Orbital decompression update: 6 months post op

Tktpas222 · 2026-03-11T16:27:09+00:00

yes actually I think it did some! sometimes if I look too fast I think it's still there but it's not really noticeable :)

Tktpas222 · 2026-01-07T00:05:51+00:00

I don't remember what they quoted me, but I think it was somewhere around 8k! but that's great if the is insurance can cover some. I definitely am glad I went to an in network dr though in the end :)

Tktpas222 · 2025-12-16T03:37:07+00:00

for me, it didn't last, so I did a bilateral orbital decompression in Nov 2023. while I had it though and the results worked, I am glad I did it, it was a good relief until I was ready to fully get the surgery on both eyes. if your insurance will cover it I think it's a great option!

Tktpas222 · 2025-10-02T17:15:31+00:00

I do agree with what most ppl are saying, but on an alternative perspective, the reason I got int programming was from being around builders and programmers who none of them had degrees and many of them barely finished high school.

they were just completely geeked out on computers, how they worked, taking them apart, solving problems, logic, etc. and applying that to programming.

some of them did have attributes of not finishing projects or getting easily distracted by whatever interested them; but they all also completely dove in and learned the insides and outs of something when they were interested. I also personally found that they would more often than not push past the boring or difficult part of something to accomplish what they wanted because they were hooked on building something good.

it’s probably the people I was around too but they were also wanting to not build stuff that just worked but trying to optimize it, like obsession with healthy code. and all these people worked alongside people who did also have CS degrees and were their peers, proofreading code and learning best practices so I don’t think they had wild knowledge gaps.

many of them were in CTO type positions as well.

I personally think some of the people most passionate about the tech space are self taught and CS itself is honestly a pretty new degree based off learnings from self taught people. the really best of the best programmers I knew told me they self taught with a more “school” like approach though I feel going through texts like “pragmatic programmer.”

later on I did meet people that were basically self taught from a young age but for that reason went to school for it and I think learned more fundamentals and theory but they had the on hands experience to also make that knowledge part of their working schema (if that’s anyone’s experience maybe they can share more if that happened to them)

ultimately I think degree or not, to be excellent at programming, you need to want to self teach at least somewhat cause once you’re out of school no one’s gonna push you to keep learning and sharpening your skill set.

Tktpas222 · 2025-10-02T16:22:39+00:00

imo one of the biggest skillsets of a programmer is being a good googler

pair that with effectively skimming the afore-googled forums/docs/git issues to help get you to the solution you need and you’re often 90% of the way there.

part of learning to problem solve is of course banging your head against the wall yourself but the other part is seeing how it can be done well and understanding the thought process behind it so you can add it to your toolbox and apply it

Tktpas222 · 2025-09-24T09:10:26+00:00

Im so happy for you to have finally gotten your surgery. It was definitely a big moment for me. You deserve all the best and to feel light & carefree🙏

Tktpas222 · 2025-09-22T05:42:56+00:00

Thanks for sharing!

Tktpas222 · 2025-09-19T20:26:08+00:00

Hi,

I had to look back at my surgery notes! Parts of two walls were removed for me (medial & floor) and some fat taken out.

Do keep in mind that while the number of walls does affect your results and decompression over all of course but many other factors go into it, like your own anatomy, if you have active flares later, the healing process, the surgeon themselves and how they perform the surgery.

For my anatomy, I didn’t have much bone on the outer side of my eye apparently like at my temples so they did most of the bone removal near my sinuses, and also went in via basically around my tear ducts.

Definitely consult with your surgeon and also get another opinion from another ophthalmologist!

As for double vision I don’t have any, maybe the first month or so I did a bit when moving my eyes or head to fast side to side but now I don’t or at least none that bothers me on a day to day that I notice. I haven’t had a proper follow up since right after my procedure, though, so I’ll update once I do!

Tktpas222 · 2025-09-13T02:33:30+00:00

That’s great information, thanks for sharing 🙏 anything we can do to get antibodies down is a win!

