Managing On My Own

My diet is mostly raw but I like soups too. My x-landlord and I still keep in touch. When she heard about what I would be undergoing she insisted on making me some soups to put in my freezer so I'd have an easier time during post-op. ;o) God is good.

I'm thinking by now I'm Vitamin D deficient because I'm kooked up inside. So I get it when I can through a window.

This is how I carry stuff from one place to another. I put my food in containers with lids inside this satchel. Same for liquids like my tea. (I should have my boot on, shame on me.)


I can't carry everything in it, like when I feed Missy. Once I get her food ready and in her bowl I sort of have to shimmie on my crutches to her spot while holding the bowl in one hand. It works, haven't dropped it yet. LOL.










I still can not sit upright with my leg up without pain after about 30min. (this is really troubling to me) I have to be reclined (broken record). I have not tackled doing my taxes because of this. (I would have to sit at my computer for hours.) But now the deadline draws near and I have to do them! I need a chair that will allow me to be reclined so I can do my taxes. Oy.


I actually had to have someone I only met once take me to IKEA and wheelchair-me around yesterday! (Thanks Cora!) It could be frustrating for someone like me (do-it-yourselfer), but I choose to take all this stuff in stride. I really don't have a choice. I suppose I could let the IRS come after me, but I rather not. ;oP... cuz I can't run right now.

Time to get crackin'!

I put the chair together this morning. I only have a few days left to do my taxes! I've never been so eager to finish them. ;o)

First, the foot stool

Missy is totally uninterested in pitching in ;o)
This place is a mess!

It's coming along...

Tadah. I'm seated very low. My shoulders are level with the table top, so I'm far from the monitor, but I increased the fonts on the screen so I can see OK. I won't finish all at once, but hopefully before the deadline.

Where there is a will, there is a way! Tootles! ;o)
 

Some More Transparencies

This is the kind of information that will help you see the truths about your own surgery. Or at least know how it might affect other aspects of your day-to-day workings. (see earlier transparancies here)

BATHING

During this second week I have found every other day to be all I can muster for bathing. It's a slow and cold task. Being naked and wet while not under warm running water makes me feel like I'm camping... but much less fun.

My aunt lent me the chair. It only fits into the tub sideways, but turns out that's best for me. I sit and place my left leg outside the tub. (I use a small trashcan to help me keep my foot raised out there.)

ATROPHY

Just pointing your toes is enough to flex you calf muscle. I have not flexed my calf muscle in 2 weeks, and already Atrophy has set in. (disuse atrophy) 

My left leg is already starting to look thinner.
Geez, can you imagine how it will look after having the cast on for weeks?

EATING
Because I'm not moving like normal I'm not burning the calories I use to. So I'm being very conscious with my eating. When my surgeries are done, I want to go shoe shopping.... not to a gym to lose weight.


PROPPING 

The pain is too great to keep my foot down, even when brushing my teeth. So I prop it up on the sink. (what this is)



 


WEIRD
When I touch the very front of my ankle area, I feel a painful pulling in my 1st metatarsal Bunion! I wonder if this will go away as I heal.


HALF CAST

These first 2 weeks I've been wearing a half cast (Splint). I have unraveled the outer ace bandage and taken my foot out of the splint to stretch out my ankle. I was shocked at how stiff my ankle was!  

This now raises concern about when the complete cast comes off many weeks from now. Will I need physical therapy??