9/25/13
Been a few days since my last post...gotta admit, going a little stir crazy at home. I mean, there's only so much I can do...with a CAST! As I mentioned somewhere in past posts, my husband works from home...mixed blessing. Decided to go in the pool yesterday...even though we're home at least we're out side. Unfortunately, the water already got cold! However, I did get in, well, on a raft...with the "boot" on. It was a nice change.
Well, about the foot!...how can I put this?....having the cast on really sucks. That's the best way I could put it. (& of course this is just me) As far as post surgery feeling & the toe. Well, it feels uncomfortable, a little pain & last night the incision on my heal decided to get itchy for the first time in the middle of the night. The nights...sigh...it's still hard to fall asleep & still hard to find a comfortable position. My toe & heal feel tingly & numb. My pinky toe is very numb. My toe feels stiff & I swear I think part of it is from the hardware. I'd love to speak with others that have had this surgery to ask them if they felt this. This & what in the world did they do during this period. During the 3 months of wearing the cast to not go crazy!
Today husband & I decided to go see the daughter & her babies. When I'm around them, all my trouble melt away. Always. Today's visit made my heart swell. My gran daughter was so curious about the open toe area of the cast. So much that during lunch she wanted to share her bread with me & stuck some in the open part of the cast...right onto my toes. Oh my little love! It was funny after I was done having a heart attack.
I wish I could take the cast off & really clean my foot & toes really well. It would relieve my OCDness greatly.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Friday, September 20, 2013
9/20 4wks, 3 days - Corner between crazy & anxious
9/20/13 <<4 weeks>>
I went in yesterday, one week earlier than originally scheduled, to change my cast. I was very nervous because I wasn't sure what to expect. What to expect of how it was going to feel when the first cast come "off", whether or not I'd have movement in my foot & what the operated site would look like. Just to mention a few things I was freaking out about. I have to say...the removal of the first cast was terrifying to me. The reward was having it off for that short period of time. I felt like I could breath, although my foot was swollen & wasn't a pretty site. While in my cast I had been trying to flex as many muscles in my leg as possible. I had movement, a little up & down of the foot but it was something. It felt good, amazing, tingly, but it kind of hurt to have the strips of medical tape come off & my foot cleaned with the gauze. Not only was my foot swollen but there were areas where it felt numb, hence the tingly feeling. The operated toe & pinky & around the heal & incision on my heal are the areas that felt numb. Once I was cleaned up, it was time to wrap it up again. This time when she pushed down on my foot before & during placing the cast on, it felt good because the muscle behind my leg was being stretched but tugged on my incision which did not feel so good.
I'm struggling today so I'll leave you with this for today & I'll include the photos of this visit. One thing I am looking forward to is my son's football game tonight.
If you could only see my face!..I was so mortified.
Felt so good to see my foot & feel & touch my leg/foot.
Before tape came off...
After tape came off...Also, the toe is over extended because once I begin to walk, it will not stick up but be even with the rest of my toes.
Pretty swollen, right? It was explained to me that it was a result of not using it & not putting weight on it.
Both incisions are going to look really good. Very happy with the way Dr. Lee approximated the skin like that.
Once I begin to walk, the tendons/toe will align with the rest of the toes. Also, the toes next to it will get used to a toe actually being there.
Cast back on...this time for 3 weeks for sure :/
I went in yesterday, one week earlier than originally scheduled, to change my cast. I was very nervous because I wasn't sure what to expect. What to expect of how it was going to feel when the first cast come "off", whether or not I'd have movement in my foot & what the operated site would look like. Just to mention a few things I was freaking out about. I have to say...the removal of the first cast was terrifying to me. The reward was having it off for that short period of time. I felt like I could breath, although my foot was swollen & wasn't a pretty site. While in my cast I had been trying to flex as many muscles in my leg as possible. I had movement, a little up & down of the foot but it was something. It felt good, amazing, tingly, but it kind of hurt to have the strips of medical tape come off & my foot cleaned with the gauze. Not only was my foot swollen but there were areas where it felt numb, hence the tingly feeling. The operated toe & pinky & around the heal & incision on my heal are the areas that felt numb. Once I was cleaned up, it was time to wrap it up again. This time when she pushed down on my foot before & during placing the cast on, it felt good because the muscle behind my leg was being stretched but tugged on my incision which did not feel so good.
I'm struggling today so I'll leave you with this for today & I'll include the photos of this visit. One thing I am looking forward to is my son's football game tonight.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
9/18 Day 30 - 1 Month mark..yay.
9/18/13 <<DAY 30>>
I'm really frustrated with the cast..the whole thing about being immobile is making me crazy...grumpy. It's gotten harder & harder to find a position I feel comfortable in as the strip across my heal is really hurting. Yesterday I moved the leg/foot in such a way that it caused my toes to move & it was THEE weirdest feeling to feel the operated toe try to move. Poor little thing. Also yesterday, since I couldn't take it anymore, I called the Dr's office to see if there was anything they could do or suggested about the tape that hurts so much. Evelyn, I finally remembered her name, set an appointment for me to come in early, a week early, to change the cast. I really hope she cuts or takes the tape off because it won't matter how much gauze she puts to pat it, it's still going to pull my skin. I dread the nights now. From the process it takes to show to trying to find a comfortable position to sleep. I can't sleep at night. For the past 2 nights I've take TWO Melatonin tablets & I still don't fall asleep till late. I'm in a funk & can't shake it...AH!! I can't wait for my cast to come off tomorrow, even if for just a little while. I cry every time I think of not being able to move my foot & how the muscles atrophy.