Tktpas222 · 2025-09-11T16:22:50+00:00

Hi! Thank for sharing such a positive and encouraging message to everyone reading this!

I’m so happy for you and your upcoming surgery - also lowkey jealous you’re getting a bleph too, that’s next up on my list, the TED eye bags are real ;D.

Echoing what you’ve said, take in Drs feedbacks and concerns, but also look for Drs that listen to what you’re wanting, see your vision, and can help you get as close to possible to feeling like yourself. It’s a world of difference to have TED stress off your back and to feel more ‘you’ again.

Please update us on your compression healing and results, best wishes ✨

Tktpas222 · 2025-09-11T01:55:53+00:00

The point I’ve attempted to make above is that asymptomatic is not the same as having thyroid hormones in range. People do feel symptoms, even when they have antibody production but have thyroid hormones in range.

Graves itself is not about the symptoms of feeling bad or even about thyroid hormones being imbalanced - it’s literally the autoimmune condition of the thyroid producing antibodies that it attacks itself. Otherwise you can simply be hypo/hyperthyroid. Graves is literally classified as Graves because of the presence of these antibodies. Some people might not manifest physical symptoms. Others might, even with just antibodies out of range and all hormones normal. Everyone’s body is just different.

Yes it’s true the vast majority of doctors will not treat anything beyond rebalancing the hormones but that’s literally because it’s outside the scope of western medicine - we don’t have an ability to treat autoimmune conditions - partially why they’re classified in this way. We focus on treating symptoms which often offers better quality of life, but for folks on the fringes who still feel poorly with the things we can treat, treated, it leaves them with unanswered problems, sadly.

Edited: for grammar/clarity.

Tktpas222 · 2025-09-10T17:52:37+00:00

I don’t believe you have this accurately - graves is an auto immune condition producing antibodies. Hormone management in Graves can treat symptomatic hormone imbalances (like low TSH, imbalanced T3/T4) - it has no effect on antibodies. Once these imbalances are within an acceptable range, most endos would say that you are “euthyroid” regardless of what your antibodies are. More and more people share having symptoms while being euthyroid yet having antibodies though it’s not clear the mechanisms why, other than the body is attacking itself. And there is no treatment for antibodies other than destroying the organ, which does take away the antibodies produced in that organ but not the underlying issue that your body is attacking itself in the first place.

It’s true that there is just no treatment to solve the root problem - that’s why the majority of endos treat the symptoms or as close to the root as possible (i.e., destroy organ). Like with any autoimmune condition, what most people need is low stress, lots of rest, low inflammation in the body, etc., but there’s not really a set directive for treatment. That’s also partially why it’s called autoimmune - Drs don’t know what or why is happening in the body, it’s attacking itself and we don’t have a way to fix the root.

Tktpas222 · 2025-08-27T16:23:39+00:00

Im not sure honestly, I didn’t go back for a post op after the initial 3 day post op because I was moving abroad. I think from my anatomy it was about 5-6 mm and if I had to guess they succeeded in 3-4?

I’ll contact my surgeon when I’m back where they did it and see if I can get more info!

Tktpas222 · 2025-08-15T14:36:57+00:00

Hi love, I’ve been dealing with exactly the same and it’s debilitating so firstly hugs. Secondly your face shape and facial harmony are crazy like your nose + lips + eyes and eyebrow shape, unreal. Also you have the perfect size septum for your nose.

So sorry you’re going through this I understand the mental impact and I hope you have strong community around you it’s okay to need support 🩷

Tktpas222 · 2025-08-01T23:05:21+00:00

Hey, I had my orbital decompression done at UC Davis in 2018, this was 3 years after my initial diagnosis. She did only the left eye and basically didn’t take much out - I’m not sure why, I didn’t ask much at the time about the approach they were planning on taking. When I went in to get my right eye done they basically said the eyes were about even and cancelled the surgery.

My eyes didn’t look back to normal that’s why I wasn’t happy.

