At my doctor's appointment on Friday, the doctor removed the stitches from my foot. I think there was about 5 and a couple of them he had to dig a little bit to get under the stitch to cut it away. That was a little painful but it didn't last. It was a feeling like having a splinter and pushing to remove it. It hurts at the time but then stops once it is removed.
He then cleaned up the site and put medicine on, gauze pads and then wrapped it with white gauze. The doctor then put a covering over the foot to protect the site. The covering is like a sock. I was told I could not drive, could not put full weight on the foot, and to continue using the crutches. I had mentioned to the doctor that I had the the felling of wanting to put an ice pack on the back of the foot and he said I could do it now. He said to "listen to my foot." Now I know my foot doesn't talk (LOL) so I guess if I feel like I want to do something to it, I have permission to do things now.
On Wednesday, September 24, I will see him again. I think he will change the bandage again and give me a large band-aid to cover the area. I think I am on my way to recovery. Now the hard part starts with getting the foot back to normal. I have pain when I flex the foot up and down. This is the walking movement. This area will take some time to get better. He told me to start moving it but I already have been. I have the exercises from the physical therapist that were given to me from back in May.
So I continue to be waited on with certain things but I try to do things on my own. I am just a little slow but I manage. I may also be a little stubborn.... Gee, does that sound familiar to anyone? Nawwww....I didn't think so. LOL
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
The Follow Up
I saw the doctor on Friday. He took off the old bandage to have a look at how things were going. He asked me to see if I was OK about looking at it and I told him I was. I guess there are those that don't want to see or are afraid to see. I was expecting to see a big incision but it was small. It was like a small square. The doctor cleaned it up and took a look. He saw some redness and thought I might be having an infection. I am now on an antibiotic three times a day for about a week.
He bandaged it back up and told me I may have the stitches out next Friday. If not then, it might be another 3 or 4 days after that. I am still not able to drive, I am still to take it easy and not to use my foot very much. Sit and keep my foot up. I didn't have any swelling so I guess I was doing it right. The physical therapy does not start for at least 4-6 weeks. He doesn't want them doing anything to the achilles tendon for awhile. I was told originally 3 weeks to be in the boot. The length has been changed. The doctor has the experience.
There was a nodule that he did not take out of the tendon as it would have made it very unstable. If he had, I would have been 6 weeks non-weight bearing before moving on to other things. I guess I will deal with the 4 weeks of crutches and wearing of the boot.
Dad goes back to work on Monday. I will be myself which is OK. I can do things but just at a slower pass. Dad will have to take me to appointments so I have to work with his schedule. I sure am going to get tired of these 4 walls.
He bandaged it back up and told me I may have the stitches out next Friday. If not then, it might be another 3 or 4 days after that. I am still not able to drive, I am still to take it easy and not to use my foot very much. Sit and keep my foot up. I didn't have any swelling so I guess I was doing it right. The physical therapy does not start for at least 4-6 weeks. He doesn't want them doing anything to the achilles tendon for awhile. I was told originally 3 weeks to be in the boot. The length has been changed. The doctor has the experience.
There was a nodule that he did not take out of the tendon as it would have made it very unstable. If he had, I would have been 6 weeks non-weight bearing before moving on to other things. I guess I will deal with the 4 weeks of crutches and wearing of the boot.
Dad goes back to work on Monday. I will be myself which is OK. I can do things but just at a slower pass. Dad will have to take me to appointments so I have to work with his schedule. I sure am going to get tired of these 4 walls.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
The healing goes on
Well it is the second day from surgery and things have been going OK. I can not move around very fast but I am using the crutches. I will be taking a shower tomorrow which will be a big deal. Doing everything you need to do but to make sure the dressing on the foot stays dry. What fun, what fun.
I see the doctor on Friday and I will see what the foot looks like then. I will find out what the outlook will be for me as to when I start physical therapy, when I can drive, when I can walk on my foot. I don't have a lot of pain but enough to know its there. I am hoping that there is a lot of padding around the tendon and it is not swelling that I am seeing. If it is swelling then I have a very big foot or really the ankle.
I am not supposed to do anything except to rest and keep my foot up. Do you know who boring that is? I am sure someone does... It won't be forever but right now I am going nuts. I want to do something. Patience, patience... I'm trying.