Since it's Hispanic Heritage month, yes I am Hispanic, I've been keeping busy reading about legends like the Goddess Rita Hayworth (had no idea she was Hispanic) & Lupe Velez. What beautiful woman & what lives they had. Ms. Hayworth's bday is a day before mine ")
I'm really frustrated with the cast..the whole thing about being immobile is making me crazy...grumpy. It's gotten harder & harder to find a position I feel comfortable in as the strip across my heal is really hurting. Yesterday I moved the leg/foot in such a way that it caused my toes to move & it was THEE weirdest feeling to feel the operated toe try to move. Poor little thing. Also yesterday, since I couldn't take it anymore, I called the Dr's office to see if there was anything they could do or suggested about the tape that hurts so much. Evelyn, I finally remembered her name, set an appointment for me to come in early, a week early, to change the cast. I really hope she cuts or takes the tape off because it won't matter how much gauze she puts to pat it, it's still going to pull my skin. I dread the nights now. From the process it takes to show to trying to find a comfortable position to sleep. I can't sleep at night. For the past 2 nights I've take TWO Melatonin tablets & I still don't fall asleep till late. I'm in a funk & can't shake it...AH!! I can't wait for my cast to come off tomorrow, even if for just a little while. I cry every time I think of not being able to move my foot & how the muscles atrophy.
Since it's Hispanic Heritage month, yes I am Hispanic, I've been keeping busy reading about legends like the Goddess Rita Hayworth (had no idea she was Hispanic) & Lupe Velez. What beautiful woman & what lives they had. Ms. Hayworth's bday is a day before mine ")
Sunday, September 15, 2013
9/15 Day 27 - I wanna get up & dance!!
9/15/13 <<DAY 27>>
Wow! I can't believe it's already been almost a month since my day of surgery! I really can't believe half of September is already gone!! Anyways, to "the toe experience"!...
Haven't been writing every day because there hasn't been much to tell. In other words, not too much has happened that's out of the ordinary. Every now & then I still feel the discomfort of the hardware in my foot. Going from upstairs to down & vise versa has gotten easier & now I do it with both the crutches. As opposed to holding on to the railing with one hand & a crutch in the other. I only took the heavy pain killer one night a few days ago because my foot was really hurting. There's a strip of medical tape on my heal that runs across the scar that is KILLING me!! I feel it pulling my skin & irritating the skin as most of the time my weight rests on the heal due to how I sit. I'm really hoping my next Dr's visit, which is at the end of the month, they can take it off or at the very lease trim it. At this point it's a desperate feeling I need of relief!! That leg/foot has also started to get a little itchy.
In all honesty, I've been struggling more mentally & emotionally & I'm not too ashamed to admit yesterday I had a mild break down :) I'm getting sick of sitting/laying around. I feel so unproductive! & being stuck & immobile is so frustrating for me. I'm so used to being independent & always doing something. There's only so much tv one can watch & mess with the internet. So this time I have forces me to think..think & do more thinking. It kind of starts messing with your mind a little bit. It's easy to loose sight of the big picture & just wait this thing out. One side of my brain tells me, "You're healing! Dummy." While the other side is screaming, "I need to find a job..I want to work again!".
Sigh.
My husband was on a business trip most of last week so I spent the whole week in the house. So, yea, by Friday I was a bit of a wack job! Like a hero though he took me out on a date Saturday, I even put a little make-up on, & saved the day..or my brain! He took me to Ultra Star Cinemas in Scottsdale which we had never been & really liked it! On the way out of the theater, once the movie was done, it was still dark & as I opened he door to come out I happened to kind of glance behind me & noticed a man standing behind me..to close behind me & scared me. I almost took him out with the right crutch. LOLOLOL!!! Right before I was about to swing it at him, I looked again, & all this happened in seconds mind you, I looked at him again & just kept waddling forward while my husband walked in front of me to help hold the door open. I came out of there laughing so hard & my husband had no idea why I was laughing..LOL!!..& then because I was laughing so hard I stepped on his flop with my crutch & caused us to trip. Only me would this happen to. In all seriousness though, it did help to get out this weekend AND have my mom come over with some yummy food. I even made dessert!..but had ended up on bent knees on a chair because my good leg got so tired.
Wow! I can't believe it's already been almost a month since my day of surgery! I really can't believe half of September is already gone!! Anyways, to "the toe experience"!...
Haven't been writing every day because there hasn't been much to tell. In other words, not too much has happened that's out of the ordinary. Every now & then I still feel the discomfort of the hardware in my foot. Going from upstairs to down & vise versa has gotten easier & now I do it with both the crutches. As opposed to holding on to the railing with one hand & a crutch in the other. I only took the heavy pain killer one night a few days ago because my foot was really hurting. There's a strip of medical tape on my heal that runs across the scar that is KILLING me!! I feel it pulling my skin & irritating the skin as most of the time my weight rests on the heal due to how I sit. I'm really hoping my next Dr's visit, which is at the end of the month, they can take it off or at the very lease trim it. At this point it's a desperate feeling I need of relief!! That leg/foot has also started to get a little itchy.
In all honesty, I've been struggling more mentally & emotionally & I'm not too ashamed to admit yesterday I had a mild break down :) I'm getting sick of sitting/laying around. I feel so unproductive! & being stuck & immobile is so frustrating for me. I'm so used to being independent & always doing something. There's only so much tv one can watch & mess with the internet. So this time I have forces me to think..think & do more thinking. It kind of starts messing with your mind a little bit. It's easy to loose sight of the big picture & just wait this thing out. One side of my brain tells me, "You're healing! Dummy." While the other side is screaming, "I need to find a job..I want to work again!".