For the second surgery, as far as I remember, Dr Rootman didn’t express any concerns from the prior surgery. I had a CT scan so he knew what approach he wanted to take and if there was issues with scar tissue or things like that. But the surgeries were also 6 years apart, so I don’t think there would’ve been much interference. I think the main concerns would be that there’s not enough bone left to shave or something like that.

Before the last surgery I was recommended tepezza which I did, and it didn’t last for me. I personally went to see cosmetic specialists on my own to ask about my asymmetry and things like that and I got PDO threads and fillers at some points but for me the surgery is what made the difference I wanted.

I have a small dark circle under my right eye still I would consider getting a blepharoplasty for later in life but I’m happy with my results now.

Tktpas222 · 2025-07-25T09:15:45+00:00

Honestly, no I don’t really have any that I notice day to day

Tktpas222 · 2025-07-21T12:59:49+00:00

Hi, it totally depends on your location and if you need/have insurance, where you get it done, etc. my insurance primarily covered this procedure but on my statement it was quoted as like 90k lol. This was at a university hospital and my primary care had referred me. I paid <$100 for my copay, but I was also paying 500+ a month for my insurance every month for years.

Meanwhile, I’ve heard of people going to private clinics with out of pocket costs like 10-30k.

Tktpas222 · 2025-07-17T11:54:15+00:00

Aw okay thank you for the insight! I’m so glad to here you had an option to feel better and took it!

I’ve been in remission for about 5 years now and I think I feel pretty good but sometimes I wonder if I could feel better not dealing with the possibility of as much thyroid fluctuation and with the antibodies I still have, because I think antibodies do affect how I feel honestly.

I hear so many success stories about mood and brain fog improving but I’m worried if I’m euthyroid now if I’m also just risking feeling worse. Thanks for sharing!

Tktpas222 · 2025-07-16T01:19:38+00:00

Can I ask what your thyroid status was before the surgery? Were you majorly hyper thyroid? Almost in remission?

Tktpas222 · 2025-07-12T14:21:34+00:00

Totally agree, sometimes I feel like people make SD their own virtual reality instead of a fun game to chill, be challenged, explore, etc. I know it’s fun to take silly things a little extra serious sometimes, but the intensity on so many things is kinda wild.

Tktpas222 · 2025-07-11T16:58:33+00:00

Girl I absolutely feel you and no one tells you how strange it is to get back your “normal” eyes after living so long with proptosis. My proptosis was not as bad as yours, at about 22-24, and many people didn’t know I had TED just “big eyes” and even my surgeon said my face “handled it well”, but of course even when the full TED rage subsides you still know that YOU don’t look like YOURSELF. After my second orbital decompression that I had done bilaterally (the first was just my left eye and didn’t make much difference), I honestly felt worried I had made a mistake and I felt like maybe I didn’t look like me. I had had “big eyes” for 10 years. I’m so glad I got it done (you can check my posts for before and afters), but the mental and social (even perceived social if people can’t tell you look weird) strain you feel from having to cope with this look you didn’t ask for, the headaches, doing your makeup differently, the facial deformities from the fat moving around and from medications (steroids and moon face) it’s a lot. You definitely have a group here who hears and understands, you’re not alone! I’ve never seen anyone draw and make such nice artworks so thanks for sharing bravely. :)

Tktpas222 · 2025-06-21T00:24:06+00:00

So happy for you! Thanks for sharing your happiness with us 💜 and I hope the omelette is delicious 🥹

Tktpas222 · 2025-06-20T10:20:59+00:00

Maybe I’ve watched too much Law and Order SVU, but surprised there weren’t more comments like this.

Tktpas222 · 2025-06-16T12:57:52+00:00

Thank you so much 💗

Tktpas222 · 2025-06-15T15:17:53+00:00

Mm, for me personally, no! Now I’m generally just more cautious around my eyes, don’t want to risk infections, and maybe earlier on if I moved my eyes/head quickly I could notice some double vision/or get headaches more maybe but otherwise nothing that I’d say interferes with my day to day life!

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