7th Week — Post-Op Summary

Here's how things are looking. Still swollen and quite tender. But a miracle still. This is a process, and perhaps the 'wow-factor'  that I've finally had this done hasn't hit me yet. But I'm sure as pain subsides and agility returns I'll be able to enjoy the amazing thing this surgery means for me. I'd just like to walk already, ya  know. ;o/


FLEXIBILITY

I'm bending both right and left sets of toes with all my might here.


PAIN 
This week my heel and large tendon behind my ankle have been a pain—literally. You've ever heard the saying, "It has to hurt if it is to heal" ? Well I'm hoping that's why it ached so much this week! ;0) (I want to note that I'm starting to think that I'm feeling more discomfort than I should because I'm home all day without my boot on. (against doctors orders... what if I fall?) And because I do for myself, I think my foot is getting too much movement (giggling?). Is this causing me more pain at night?)

SLEEPING
The heel pain has caused small spurts of sleeping. I awaken many times during the night tossing, trying to find a pain-free position. I can't fall back to sleep and am awake 3 hours at a time. (In one of my past posts thought this was remedies after reducing my medication, but I guess it's back)  Thank God I'm on short term disability, this kind of sleep would negatively affect my work. (It's important to note that I am off all Meds right now. I'm sure if I were on Meds I'd be sleeping pain-free.)

DR. VISIT

Dr. Yes took no xrays as there would be no noticeable changes since the xrays taken 2 weeks earlier. (No news is good news.)

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Dr. Yes told me to start maneuvering my 4th toe. (Put my index finger behind the base of the toe and softly press forward. For two minutes, 3 times a day.)

However, Dr. West, my surgeon, told me specifically not to touch my toe until the 10th week when he would provide the exercises I should do. If Dr. Yes is wrong in his recommendation, it is possible that my toe will pop-up like it use to. And if that happens, I would be up against an additional surgery to correct that! What would you do?

Well I decided to start Dr.Yes' recommendation because my Brachy isn't as distorted as some Brachyans. My fourth toe never touched the floor, but it didn't pop-up as severely as some other cases I'm familiar with.

I couldn't remember to do it during the day so I'd just do it once at night in front of the tube. But I noticed my foot would ache a lot more when I was trying to sleep. So I stopped. I will try again next week.

DRIVING

I had asked my surgeon if I could put weight at least on my heel and he said 'no'. But just 2 days ago I made my way downstairs to my car. I wanted to see if I could use the area under my 1st three toes to press down on the clutch. Maybe I could at least drive myself to my doctor's appointments, right?  

NOT. No way. Didn't happen. I can't believe how hard I had to press against the clutch to get it to move only a smidge! My foot doesn't have the strength yet. I'm amazed.


BANDAGE

Attending my scars twice a day got me real tired of wrapping and unwrapping the ace bandage. It also felt a little hot with them on. So I thought I'd go get a roll of gauze, but I found something better. Isn't it snazzy? ;o) It's a mesh tubular bandage.


Very light weight and comfy.;o)

I use this type of gauze pad directly on the incision sites. Non stick (or non-ouchie ;o) With Neosporin.

I found this type of gauze uncomfortable against my incisions, so I don't use it. The non-stick pads are the way to go.
 

NOTE (Hypertrophic Scars)
I wanted to say something about the bandages and scars. I got the large size (tube bandage) on purpose so it would be loose fitting. But I don't think it's wise to do this at the beginning of a scar. Incisions need some snug pressure against them to avoid the scars becoming Hypertrophic.

Hypertrophic Example.
© Prime Health Channel

It's been proven that while doctors can prescribe topical ointments (OTC and otherwise), and/or give injections directly into a hypertrophic scar to reduce its 3D characture, THE BEST THING TO REDUCE THE HEIGHT OF A HYPERTROPHIC SCAR IS PRESSURE. 

I know this because I had surgery some years ago and have a couple of 6" scars that became hypertrophic! Think about it, a person with a scar running vertically down their abdomen demonstrates this. The scar is very 3D-like above and below where their belt line is. But the part of the scar that gets the pressure from their belt is nice and flat.

Also, I'm not sure, but it is possible that not all skin on the body is created equal. Is the skin on your neck more susceptible to hypertrophic scaring than your knees, etc.? If so, what about feet? I don't know. (I do know that the world of medicine thinks some skin pigments lend themselves more to scaring like this than others.) But I'm not taking any chances.

That being said, I will be watching my scars and if more pressure-time is needed I'll be switching back to my snug ace bandages. ;o)

Ciao!