Sigh.
My husband was on a business trip most of last week so I spent the whole week in the house. So, yea, by Friday I was a bit of a wack job! Like a hero though he took me out on a date Saturday, I even put a little make-up on, & saved the day..or my brain! He took me to Ultra Star Cinemas in Scottsdale which we had never been & really liked it! On the way out of the theater, once the movie was done, it was still dark & as I opened he door to come out I happened to kind of glance behind me & noticed a man standing behind me..to close behind me & scared me. I almost took him out with the right crutch. LOLOLOL!!! Right before I was about to swing it at him, I looked again, & all this happened in seconds mind you, I looked at him again & just kept waddling forward while my husband walked in front of me to help hold the door open. I came out of there laughing so hard & my husband had no idea why I was laughing..LOL!!..& then because I was laughing so hard I stepped on his flop with my crutch & caused us to trip. Only me would this happen to. In all seriousness though, it did help to get out this weekend AND have my mom come over with some yummy food. I even made dessert!..but had ended up on bent knees on a chair because my good leg got so tired.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
9/10 Day 22 -All I've got
9/10/13 <<DAY 22>>
Husband is out of town for a few days so it's just kitty & me. I am SO grateful & feel so extremely blessed I dont have to go through this by myself. My heart hurts at the thought of anyone who would have to do all this with no help.Well, I should say, the boy is here too & dropped in today between classes. It's nice company but as a typical 17 yr old not the most..let's say..aware helper. Still, I know he loves me & he knows I love him. I'm glad he stopped by :)
So this is all I've got for a few days..tv, lap top & kitty...& Pandora :) Gosh!..do you know how hard it is to waddle to the couch with crutches holding a cup of coffee!? It amazes me how much I take for granted. Every day things I used to do with out giving it a second thought that now I can't do or is difficult to do.
Anyway, my foot feels fine. Have the occasional discomfort & need to elevate it but I haven't been in pain. Tomorrow will be a week since I've had the cast on. I want to move my ankle around so bad! Since I've never had a cast, sometimes when I think of it, I start to worry about the aftermath. Having to move that ankle, foot, toes..walk after it's all said & done. It scares me because my whole foot will be so stiff! How the heck is it ever going to go back to normal & how long is THAT going to take!? I know..I should concentrate on NOW.
9/10 - Just Like Heaven
I've heard these songs on my Pandora station & fell in love with them...
Katie Melua - Just Like Heaven (Originally by The Cure)
This song, I could listen to it all day. Something about it that is very soothing for me...
Koop - Koop Island Blues
Katie Melua - Just Like Heaven (Originally by The Cure)
Koop - Koop Island Blues
Monday, September 9, 2013
9/7 UPDATE! - Stepping Stone
I almost totally forgot to mention!...
On Saturday, 9/7 we drove up to Prescott, just to get out for a while. We always stop at this little thrift store called Stepping Stone. We found it a couple of years ago & it has become not only one of my favorite places to visit while in Prescott but a tradition to go near the fall & holidays. When we went a couple of weeks ago I was SO excited to see they already had Halloween, Fall & Thanksgiving stuff out! We always find the cutest, spookiest coolest things there & since the Fall is my favorite season it makes it even better. I mean, what could be better than finding things you love or can re-purpose (the crafty side of me always sees things as a "what can I make out of that" perspective) at awesome prices? Well, one thing I can think of that is better is that, not only do I always come across good finds, but the proceeds go to a woman & children's shelter & help center. Here's the info, in case you're ever in town, pop in & I'm sure you too will find some treasures.
In looking up their website, I'm learnign they also have a coffe shop called Step One Coffee House! I will def be stopping by & they also have open mic on Friday night! YAY! I can't wait to go!
On Saturday, 9/7 we drove up to Prescott, just to get out for a while. We always stop at this little thrift store called Stepping Stone. We found it a couple of years ago & it has become not only one of my favorite places to visit while in Prescott but a tradition to go near the fall & holidays. When we went a couple of weeks ago I was SO excited to see they already had Halloween, Fall & Thanksgiving stuff out! We always find the cutest, spookiest coolest things there & since the Fall is my favorite season it makes it even better. I mean, what could be better than finding things you love or can re-purpose (the crafty side of me always sees things as a "what can I make out of that" perspective) at awesome prices? Well, one thing I can think of that is better is that, not only do I always come across good finds, but the proceeds go to a woman & children's shelter & help center. Here's the info, in case you're ever in town, pop in & I'm sure you too will find some treasures.
In looking up their website, I'm learnign they also have a coffe shop called Step One Coffee House! I will def be stopping by & they also have open mic on Friday night! YAY! I can't wait to go!
9/9 Day 21 - Just chillin
9/9/13 <<DAY 21>>
Just been laying low for a couple of days. Yesterday, 9/8, was good. Felt a bit of pain but nothing worth taking an extra strength pain killer for. It rained in the morning but the sun came up by the afternoon. Brian took me out for a walk behind the house on the bike/walk way. It was nice & I got really sleepy. So I took a little nap when I got home. Our Sunday shows did not disappoint.
Today has been a good day also, so far. In fact, it feels better than yesterday. Woke up to rain two days in a row & that within of itself makes me feel good. If I lived in Seattle, I'd prob not feel the same, I don't think. However, for us that live in the desert (or hell's kitchen), the rain is magnificent! I came down & stood out front for a little bit to soak in the rain, not literally though ;) I came in & left the front door open, opened up the back & living room window I'm sitting in front of. Sigh. Sounds & feels so good!
