE.

That seems very quick - if you're elderly you'd hardly have time to get dressed.

Mojisola

missbiggles1 wrote: »

That seems very quick - if you're elderly you'd hardly have time to get dressed.

In our hospital, it isn't done in a traditional operating theatre - they use a chair like a dentist's chair - the patients wear their own clothes during the operation.

lostinrates

Surely the relevant thing would be which regime the op's father is going to be under? ( and the different cost v outcome implications of all these different protocols on different health areas are interesting to think about but a different subject...)

p00hsticks

Rambosmum wrote: »

If your father is medically fit he will not be admitted, regardless of his circumstances. People are only admitted for medical reasons. If I were you I wouldn't want him in for longer than the operation - older people who are admitted to hospital are at risk of hospital acquired infections such as pneumonia, MRSA etc which could leave him in hospital for months, if he ever came out, as many lose so much functionality that they then require residential care. Staying in hospital longer than medically necessary also causes functional decompensation, where older people simply forget to do really basic things such eat at the right time, use their cooker, even when they have no memory impairment. Cost isn't the only reason NHS tries to keep people out of hospital.

I cannot second this enough - unfortunately, we've first hand experience. MIL is 89 and although frail was managing OK in her own home until early this year with us just doing her shopping, taking her to doctors etc. Then, during a short stay in hospital for a relatively minor infection she contracted C-diff, and has since spent the last five months being moved from hospital to convalescent home and back with various complications. She's now completely bedridden with a catheter, has dropped to 5 stone in weight, and we're currently waiting for a permanent nursing home place for her.

sheramber

He came back from the op at 11.45pm

Had a cup of tea and a biscuit then was given a talk about how take care of the eye with the drops etc., then was discharged at 12.30pm.

His eyesight in that eye was cloudy for a couple of days but he could see perfectly with the other eye.

He was treated from a day ward and the op was done in reclining chair.

Much like a visit to the dentist really, apart from the tea and biscuit afterwards.

margaretclare

missbiggles1 wrote: »

That seems very quick - if you're elderly you'd hardly have time to get dressed.

You don't need to get undressed.

missbiggles1

Mojisola wrote: »

In our hospital, it isn't done in a traditional operating theatre - they use a chair like a dentist's chair - the patients wear their own clothes during the operation.

I hadn't realised until after this thread how common that is these days. I also wonder how much this situation affects the infection rate. My husband was prepared and treated exactly as he would be for any other operation, fortunately.

(Eyesight still improving.):)

pebbles88

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I hadn't realised until after this thread how common that is these days. I also wonder how much this situation affects the infection rate. My husband was prepared and treated exactly as he would be for any other operation, fortunately.

(Eyesight still improving.):)

Imho: I've had 3 surgeries/procedures that way. So much better

Much less chance of infection as you aren't in the hospital any longer than needed

margaretclare

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I hadn't realised until after this thread how common that is these days. I also wonder how much this situation affects the infection rate. My husband was prepared and treated exactly as he would be for any other operation, fortunately.

(Eyesight still improving.):)

You are unlikely to be infected from your own clothes. Hospital-based infection comes from other people. You don't get infected in your own home and own surroundings. It must also be remembered that the eye is largely self-cleansing - that's what tears are for. If it wasn't so, we'd all get eye infections just from the air around us.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I hadn't realised until after this thread how common that is these days. I also wonder how much this situation affects the infection rate. My husband was prepared and treated exactly as he would be for any other operation, fortunately.

(Eyesight still improving.):)

Reduces the infection rate to be away from hospital as soon as possible. Fewer people carrying antibiotic resistant strains of disease. Or any infectious disease. (Have you ever had to sit in A&E surrounded by the stench of people who haven't washed for months, coughing and hacking away? It's why anybody on chemotherapy drugs gets whisked in within a few minutes, even when they're there for an injured ankle - there are even signs up saying you must tell reception if you've had chemo at any point in the last year).

Better food. More peaceful. Lower risk of property being lost or stolen. A chance of getting sleep, watching TV, going to the loo without slipping over or being disturbed by patients with Alzheimer's or dying (never pleasant for the person in the next bed).


The OP's dad would most likely be admitted to an elderly care ward due to his age. Which is not a good place for anybody who isn't in desperate need of it.




I am wondering if some of the OP's dad's neediness has been connected to his sight failing? Being able to see clearly again might help him be a lot more confident. Fingers crossed that it does.