I see the doctor on Friday and I will see what the foot looks like then. I will find out what the outlook will be for me as to when I start physical therapy, when I can drive, when I can walk on my foot. I don't have a lot of pain but enough to know its there. I am hoping that there is a lot of padding around the tendon and it is not swelling that I am seeing. If it is swelling then I have a very big foot or really the ankle.
I am not supposed to do anything except to rest and keep my foot up. Do you know who boring that is? I am sure someone does... It won't be forever but right now I am going nuts. I want to do something. Patience, patience... I'm trying.
Monday, September 8, 2008
The Surgery is Over
I had the surgery today. We arrived early but the waiting room was full. The surgery center starts early. My surgery was scheduled for 9:45. We arrived by 8:15. I signed some papers, paid the co-payment, and they copied my insurance cards. After about 10 minutes or so I was called to go upstairs to get ready.
I was given a gown, a hair net, and socks to put on. My clothes were put into a bag for safe keeping. After I was settled, the IV started, Dad was called to come up to stay with me. They couldn't find him. I thought maybe he might have gone outside to talk on the phone or to the bathroom. Nope! Couldn't find him anywhere. They finally called him on his cell phone. I had mentioned that I had forgotten my boot at home and he needed to go back and get it where ever he was. They called and he was on his way to get the boot we had forgotten. We were on the same wave length. So I didn't get to see him before I went to surgery.
I was told I would be knocked out and boy was I. I was given a shot before I was wheeled into the operating room and that is all I remember. I started to feel drozzzzzzzy and that is all. The next thing I was waking up in the recovery room. No pain, no nausea. I was told I would be given something for nausea before I was waken to curb that and it worked. No problems at all. YEAH!!!
I have to wear a boot for 4 weeks. No weight on my heel but on my toes. I use my walker to get around the house. I have crutches but so far I haven't been able to use those. We just don't want to get a long. No pain yet but I am sure that will come. I am glad it is over with and I can finally calm down. I have never been so stressed.
I was given a gown, a hair net, and socks to put on. My clothes were put into a bag for safe keeping. After I was settled, the IV started, Dad was called to come up to stay with me. They couldn't find him. I thought maybe he might have gone outside to talk on the phone or to the bathroom. Nope! Couldn't find him anywhere. They finally called him on his cell phone. I had mentioned that I had forgotten my boot at home and he needed to go back and get it where ever he was. They called and he was on his way to get the boot we had forgotten. We were on the same wave length. So I didn't get to see him before I went to surgery.
I was told I would be knocked out and boy was I. I was given a shot before I was wheeled into the operating room and that is all I remember. I started to feel drozzzzzzzy and that is all. The next thing I was waking up in the recovery room. No pain, no nausea. I was told I would be given something for nausea before I was waken to curb that and it worked. No problems at all. YEAH!!!
I have to wear a boot for 4 weeks. No weight on my heel but on my toes. I use my walker to get around the house. I have crutches but so far I haven't been able to use those. We just don't want to get a long. No pain yet but I am sure that will come. I am glad it is over with and I can finally calm down. I have never been so stressed.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
OK, Last post on the circuit breaker
We had the electrician out yesterday to find out why we had some power in some areas and not in others. We had changed the one circuit breaker that we knew was bad but yet we lost some areas that we had no problem with before. Hmmm
He pulled out his tester and started to test all the breakers. They all were testing OK until he got to the new one. The new circuit breaker has a double switch as most of the others do too. One switch was fine and the other was dead. There was the problem. The circuit breaker that was new was defective. The electrician took the new out and returned it for us to where we bought it. He did get a replacement after some difficulty. He basically told them he was going to tell all his clients not to buy from this store because the service was so poor.
Well, the breaker was put in and I checked for the power to the areas we had problems with and we had liftoff... but then there was a light that would not go on. Nuts, what now. The electrician came in, took the lamp apart to check it, it checked fine. We looked to see where the lamp was plugged into and found it was plugged into a circuit breaker. A circuit breaker that was turned off. Once it was clicked on, the light worked. Amazing!
Everything works now. Boy what a tough time it was to get things worked out. We know now what to look out for so hopefully we can figure it out if it should happen again. So we don't have ghosts but just a house that has been built in the early 1970's that is wired weird.