Not being able to be more mobile has me feeling a little down, I will admit. Been thinking of doing some yoga, as much as I could with the cast . Or something to keep my muscles from becoming too weak. Not for nothing but, man, I can already tell I have more cellulite. Sorry if that was "t.m.i" but it's freaking me OUT! My life before surgery wasn't very "active" per say. Other than just working every day, cleaning, the usual stuff. Actually asked my husband last night when we were both kind of bored, "What the heck did we do on Sundays before the surgery!?" We enjoyed our weekends after a long weeks work to kind of lounge, maybe drive up to Prescott for a day or enjoy the grand babies but now...pf. Now every day is "lounge" day & I can only half walk around with crutches or sit in a wheel chair for so long before I feel all circulation in my foot has stopped & I can't keep up with a 3 & one year old if my life depended on it! So it does get kind of boring. I have been looking at options of what I want to do for work once I'm able to though.
Just been laying low for a couple of days. Yesterday, 9/8, was good. Felt a bit of pain but nothing worth taking an extra strength pain killer for. It rained in the morning but the sun came up by the afternoon. Brian took me out for a walk behind the house on the bike/walk way. It was nice & I got really sleepy. So I took a little nap when I got home. Our Sunday shows did not disappoint.
Today has been a good day also, so far. In fact, it feels better than yesterday. Woke up to rain two days in a row & that within of itself makes me feel good. If I lived in Seattle, I'd prob not feel the same, I don't think. However, for us that live in the desert (or hell's kitchen), the rain is magnificent! I came down & stood out front for a little bit to soak in the rain, not literally though ;) I came in & left the front door open, opened up the back & living room window I'm sitting in front of. Sigh. Sounds & feels so good!
Not being able to be more mobile has me feeling a little down, I will admit. Been thinking of doing some yoga, as much as I could with the cast . Or something to keep my muscles from becoming too weak. Not for nothing but, man, I can already tell I have more cellulite. Sorry if that was "t.m.i" but it's freaking me OUT! My life before surgery wasn't very "active" per say. Other than just working every day, cleaning, the usual stuff. Actually asked my husband last night when we were both kind of bored, "What the heck did we do on Sundays before the surgery!?" We enjoyed our weekends after a long weeks work to kind of lounge, maybe drive up to Prescott for a day or enjoy the grand babies but now...pf. Now every day is "lounge" day & I can only half walk around with crutches or sit in a wheel chair for so long before I feel all circulation in my foot has stopped & I can't keep up with a 3 & one year old if my life depended on it! So it does get kind of boring. I have been looking at options of what I want to do for work once I'm able to though.
9/9 A little inspiration...
I complain about the pain but the reality of it is that in a few more months I will be able to walk & soon after that all this will be in the past. I can move on & continue doing what I was doing. This man, has really put things in perspective for me. How many of us would have the same perseverance as Darius?
& then there's Tommy...I can't say his name without smiling now. I found this video this morning, as well as the one above, on FB & it made my day. I hope, I'm sure, you also will feel Tommy's wave. ;) i love dancing & I sure did!
HAVE A NICE DAY...RAINY DAY!
Saturday, September 7, 2013
9/7 DAY 19-THE RAIN!
My foot has been killing me & today I realized why!...THE RAIN! UGH!! Monsoon season is not good when you've had a broken bone or any surgery that has to do with your bones. I can't wait for the day where I can stop taking pain killers.
AND...I'M ALREADY SICK OF THIS CAST! I feel like...like the cast is strangulating my foot & the hardware that's in my foot is digging & grinding into my foot. Like a torture scene out of a movie.
Other than that today was a nice rainy day.
Friday, September 6, 2013
9/5 & 6 Day 17 & 18 - Potty time!
9/5/13 <<DAY 17>>
(writing this on 9/6) I missed a day again. Suffice it to say, yesterday was not a good day. I've been thinking since yesterday, I must say, whether or not to write about the day I had yesterday & if so how much detail exactly do I give?
If you're going to do this surgery, first let me say that for us,..for me having this toe "repaired" this is all worth it but man, am I earning it too! What I was going to say is I suppose if you have made up you're mind or thinking of whether or not to do this procedure, you want to know what it FEELS like right? The during & after? The good, the bad & the ugly? Because I know I would. But then again, to me it didn't matter because I had made up my mind the minute I saw Dr. Lee's website & realized I had him close to me.
So...in regards to how my foot felt after one day in the cast. I left the office feeling...not too bad. It almost felt like I was wearing a boot & I just forgot to take the right one off. It's snug as I mentioned. By the end of the evening the snug turned into "tight" & I was back on the severe pain killer. It felt like...have you ever had someone squeeze your hand so hard, a hand you were wearing a ring on? It felt like your hand was being crushed & the ring was digging in your finger? Well, imagine that but on the INSIDE of your foot. I felt those pins & that rod just digging in my foot. No. It was not pleasant.The other issue I had yesterday was...well, there is no other way to put it other than to just say it. ....ugh....well, I was very badly constipated. That is all I will say about that, no details necessary. All I'm going to say is PLEASE PLEASE don't let this happen to you & take the necessary steps to prevent it. TRUST ME. I found some info on this "here" & "here". I should have gotten a clue when 4/5 days went by & I wasn't going & 3 nights went by without me having dinner because I didn't have an appetite.
