TEN Years Post-Op

It's been quite some time. I thought it was 9yrs post-op, but I checked this very blog and I had it done FEB 2011. So it's been TEN years.

For those wondering about the long-term effects of a one-stage Brachy surgery... here it is.

Enjoying life

It's been 4 years and 3 months since my surgery. The update is that I'm just enjoying life. :) Once some time has past after your surgery you should be able to move on and not think about Brachy much anymore. (I realize that if you're reading this you're probably not at that stage yet... and that's ok. :)

Most of us seek out the surgery for the hopes of some level of normalcy. Well, normal, is not thinking about your feet so often. If you read back on my old posts you'll see I was consumed with Brachy and my surgery. I'm so happy that my journey has lead me 'through' it and I don't do that anymore.

I saw these 5-inchers and couldn't get past them :) I don't even like rhinestones! LOL.

My ex-brachy foot is on your right.

Have a great summer!

3.5 Year Update

It's been three and a half years. Here is how it's going.




One last thing. I've responded to several comments over al this time, but found out much later that the web browser I was using didn't save my responses. (firefiox) Urrr. It seems Blogger works friendlier with Safari.

So I'm sorry if you didn't get a response. :(

Update—Choose To Move On

It's October 2013 and still great weather for flip flops. :) It's been approximately 2.5 years since my Brachy (and bunion) surgery. I'll repeat myself and say I don't feel as though something has been given to me, but that something has been taken away: the constant thoughts about my feet. I'm no longer preoccupied with them.

There is something I'd like to share as a final point to this surgery. And that is, that not making my feet the large subject they were in my life ‘is a choice’!

I've had other surgeries before. What I discovered then and still holds true with this surgery, is that you're not coming out from under the knife completely free of what you went in for. What I mean is that surgery is a Trade-Off. While something is remedied or improved, you're trading that off for something else, that hopefully, you don't mind as much as the first thing.

I'm very glad I suspected this going into Brachy surgery. You see, you either trade off Scars, or a different sort of Pain, or a New Habit you have to upkeep (or tolerate), or something. There is always something. I accepted that great possibility while considering this corrective surgery. I knew doctors were/are still trying to find the best way, and that they will never say they are experimenting with solutions. Medicine is nearly always trial and error.

Back to my point. Anyone considering Brachy surgery (or any surgery really) will do themselves a favor if they accept the Trade-Off viability. Accept that there will be trade-offs. And still, you have a choice to make after that. And that is, "What are you going to choose to do when the trade-offs are unmistakably before you?"

There is a danger with having corrective surgery with something that has plagued you for a long time. I've seen it happen to people. They never get out of the complaining and dissatisfied mentality they've lived in for so long. While their situation has improved they still find something to harp on and don't realize that the surgeon removed some things but some things you have to remove yourself. YOU have to change your mind set. And perhaps be determined to be happy at some point with what you've got.

Need to know someone who has it worse than you? Well here is Mariia who had Brachy surgery and it did not turn out as she expected. This is her after countless setbacks, infections and the lot! She has had to find her way to acceptance after all she's been through.

Life is too short. When I found that I was still complaining about this or that long after the surgery I made my mind up to be ecstatic about the improvements and to MOVE ON from this whole foot thing. and I have. You're life should not be about a body part, a bad job, a nagging in-law. Improve where you can and then move on. Life is great if you so choose.

I recently purchased my first home. I'm completely alone, it's difficult, but I choose to be happy as much as I can, where and when I can. I have great sorrows in my life, but I refuse for that to be my identity. I can't be up all the time, but when I'm down, it's not for long. Nothing good comes from complaining and sulking.

The last thing I'll leave you with in an effort to help, is: "Get you off your mind". Look around you. Trust me, there is someone in your circle of influence who somehow has it worse than you. Make it your mission to do something nice for them. When that's done, choose someone else. and keep going.

The human soul was created for giving. Give and it shall be given to you. Help others. Don't wait till it feels right or for it not to be awkward! Giving to people you don't know WILL ALWAYS be awkward. Put your shoulders back and be the weird person in the crowd who will tie an elderly person's shoe lace, help someone put their groceries in their car, give up your seat on the bus for a standing expecting mother, bring flowers to the widower 5 doors down who just lost his wife, buy someone a new winter coat, cook a meal once a week for that elderly person who is on a fixed income.

Seriously, our own misfortunes deserve attention. So attend to them, then move on. Do it with flare :), do it with gratitude. When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at Change.


**a BIG "Thank You" to all of you for hanging with me through this journey. I've made mistakes along the way but I've learned a lot too. I really appreciate all the support and love.

