coping with vision change after cataract surgery

I'll be having cataract surgery, both eyes, one week apart. I am
extremely near sighted and wear progressive lenses. Once the first eye
is done, the lense in the eyeglasses will be useless. I'm told I will
be measured for a temp lense one week after the first eye is done and
it'll take a week to come in. I am trying to understand how I am
supposed to 'return to normal activity' when I won't have proper
correction. Has anyone gone thru this and do you have words of support?

You should make sure you're fitted for the focal point you want, not
the focal point the doctor thinks you should have (choice is usually
distance, intermediate, near). Ask him what your vision will be - and
for what distance you'll need glasses. Some doctors take your thoughts
into consideration. If you've been nearsighted all your life, you're
used to that - and the change may be too exteme for you. Or, you might
love it. As far as the difference in the two eyes, some people wear a
contact lens in the un-operated eye for the 'in-between' time. But,
yours is only a week - you can even wear your glasses if necessary -
your brain will edit out what it can't interpret.

Well, since I have bad astygmatism, I will have to wear glasses. I was
trying to figure out how to get thru the first few weeks. I like the
idea of wearing one contact lense but I won't be able to read with
that. It's so complicated, I'm not sure what to worry over first. If I
wear my glasses and can't see anything with the first eye, will my
brain really be able to deal with that or will I have a headache and be
dizzy?

well, it definitely is a temporary solution, so your vision will be
compromised for awhile. It is something you'll have to tolerate. But,
if you can wear a contact lens, that will be the best solution. And,
now there are more lenses available for astigmatism -