9/6/13 <<DAY 18>>
Today I woke up feeling a lot better, thank goodness, I think yesterdays issue has been resolved & I can continue my recovery like a normal person should. Today my foot is better. On occasion when I'm asleep my toe or one of my toes will twitch & scare the crap out of me. It happened this afternoon when I fell asleep on the couch. I still need to elevate it because, well, not only did doc say to, but I feel it. That rush of blood & swelling if I don't have it elevated. He also said that the most I should be up & about now is 10 minutes. I know the fact that I'm not active contributes to the constipation. The cast doesn't feel very heavy (never had one before) but I do get tired of even just going up the stairs. Ah the things we take for granted! My husband had brought me a rubber boot to wear at the doctor's office. I can finally shower again! I slip it on & there's a little pump that sucks the air out, it gets tight enough to wear it snug on your thigh but not painful. I still sit on the medical chair of course but it feels so much better to shower! My leg does get tired of being in the straight position so I try to get creative & try to bend it as much as I can without hurting, while it being elevated. Yea, it's like a magic act sort of.
(writing this on 9/6) I missed a day again. Suffice it to say, yesterday was not a good day. I've been thinking since yesterday, I must say, whether or not to write about the day I had yesterday & if so how much detail exactly do I give?
If you're going to do this surgery, first let me say that for us,..for me having this toe "repaired" this is all worth it but man, am I earning it too! What I was going to say is I suppose if you have made up you're mind or thinking of whether or not to do this procedure, you want to know what it FEELS like right? The during & after? The good, the bad & the ugly? Because I know I would. But then again, to me it didn't matter because I had made up my mind the minute I saw Dr. Lee's website & realized I had him close to me.
So...in regards to how my foot felt after one day in the cast. I left the office feeling...not too bad. It almost felt like I was wearing a boot & I just forgot to take the right one off. It's snug as I mentioned. By the end of the evening the snug turned into "tight" & I was back on the severe pain killer. It felt like...have you ever had someone squeeze your hand so hard, a hand you were wearing a ring on? It felt like your hand was being crushed & the ring was digging in your finger? Well, imagine that but on the INSIDE of your foot. I felt those pins & that rod just digging in my foot. No. It was not pleasant.The other issue I had yesterday was...well, there is no other way to put it other than to just say it. ....ugh....well, I was very badly constipated. That is all I will say about that, no details necessary. All I'm going to say is PLEASE PLEASE don't let this happen to you & take the necessary steps to prevent it. TRUST ME. I found some info on this "here" & "here". I should have gotten a clue when 4/5 days went by & I wasn't going & 3 nights went by without me having dinner because I didn't have an appetite.
9/6/13 <<DAY 18>>
Today I woke up feeling a lot better, thank goodness, I think yesterdays issue has been resolved & I can continue my recovery like a normal person should. Today my foot is better. On occasion when I'm asleep my toe or one of my toes will twitch & scare the crap out of me. It happened this afternoon when I fell asleep on the couch. I still need to elevate it because, well, not only did doc say to, but I feel it. That rush of blood & swelling if I don't have it elevated. He also said that the most I should be up & about now is 10 minutes. I know the fact that I'm not active contributes to the constipation. The cast doesn't feel very heavy (never had one before) but I do get tired of even just going up the stairs. Ah the things we take for granted! My husband had brought me a rubber boot to wear at the doctor's office. I can finally shower again! I slip it on & there's a little pump that sucks the air out, it gets tight enough to wear it snug on your thigh but not painful. I still sit on the medical chair of course but it feels so much better to shower! My leg does get tired of being in the straight position so I try to get creative & try to bend it as much as I can without hurting, while it being elevated. Yea, it's like a magic act sort of.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
9/4 Day 16 - Pictures of today/cast
Doc said it was still a little swollen but not too bad that I couldn't get the cast on...I love that's it's parallel now to the other toes...
It did not feel good when she pushed down on the foot. I didn't really
feel extreme pain, per say but it felt very uncomfortable, a little
pain.
9/4 Day 16 - The cast!
9/4/13 <<DAY 16>>
The big day...the cast! I think my husband was more excited than I was ;) However, I'll start with the morning but since there's not much to tell, it'll go by fast...
Usual morning..woke up with no pain, I've been laying more on my stomach but not for long periods of time. Now that I think about it, I don't know why it never occurred to ask the doc if I could. Had cereal (I'm hoping the fiber will "help move things along", if you know what I mean, wink wink) in bed then the usual to come downstairs. By the way, coming down is so much easier than coming up. May be or sound obvious but me being one that never had to think twice of it, being in this position now I can say without a second thought that I will never take walking for granted again. The stairs are killing me. Anyways, kept myself busy on the couch till it was time to go see the doc. Can I just say that Candy Crush level 147 is MAKING ME CRAZY! Been on that level now for days...UGH!
At Dr. Lee's...well, first I should confess that I almost killed a poor woman & myself going into the elevator (because I decided to go up with crutches instead of the wheel chair this time). With one of the crutches as I was getting in, I stepped on the back of her flop. Well, not only did I see my life flash before my eyes but I'm sure scared the poor woman. We both apologized immediately, I felt so bad! Thing is my instinct was to put my foot down so as to not fall...my operated foot. Sigh. Luckily everybody was fine & we proceeded to the office. Wouldn't you know!...they too were going to the same office! Turns out their daughter has this brachy thing & she was going in for an initial consult. Well, I was excited to talk with them & I think they were too! Among questions & a small but awesome conversation before they called my name, I told her she was very brave to do this at her young age. When I was her age I didn't have access to the web & as I mentioned in one of my earlier blogs, I never even knew this toe issue had a name. It was so nice to meet them. Before we left we gave the medical assistants the info to this blog for their view (if they wanted) & for the young girl & her family.