He pulled out his tester and started to test all the breakers. They all were testing OK until he got to the new one. The new circuit breaker has a double switch as most of the others do too. One switch was fine and the other was dead. There was the problem. The circuit breaker that was new was defective. The electrician took the new out and returned it for us to where we bought it. He did get a replacement after some difficulty. He basically told them he was going to tell all his clients not to buy from this store because the service was so poor.
Well, the breaker was put in and I checked for the power to the areas we had problems with and we had liftoff... but then there was a light that would not go on. Nuts, what now. The electrician came in, took the lamp apart to check it, it checked fine. We looked to see where the lamp was plugged into and found it was plugged into a circuit breaker. A circuit breaker that was turned off. Once it was clicked on, the light worked. Amazing!
Everything works now. Boy what a tough time it was to get things worked out. We know now what to look out for so hopefully we can figure it out if it should happen again. So we don't have ghosts but just a house that has been built in the early 1970's that is wired weird.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Questions are getting answered
I had a phone call from the admitting nurse last night to go over my information for Monday. I was just given the time to arrive and the approximate time I would be leaving. I am to be there at 8:30 and should leave by noon. The fasting (no eating after midnight) was emphasised. I could take my morning medication with only a sip of water. I will still have a phone call on Sunday evening from the anesthesiologist. I had my pre-op appointment with my general doctor yesterday and found out he also had the same surgery and he is doing fine. He has had no problems since. It has been good signs so far as this has been the second person that has told me that they were glad they did the surgery.
The trip to Las Vegas was uneventful. It was productive and all the paperwork taken, which was A LOT, was left behind. So the wait is on to see whether the VA Hospital in Las Vegas is theirs. Clark is also in the running for the VA Hospital in Long Beach, California. It is just a waiting game.
I did find some information about the surgery on the internet. It helped but it is still scary. Boy, a lot will be done. My leg will look ugly after all is said and done but i hope working better. I just wish I could have it done now. I just don't like the waiting. It just makes one think of things that may or may not happen. Will the cut be a small one as the doctor said it would be or will he find something and have to do a larger one? I know, I am taking things one day at a time. I just want it over with.
The trip to Las Vegas was uneventful. It was productive and all the paperwork taken, which was A LOT, was left behind. So the wait is on to see whether the VA Hospital in Las Vegas is theirs. Clark is also in the running for the VA Hospital in Long Beach, California. It is just a waiting game.
I did find some information about the surgery on the internet. It helped but it is still scary. Boy, a lot will be done. My leg will look ugly after all is said and done but i hope working better. I just wish I could have it done now. I just don't like the waiting. It just makes one think of things that may or may not happen. Will the cut be a small one as the doctor said it would be or will he find something and have to do a larger one? I know, I am taking things one day at a time. I just want it over with.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
It's Las Vegas Again
Another quick trip to Las Vegas today. It is just a one day trip so I will see Dad this evening. The office is hoping that the bid they have been working on for so long will actually be theirs. The VA has asked for them to clarify some things and the last time they did this, they were awarded the job. It will be a nice job if that happens, about $350 million.
I have my pre-op doctor's appointment today. It should go just fine. I am still so nervous about this surgery as I haven't been able to find anything that spells out to me what will actually take place. I want to know so I have the information. I will be laying on my stomach during the surgery which is new and I think that is throwing me a little. How are they going to administer the anesthetic? Do I start off laying on my stomach or do they do that when I am out? See, just questions I would like to have answered. I know I will get them answered but I want them known now.
We will have a maid service starting tomorrow as I won't be able to do things for quite awhile once I have my foot done. It should take a lot of stress from Dad too. We will take his dress shirts to the cleaners as I won't be able to stand and iron. Just getting things in order. We are hoping that I won't be out of commission too long.
I have my pre-op doctor's appointment today. It should go just fine. I am still so nervous about this surgery as I haven't been able to find anything that spells out to me what will actually take place. I want to know so I have the information. I will be laying on my stomach during the surgery which is new and I think that is throwing me a little. How are they going to administer the anesthetic? Do I start off laying on my stomach or do they do that when I am out? See, just questions I would like to have answered. I know I will get them answered but I want them known now.
We will have a maid service starting tomorrow as I won't be able to do things for quite awhile once I have my foot done. It should take a lot of stress from Dad too. We will take his dress shirts to the cleaners as I won't be able to stand and iron. Just getting things in order. We are hoping that I won't be out of commission too long.
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