Started getting blurry vision in left eye last sat. Also noticed loss of peripheral vision. Went to doc and got sent to eye hospital. Turns out I had a detached and torn retina. Had surgery immediately (Xmas eve) and retina was repaired and stuck back in place with some type of gas inserted to keep it pushed up against the back of the eye (meaning I’m in the looking down position to keep the gas pushing back),
Anyone else had this or any specialists out there in ST world who can advise when and to what degree I can start training again? I have my first IM coing up in march (Melbourne) so a bit worried about being laid up.
You are right where I was a year ago. Short answer is I was not allowed to do any exercise for 2 full months. Then for a month I was not allowed to do anything except pool-run and walk. Finally, 3 months after surgery I was allowed to start running. I did everything the doctor told me.
At the time, I was scheduled to do IM Austria on June 30. Had the surgery the first week of December. It was just enough time to get ready. Even then, my run fitness was sub-par.
Even if it proves possible for you to do your IM, I strongly suggest you bail on it. At best you will have a few weeks to train. Don’t make your first IM be an experience like that.
In light of that comment, I should be probably be clear: I do not advocate the OP do anything but listen to his doctor with regards to training. I only supplied my own timeframe to illustrate that it can take quite a while.
But I do recommend bailing on a March IronMan now. Dealing with it now, rather than holding out some hope that he could possibly get ready after recovery.
I practice in NH. I am only writing because I cannot emphasize enough how important taking it easy is after the surgery.
1–Listen to your specialist. Only he/she knows the extent of your tear/detachment and surgery and therefore proper recovery time.
2–Cancel your IM. It is much too soon and don’t let a race tempt you to push things too quickly. If you had a gas bubble, your surgeon likely told you to stick to bedrest for a good 1-2 weeks. Do not takes this lightly. Some patients have to lay face down for 2 weeks except for using the bathroom. Give your eye time to heal. The healing is just as important as the surgery. If it doesn’t heal properly, you can re-tear/re-detach and require more surgery.
Be as smart and dedicated in your recovery as you had been in your training. Your vision will thank you.
Best of luck and cheers to a speedy recovery/result.
I had a detached retina in 2002 after taking a golf ball ricochet to the eye. Ended up having scleral buckle surgery (including gas bubbles to hold retina in place). I wasn’t into endurance sports at the time so it healed nicely (although just last month I had follow-up surgery to remove epithelial cells which got under my lasik flap and was creating terrible light sensitivity, possibly caused by the injury). I have since gotten into triathlon and have completed 7 IMs from 2009-2013. I only mention this to give you insight into the bigger picture. Races will never go away and will be waiting for you when you have adequately recovered. I have no idea how long it takes to recover as I was a couch potato back in 2002 but I suggest that you let your body heal and do the IM at the proper time.
I posted on the prior thread about detached retina and training. First, good luck with the healing and hopefully all your vision will return. Behaving is very important when vision is involved. I had the cryogenic and laser repair followed with the gas bubble back in 2011. I also had a younger, more understanding doctor who was willing to let me “rush” the recovery. Age also has a lot to do with healing time.
Three - I was lucky that my MD let me compete in my race a month after my surgery. It was an xterra with a small field. But it was scary for me - I held back in the swim because I was scared of getting kicked in the face - and that was in the pro wave of maybe 40 athletes. Didn’t attack the bike at all because I didn’t want to crash. And my run sucked because I hadn’t been running - and it was only a 10k! If my Doc had said no, I wouldn’t have competed. And I don’t think trying to do an ironman three months after is smart. Doable? Maybe. Smart - no. Race report from that race - http://tracythelen.blogspot.com/2011/04/xterra-west-championships-2011-race.html
Sorry for all the links - but it seemed like a good way to tell the story.
Wow - thanks everyone for the responses and links. I agree totally about listening to the surgeon and only posted to get some idea of others experiences rather than direction on what I should do (other than follow the doc’s instructions). I’m seeing him again in two days so will have a chance to run things by him then. It’s an interesting injury insofar as there’s no real pain that prevents training (just some tenderness) and you feel like you could/should be doing something. The one clear instruction was the head looking down one to keep the gas bubble pressing the retina in place and I’m thinking " trainer on the Tri bike, aero position, looking down - perfect". Obviously not that simple. Thanks all