So, as hoped the dressing came off, had to do a few more x-rays & the cast came on. Yay! (Although I'm sure after a month of lugging it around I won't feel so "yay" anymore) Once again, it felt SO good for my foot to be free & move it & stretch it as best I could. It was very tight & I was afraid to stretch it too much because I didn't want to hurt anything. Little did I know what was yet to come. I took plenty of pictures so I'll let them do the talking but basically, she pushed down on my foot, me laying on my stomach. It kinda hurt but more than that I was afraid the scar on my heal would tear open! I still have medical tape strips on it & one was pulling my skin down or the opposite way of how she wanted me to bend my foot. It was the weirdest feeling ever but have to admit it felt good to have my foot pushed to that position. I have not used those muscles in a couple of weeks so they were stiff. Jeez, I can't even imagine what it's going to be like after I'm done with the cast! Not having walked or used those muscles in 4 months! AH! I'm scared!
Anyways, I had the choice of black, red or purple. I went with back. My husband was fascinated by the casting process as he had never seen a cast being put on anybody. The black gauze has fiber glass & dries quickly. She wet it with water first to easily manipulate it & when she was done, it dried within seconds. Again, I have never had a cast on so it was pretty cool for me too. Although I couldn't see much because I had to lay on my stomach. Whole process probably only took about 10/15 minutes. Her instructions were clear: do not walk on it or put any pressure on it & do not stick any sharp objects if you get an itch! Oh, also do not try to stand in the shower with your crutches. It is snug but not tight & felt really warm as it was drying. She said that was normal...man, I wish I could remember "her" name...sorry friend. I promise I will get their names straight by the next visit so I can properly address them. Because everything is so snug, my toes are really snug..together & by the time I got home I can REALLY feel the pins. It's not necessarily painful but just..uncomfortable. The last mild meds I took was this morning & I'll be sure to take one before I go to bed tonight.
I think what I'm going to do is put today's pics on a separate blog with today's date. There's a lot I want to put up for you to see & today's blog is already long enough. I'll do that next..stay tuned!...
The big day...the cast! I think my husband was more excited than I was ;) However, I'll start with the morning but since there's not much to tell, it'll go by fast...
Usual morning..woke up with no pain, I've been laying more on my stomach but not for long periods of time. Now that I think about it, I don't know why it never occurred to ask the doc if I could. Had cereal (I'm hoping the fiber will "help move things along", if you know what I mean, wink wink) in bed then the usual to come downstairs. By the way, coming down is so much easier than coming up. May be or sound obvious but me being one that never had to think twice of it, being in this position now I can say without a second thought that I will never take walking for granted again. The stairs are killing me. Anyways, kept myself busy on the couch till it was time to go see the doc. Can I just say that Candy Crush level 147 is MAKING ME CRAZY! Been on that level now for days...UGH!
At Dr. Lee's...well, first I should confess that I almost killed a poor woman & myself going into the elevator (because I decided to go up with crutches instead of the wheel chair this time). With one of the crutches as I was getting in, I stepped on the back of her flop. Well, not only did I see my life flash before my eyes but I'm sure scared the poor woman. We both apologized immediately, I felt so bad! Thing is my instinct was to put my foot down so as to not fall...my operated foot. Sigh. Luckily everybody was fine & we proceeded to the office. Wouldn't you know!...they too were going to the same office! Turns out their daughter has this brachy thing & she was going in for an initial consult. Well, I was excited to talk with them & I think they were too! Among questions & a small but awesome conversation before they called my name, I told her she was very brave to do this at her young age. When I was her age I didn't have access to the web & as I mentioned in one of my earlier blogs, I never even knew this toe issue had a name. It was so nice to meet them. Before we left we gave the medical assistants the info to this blog for their view (if they wanted) & for the young girl & her family.
So, as hoped the dressing came off, had to do a few more x-rays & the cast came on. Yay! (Although I'm sure after a month of lugging it around I won't feel so "yay" anymore) Once again, it felt SO good for my foot to be free & move it & stretch it as best I could. It was very tight & I was afraid to stretch it too much because I didn't want to hurt anything. Little did I know what was yet to come. I took plenty of pictures so I'll let them do the talking but basically, she pushed down on my foot, me laying on my stomach. It kinda hurt but more than that I was afraid the scar on my heal would tear open! I still have medical tape strips on it & one was pulling my skin down or the opposite way of how she wanted me to bend my foot. It was the weirdest feeling ever but have to admit it felt good to have my foot pushed to that position. I have not used those muscles in a couple of weeks so they were stiff. Jeez, I can't even imagine what it's going to be like after I'm done with the cast! Not having walked or used those muscles in 4 months! AH! I'm scared!
Anyways, I had the choice of black, red or purple. I went with back. My husband was fascinated by the casting process as he had never seen a cast being put on anybody. The black gauze has fiber glass & dries quickly. She wet it with water first to easily manipulate it & when she was done, it dried within seconds. Again, I have never had a cast on so it was pretty cool for me too. Although I couldn't see much because I had to lay on my stomach. Whole process probably only took about 10/15 minutes. Her instructions were clear: do not walk on it or put any pressure on it & do not stick any sharp objects if you get an itch! Oh, also do not try to stand in the shower with your crutches. It is snug but not tight & felt really warm as it was drying. She said that was normal...man, I wish I could remember "her" name...sorry friend. I promise I will get their names straight by the next visit so I can properly address them. Because everything is so snug, my toes are really snug..together & by the time I got home I can REALLY feel the pins. It's not necessarily painful but just..uncomfortable. The last mild meds I took was this morning & I'll be sure to take one before I go to bed tonight.