SURGERY DAY!- LEFT FOOT

Up at 4:30am. I have to be at the hospital by 5:30am. My surgery is scheduled for 7:30am sharp. Remember to choose something comfy and easy to wear.

At the hospital I had to sit and answer questions (DOB, SS, etc.), give ID, insurance card, choose someone for Power of Attorney, pay hospital balance up-front (my insurance covers 90%. I had to write a check for approx. $370). I received my wristband and was reunited with my mom.

Later I was taken by a nurse. I was weighed. I changed. They wanted ALL my clothes off even though this was surgery for my foot. I kept my undies on. I was asked to state what day it was and what was going to be performed on me. They also took a urine sample. After giving the sample I realized it was for a pregnancy test. But I had already had this done (paid) for such a test for Dr. West some weeks earlier. I explained. They made a call to the lab to disregard my urine sample. (yay!) My IV was also done at this time.

I had to sign a form at this time for the crutches I would need later. Apparently, the crutches are billed separately by a company other than the hospital.

I sat on a gurney with the privacy of a curtain and my mom soon was let in to sit with me. I was given a marker and was told to write "yes" on the foot that was to have the procedures. I did, but I also drew a happy face on the bottom of my right foot. I put my sock back on that foot to hide it. I was hoping that in the operating room it would bring a few chuckles. (I was pretty sure that Dr. West would view my right foot while working on the left. My right foot does not have Brachymetatarsia.)

Soon an intern who works with Dr. West came over, introduced himself and asked if he could see my foot. I removed my sock. He took a look touched a few toes and was done. He asked if I had any questions. I said, "Yes. I was told I get a continental breakfast with this thing. Someone lied to me." ;oD This of course broke the ice. (I wanted everyone to experience a little humor before going into this thing.) 

Another nurse soon came who would be involved in the surgery and introduced herself. She too asked me to name what was being performed on me.

Then Dr. West came in. We were all in good spirits. He took the marker and signed his initials right next to where I wrote "yes" on my foot.

He took a digital picture of my foot, them placed his hand on my shoulder and bowed his head to prayed for me. Yup, Dr. West is a believer! ;o) He prayed aloud with me and my mom right there while the two nurses where going through paperwork. 

There are times in life where you feel you are perfectly situated at the right time and place... this was one of those moments. (I can not tell you if my surgeon does this with all his patients. But I feel pretty confident in stating that if his patients let it be known that they are followers of Jesus Christ, that he will most likely feel the liberty to express and show his own faith as well.)

He left before my mom could start blubbering. ;o) She was very touched by his gesture of prayer. Soon we were making jokes again.

For the most part my humor was accepted. The Anesthesiologist was a little taken aback however. Her point being that if I'm cracking jokes she is unable to determine if I'm really disoriented or not. "Surgeries are canceled when patients are asked questions and the wrong answer is delivered." (I understood her point and told her I understood, but her delivery on this point wasn't the best.) I felt that she is the one usually cracking the jokes... (maybe I was stealing her thunder?) a few minutes later she administered the anesthesia in a forceful manner.... it was very painful. (I had anesthesia admitted 10 years ago for a surgery and felt no pain whatsoever.)

Considering the anesthesia isn't delivered by needle directly into my arm, but an injection into the IV tube.... you'd think there would be no pain... but she managed to delivery it too quickly and the pain was practically unbearable. 

No time to complain as I would very soon be out. Approximately 4.5hrs later I awoke to Dr. West saying something to me that I couldn't make out. He left. I felt myself go under again, but not before I felt someone remove my catheter and hand me a zip-lock bag with my undies in it! LOL. Then I awoke to see a woman at the end of the gurney trying to tell me how to use crutches. It was much to early! I couldn't understand her. I was disoriented. They even got me up and placed the crutches under my arms. All I kept saying was, "I really shouldn't be on crutches right now." ;o) Drrrrr.

Moments later I was being wheeled out. I was in and out of consciousness. I then found myself at my parents, in bed, and took the strongest pain killer as directed by my doctor (Roxicet). The day before he instructed me to not wait for pain, but to take it as soon as I got back from the hospital. 

This is what I was looking like.

Gauze. An ace bandage on top of that. Cotton wrapped on top of that.Then a fiberglass splint running from my toes to my calf. Then TONS more cotton wrapping. And finally another ace bandage.

My leg was numb from the knee down. I was able to move my first 3 toes forward and backward— that very night. (one can do a lot when you're numb. ;o)

All this waiting and it's finally done, pheeew....