I'm not posting much these days as life does go on, but I still get notified in my email inbox when someone comments on the blog. So feel free and I'll do my best. Smooches!**

I sincerely hope your journey is a good one! 

Fireworks and Freedom

What JOY. I sat with a group of friends on the grass to enjoy some fireworks. As night fell and rockets soared I looked down and saw my beautiful feet in flip flops. 

I hadn't noticed that beside me was a friend who forsook his flip flops completely. I smiled to myself that here I was just enjoying his company with no hiding or worries. Just free to be. God is good. :)

"Not knowing when the dawn will come I open every door."

                       ~Emily Dickinson

Sent from my iPhone

Life After Brachy - SUMMER

Well, life handed me a few curve balls after surgery, so NOW is when I'm really venturing out to let you know what life is like after Brachy. 

I'm at the shore today and oh how sweet it is. No hiding. And I'm wearing the feminine flip flops I always envisioned. :)

Last night I went to two of my nieces graduations and wore some strappy sexy sandals. Yay for me. All worth it now, praise God. 

Sent from my iPhone

Daily Life After Surgery

Hi all. Well it seems that blisters at the bottom of either my 4th or 5th toe are a normal part of life now. 

If you want to know why this is for me look at past post early on right after surgery. Basically, my surgeon placed my 4th toe much lower then the rest.... blah blah. 

Sometimes the blisters are no big deal and sometimes they are. You just have to get past stuff like this because otherwise you go through a very long process of healing after this surgery just to be unhappy with yet another thing about your feet. I choose to be happy. 

This pic shows me getting over a recent blister. 

"Not knowing when the dawn will come I open every door."

                       ~Emily Dickinson

Sent from my iPhone

Another Blister

Hi all. I did a two day volunteering thing this past weekend. I was on my feet an insane amount of time. I got a wTer blister. I wore cowboy boots the first day, 8hrs.

I wore foam flip-flops the second day, 18hrs. This pic is after all that was over and I removed the top skin. 

The blister is on my Brachy toe. No surprise. What did surprise me was that I didn't notice when it was happening. I got it when I was wearing the boots. I noticed it before my second volunteering day as I was washing my feet. 

It wasn't full of water. Not sure if it popped on its own. and I'm not sure why I didn't notice the pain of it. I honestly think it was because I was extremely distracted by what I was doing. 

So it's possible that blisters will be a part if life with my Brachy toe sitting lower than my others. My surgeon did this on purpose to avoided a floating toe. 

"Not knowing when the dawn will come I open every door."

                       ~Emily Dickinson

Sent from my iPhone

Sprained Toe

Well I did quite a job on this toe. It blew up last night and I was in some serious pain so I put ice on it and elevated it. I also took an Aleeve. This is what it looked like once the swelling went down. 

I thought it might be broken cuz I looked up a couple YouTube videos and all the broken toes I saw were the same color as mine. 

But it didn't look out of joint, I could move it, and I couldn't see/feel any bumps indicating a broken bone. So my guess right now it that I sprained the heck out of it. 

Sent from my iPhone

OUCH!

OUCH!!!! I totally clocked my toe. It hurts as bad as it looks!! Lol

Sent from my iPhone

2 Year Post-Op — UPDATE VIDEO

In this video I discuss outstanding issues, the excitement of my first yoga class, and many things you just don't think about before this surgery. When I was researching to do this surgery I read nothing about how it affects your pinky toe, or how the 4th toe still remains different from your other toes. Watch the video to know how.

(I'm hoping doctors doing this surgery will consider my comments as feedback. The comments will help them realize the after affects with one-stage surgery and perhaps begin experimenting with new methods to remediate such issues.)

 

This photo is to demonstrate something I discuss in the video about the 4th toe.


After the video go to "Labels" on the right column of Blog and click on "Sciatic" and "Congestion". Those posts will help with understanding some of my discussion in the video.

Talk to you soon!

Been a While

Hi all... Getting use to closed shoes.

 

Shoes

Love these!

Sprain

I sprained and bruised my toe if you can believe that. Man, it hurts. I'll spare you all the details of why it happened, but basically it sits lower than my other toes and got caught on the carpet during an emergency with my dog Missy. Ouch!

But I'll survive. ;oD

Best Foot Pic EVER!

Now this is just about the best image of a foot I've seen yet.

Happy Feet

© Pioneer Professional Carpet Care

What is life like after Brachy, emotionally? I'm so glad you asked! Well, I don't feel as though something has been ADDED to my life. I feel like something has been TAKEN from it. There is an absence of concern for my feet. I no longer have to think about it. Don't have to plan to hide them. Don't have to worry of exposure, etc. 