I think what I'm going to do is put today's pics on a separate blog with today's date. There's a lot I want to put up for you to see & today's blog is already long enough. I'll do that next..stay tuned!...
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
9/2 & 9/3 -Day 14 & 15 - My first outing
Mon/Labor Day 9/2/13 <<DAY 14>>
Kind of a boring day. I pretty much spent it on the couch. I can report I have been pain free though &continue to take the mild pain killer. Although, I can go the whole night with no pain killers & wake up with no pain either. The worst of it is just the feeling of it swelling up if I'm up for too long. IMPORTANT, NEED TO KNOW: Gross alert: after more than, I don't know, at least 3 days if not more, I finally...went...#2 :/ For my future fellow brachy brothers/sister who will go through this procedure, please remember to take fiber or now a days they have gummys you can take that is not necessarily a "laxative". TRUST ME, this is IMPORTANT.
Um...I think that's it for this day.
Tue 9/3/13 <<DAY 15>>
Woke up feeling good, had breakfast in bed. Today I felt good enough to get the heck out of the house for a little bit. It's the first time I leave the house, with the exception of going to the doctor's office, in 2 weeks! Today, actually, marks my 2 weeks anniversary since the surgery that will change my life. Had an awesome lunch with the husband at Cali Pizza Kitchen & it was delicious. We went to the mall for about an hour. Which was probably the longest I can with stand my foot not being elevated. We actually started our Christmas shopping! Yay! On a side note, I saw the cutest pair of leopard print jeans that I NEED... SO badly. Of course I would see them now when I can't try them on..ugh! Something funny/different I've noticed that I'm not sure why it happens...when I'm falling asleep, I notice my body twitches. The worst is when my toes on the operated foot twitch!! Oh how I hate that feeling! It scares me & I jump & wake up so it takes me that much longer to fall sleep. This never used to happen before the surgery, don't know if there's any connection. Tomorrow I go to another check up & hopefully get a cast on. I'm kind of excited but since I've never had a cast, I don't know how it's going to feel. With the dressing I have on now, I can take it all off if I want to for what ever reason but with the cast, I'm stuck with it till the doc takes it off to change it. He had mentioned I'd have to go in & change it once a month. I can't imagine not moving my foot for that long of a time! For some reason that freaks me out!
Kind of a boring day. I pretty much spent it on the couch. I can report I have been pain free though &continue to take the mild pain killer. Although, I can go the whole night with no pain killers & wake up with no pain either. The worst of it is just the feeling of it swelling up if I'm up for too long. IMPORTANT, NEED TO KNOW: Gross alert: after more than, I don't know, at least 3 days if not more, I finally...went...#2 :/ For my future fellow brachy brothers/sister who will go through this procedure, please remember to take fiber or now a days they have gummys you can take that is not necessarily a "laxative". TRUST ME, this is IMPORTANT.
Um...I think that's it for this day.
Tue 9/3/13 <<DAY 15>>
Woke up feeling good, had breakfast in bed. Today I felt good enough to get the heck out of the house for a little bit. It's the first time I leave the house, with the exception of going to the doctor's office, in 2 weeks! Today, actually, marks my 2 weeks anniversary since the surgery that will change my life. Had an awesome lunch with the husband at Cali Pizza Kitchen & it was delicious. We went to the mall for about an hour. Which was probably the longest I can with stand my foot not being elevated. We actually started our Christmas shopping! Yay! On a side note, I saw the cutest pair of leopard print jeans that I NEED... SO badly. Of course I would see them now when I can't try them on..ugh! Something funny/different I've noticed that I'm not sure why it happens...when I'm falling asleep, I notice my body twitches. The worst is when my toes on the operated foot twitch!! Oh how I hate that feeling! It scares me & I jump & wake up so it takes me that much longer to fall sleep. This never used to happen before the surgery, don't know if there's any connection. Tomorrow I go to another check up & hopefully get a cast on. I'm kind of excited but since I've never had a cast, I don't know how it's going to feel. With the dressing I have on now, I can take it all off if I want to for what ever reason but with the cast, I'm stuck with it till the doc takes it off to change it. He had mentioned I'd have to go in & change it once a month. I can't imagine not moving my foot for that long of a time! For some reason that freaks me out!
Sunday, September 1, 2013
8/31 & 9/1 - Day 12 & 13 - Oh happy day
Sat 8/31/13 DAY <<DAY 12>> 10:17am
I missed a day! I had a horrible night Friday night (8/30). I think after the whole fiasco of Friday evening, I put too much stress on my foot & by the end of the night, my heal was aching so badly. I took a pain killer & went to bed but the pain woke me up at 11 something & again around 12pm. I think it was the worst I've felt. I asked Brian to disassemble my foot dressing to feel it free again. It helped. We left it uncovered for a few minutes but covered it back up just in case. I don't think we were supposed to uncover it in the first place but, damn, did it feel good & I was able to sleep through the night. I woke up Sat morning feeling ..ok. but by the afternoon I started feeling sick to my stomach...again. (I'm tired of feeling sick & tired!) I really didn't have much appetite for dinner & was afraid to eat. I didn't want to throw up again. So I just munched on crackers...yay! I spoke to the doc, just wanted to ask about my stomach turning. He said it was most likely due to the pain killer. So the last strong pain killer I took was that afternoon. When I went to bed I took the mild/moderate pain killer. I think it was a good sign that I had gone hours without pain killers & I was not in pain. I think had it not been for the stupid infection, I would have been fine because there were a few days in the beginning where I took the mild pain killer & was fine.
