I’m having foot surgery in three days. Well, actually, two days, twenty some hours, by the time you read this. I’ve put it off for two years for various reasons; such as, I can bear the stigma of deformity; I don’t have an 8 week window where I can be immobile; I’m a big chicken. During that period, I’ve endured blisters on all the toes of my right foot, straps cutting into my expanding metatarsal until my foot bleeds, and the lack of ability to wear my nice shoes, all from a condition I seemed to have inherited from my mom, grandma, and probably her grandma, too. Because there’s really no other reason for it.I don’t wear high heels. Never did, except for special occasions. I go shoeless around the house. I exercise in good walking shoes. I’m not overweight. I don’t drive for hours at a time. That leaves heredity, according to my foot doc. Personally, I think I inherited a certain spinal structure that, because of a slight curve, causes one foot to splay to maintain balance. Being the foot expert that I am. (Cough)
So for four weeks, I’ll be on crutches, and then another four in a boot, unable to put any pressure on my foot. Naturally, it’s my right foot, so that eliminates driving. My husband is overjoyed about that, as you can imagine, but stands ready to do my bidding. My doctor says I will learn what it means to be handicapped, which is probably a good thing.
So now I have my crutches and a rolling walker rented, along with meals frozen and ready to reheat. My family is prepared to bring dishes to Thanksgiving dinner, and my daughters are going to make mashed potatoes and gravy. I plan to sit on a stool and poke people with the tip of my crutch. Just because I can.
What I’m a bit anxious about is the post-surgical pain. I’ve been told by people who’ve had the surgery – and who doesn’t love to scare the stuffing out of people with their stories – that the two days after are tests of pain endurance. I don’t handle meds with codeine well, so I’m sticking with Advil, ice, and acupuncture, and hope I make it without wanting to stick a needle in my eye.
So if you have any tips for me, or positive stories, I’d really appreciate them. I’m planning to check back in next Monday with an update. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
Kate, nervously signing off
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11 comments:
Good luck, Kate. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Sounds like you've got a positive attitude and that helps. Me, I hate even going to a doctor's office much less the thought of surgery of any kind. I'm chicken. Just think of all the little tidbits you'll pickup along the way to past on to your characters. Sending you more positive thoughts.
Crossing fingers that all will go smoothly, Kate. And, LOL, at the poking. Poke away!
Your comfort level depends on your pain threshold in many cases, but I think they're trying to scare you mainly :-)
You're braver than me, I'd be asking for vicodin.
The postop meds I was given after hysterectomy made me throw up, and rather than request something else that might also make me throw up, I decided to soldier through on Advil. It was challenging, but survivable. Every day I felt a little better than the day before, so progress was discernable, which was encouraging enough to keep my spirits up. I was just so darn happy that the surgery was over and I was home again that I didn't really care about anything else.
Good luck!! I'm sure you'll be fine, and you'll have lots of material to mine in the future.
No experiences or helpful hints, but definitely thoughts and prayers for a positive outcome headed your way.
Best of luck, Kate. You'll be in my thoughts and prayers.
Shel
Good luck on your surgery. I'll be sending you positive vibes.
Thanks for all your well wishes, friends. I will forge bravely into surgery Thursday with those happy thoughts on my mind. . . Until the meds kick in, that is, and then I don't imagine much of anything will be on it. ;-)
It has to be better than knee replacement surgery. You have to be in a machine that keeps you knee bending for hours each day so that you get your flexibility back.
Make sure you get a stool softener if they are going to give you a narcotic.
Best wishes for skilled physicians and caregivers and for the recovery at home too!
My mom had a tendon transplant in her foot in August. She is jsut now using a cane. She had to have a wheelchair ramp built onto the house and needed help doing the smallest tasks.
The pluses? She's learned a great deal about hurdles faced by those in wheelchairs. She's read a pile of books. She's been given aid and gifts by people she didn't know that well before but had the time to sit and chat for once.
She hated sitting still. She hated being dependent on others, but she knew if she wanted to walk again without pain, she had to have surgery. She would tell you that the first two weeks are the worst and after that, you'll have a routine and things won't seem so hard.
I am thinking of you, my friend! xoxo
Kate, I hope all went well with your surgery today. One big hurdle is anticipation, and you've made it past that. Now you have to deal with helplessness for a few days (oh, how I hated that!), and then there's some pain. Just think though, you're two-thirds of the way to complete recovery!
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