I was reminded of this when I was house hunting last week. It was raining, and when I opened the door to this home I saw the nice carpet so I flung off my muddy flip-flops on the outside stoop. I walked in and started talking to the home owner. Inside of me I stopped and realized my toes were enjoying the nice carpet and I wasn't trying to hide my feet. I was smiling ear to ear.

Truth is, without my surgery I would have planned my day when I got dressed. I would have been forced to wear sneakers with socks. So that if I had to remove my shoes in a home my socks would back me up. I'm freed not to have to do that in the morning when I get dressed. Praise God.
 

Another little something. (I discovered this 10 years ago when I started venturing to wear open shoes.) The skin of your feet will be much dryer. Brachyers who wear closed shoes all the time usually have suppler skin on their feet because they are not exposed to the elements.

So if you decide to start wearing flip-flops, with or without surgery, expect to have to pay much more attention to the care of your feet. More time and more money to keep your skin in good condition. It may seem to you like a small price to pay, but don't say I didn't tell you. ;o)

All I wear now is flip-flops. I have to scrub my feet everyday now. I use to scrub them before, but if I missed a day it was no big deal. Now I can't do that. With flip-flops your feet get real dirty and real dry. Constant maintenance. I don't mind though. ;0)

Tootles!

First Real Brachy-Free Summer

Howdy. Well, working from home I've spent most of my time in flip -lops. I sometimes wonder if that's a bad thing. Perhaps I should get my x-bunion sites and x-Brachy toe accustomed to closed shoes? I just can't bring myself to wear them at home.

So, my feet aren't perfect or the prettiest,
but I love them now regardless. 

(I'm thinking of adding a flower or something to these to make them a little more feminine.)

I always consider the alternative.

I wish I were out and about, able to share pictures with you of every wonderful place my feet will trod. I was sort of looking forward to experiencing all these new things with my new feet.

But I'm very stationary these days because I have an elderly dog at home to tend to. I can barely leave to go to the market. I'm a little shut in. It won't be forever though and I'll be sure to share it all with you when I get to do all those wonderful things.

Enjoy your summer!

When Did You First Notice Your Brachy?

If you read my first post you know how Brachy runs in my family (when it shoes up), and how many of them share Brachy with me.

My sister is one of those people. Here is a picture showing how her toe began showing signs of Brachy before me because she is older. It also shows how I was born with normal toes. Flat and wide, but normal looking. ;o)

Click to enlarge

So when did you first notice your Brachy?

I thought you'd like to see this close up. The blue is how it was, the red is about 6mo post-op.

Did you know that webbed toed are very common? I remember as a child I had a neighbor, Daniel, who had his 2nd and 3rd toe that way. With all the toe issues in my family it seemed so normal to have a friend with something like that. ;o)

As I mentioned in this past post, there is always someone who has it worse than you:

Check out this FB page of very special feet

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Some more shoes. I got these last summer. Again, way too over zealous, coudn't wear them. The straps are way snug. But today I put them on and VOILA! They don't hurt. Walked the dog, cleaned the house and all is well.

In fact they are tight in all the right places. And as I mentioned in this past post, "pressure" is the best thing for, (and to avoid), hypertrophic scaring. 

I'll leave you with a flower I've never seen before in my life. It came from a very tall and huge tree in the park.

CIAO!

Some inspiration if you're on the fence...

I did have my first ever professional pedicure on my cruise back in November, but I'm mostly a do-it-yourselfer. I haven't been back into a salon since.

Base coat is done.

I wish I had taken a photo of my Brachy toe in the sponge separator before my surgery, it looked crazy-funny!

Decisions, decisions...

Hmmmm, what color should I choose?

Waiting for my footsies to dry.

Purple it is!














I got these last summer while I still had sutchers. But I couldn't sport them.

They have a sunk-in center. And that put pressure on my bunionette site that still had sutchers. I couldn't believe how much it hurt when I wore these just 9 months ago.

But I can wear then now! I was way over zealous last summer! ;o)

Life without Brachy is great. It can be great with it too. Everybody is different. But I'm sure enjoying just flip-flopping and not thinking about hidding. Worth all I went through.

Hope this helps if you're on the fence. Tootles!

Future Brachy Doctors

Another little wonderful thing in reference to my last post, is that I have found some doctors viewing my Blog! That's SO great. If those of us who have had surgery document the POST affects, doctors can become educated and aware of what we are really feeling and experiencing.

This increases their knowledge and will help them treat their future patients.

Sometimes patients have difficulty voicing their honest thoughts/feelings, leaving surgeons in the blank.

So keep Blogging, it helps everyone. ;o)