Sun 9/1/13 <<DAY 13>>
Which brings me to today, Sunday & can you believe it's already September!! That's crazy. Real quick, I forgot to mention, about 2 days ago that knot feeling in my throat I had, that I thought was due to the tube they put down your throat for surgery...well, it went away. The only reason I mentioned that because it seemed odd to me that I went so many days still feeling that & it was difficult for me to swallow with out feeling discomfort.
Back to today...Slept pretty good. One minute I was hot, the other I was cold & for some God forsaken reason I kept having to get up to pee! Ugh. Also, can I just say...only being able to sleep on my back & left side is killing me! Yesterday I tried laying on my stomach..felt SO good & my foot was elevated but things felt weird so I won't do that too often.
This morning I got up & dressed by myself, wore me out but I did it, & asked the husband to help me come down. Ill have visitors today..my mom, daughter & grand babies. Yay!! I miss them so much! As for my stomach & status on foot...I had a little cereal this morning with a mild pain killer. My stomachs holding up & my foot is ok. Just ok because it feels a little swollen but it's not hurting. I bet if I disassembled the dressing again, I'd feel better but I don't think I will. My toes feel weird. I stretched my legs & my toes felt SO weird. I can feel the 4 pins in my foot. Hopefully today will continue to be good & I can check in.
730pm...
Had a nice afternoon with the family. The babies always cheer me up & make me feel better. My head started to hurt & it dawned on me that it was from not drinking any caffeine. I hadn't had coffee or any pepsi yesterday & today I hadn't had my morning cup o'joe either. That's why my head was killing me! Took couple of Advils & headache is gone. Foot's been good all day. I think things are turning around & I've probably left the worst of it, pain wise, behind. Continued to taking the mild pain killer today. In spite of having no pain, just in case. This week I go to see the doc again because of Monday being a holiday, the appointment is for Wed 9/4. This will be the first time in my life that I have to have a cast on. Sigh. Will I ever learn how to go back to walking & function with out my crutches?
I missed a day! I had a horrible night Friday night (8/30). I think after the whole fiasco of Friday evening, I put too much stress on my foot & by the end of the night, my heal was aching so badly. I took a pain killer & went to bed but the pain woke me up at 11 something & again around 12pm. I think it was the worst I've felt. I asked Brian to disassemble my foot dressing to feel it free again. It helped. We left it uncovered for a few minutes but covered it back up just in case. I don't think we were supposed to uncover it in the first place but, damn, did it feel good & I was able to sleep through the night. I woke up Sat morning feeling ..ok. but by the afternoon I started feeling sick to my stomach...again. (I'm tired of feeling sick & tired!) I really didn't have much appetite for dinner & was afraid to eat. I didn't want to throw up again. So I just munched on crackers...yay! I spoke to the doc, just wanted to ask about my stomach turning. He said it was most likely due to the pain killer. So the last strong pain killer I took was that afternoon. When I went to bed I took the mild/moderate pain killer. I think it was a good sign that I had gone hours without pain killers & I was not in pain. I think had it not been for the stupid infection, I would have been fine because there were a few days in the beginning where I took the mild pain killer & was fine.
Sun 9/1/13 <<DAY 13>>
Which brings me to today, Sunday & can you believe it's already September!! That's crazy. Real quick, I forgot to mention, about 2 days ago that knot feeling in my throat I had, that I thought was due to the tube they put down your throat for surgery...well, it went away. The only reason I mentioned that because it seemed odd to me that I went so many days still feeling that & it was difficult for me to swallow with out feeling discomfort.
Back to today...Slept pretty good. One minute I was hot, the other I was cold & for some God forsaken reason I kept having to get up to pee! Ugh. Also, can I just say...only being able to sleep on my back & left side is killing me! Yesterday I tried laying on my stomach..felt SO good & my foot was elevated but things felt weird so I won't do that too often.
This morning I got up & dressed by myself, wore me out but I did it, & asked the husband to help me come down. Ill have visitors today..my mom, daughter & grand babies. Yay!! I miss them so much! As for my stomach & status on foot...I had a little cereal this morning with a mild pain killer. My stomachs holding up & my foot is ok. Just ok because it feels a little swollen but it's not hurting. I bet if I disassembled the dressing again, I'd feel better but I don't think I will. My toes feel weird. I stretched my legs & my toes felt SO weird. I can feel the 4 pins in my foot. Hopefully today will continue to be good & I can check in.
730pm...
Had a nice afternoon with the family. The babies always cheer me up & make me feel better. My head started to hurt & it dawned on me that it was from not drinking any caffeine. I hadn't had coffee or any pepsi yesterday & today I hadn't had my morning cup o'joe either. That's why my head was killing me! Took couple of Advils & headache is gone. Foot's been good all day. I think things are turning around & I've probably left the worst of it, pain wise, behind. Continued to taking the mild pain killer today. In spite of having no pain, just in case. This week I go to see the doc again because of Monday being a holiday, the appointment is for Wed 9/4. This will be the first time in my life that I have to have a cast on. Sigh. Will I ever learn how to go back to walking & function with out my crutches?
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