Hi,
My name is Michelle. I am 25 years old. My only housemate is my little beagle, who is more like my first child than a beagle. No, seriously, he acts exactly like a toddler and aside from his looks, acts nothing like a beagle. He is an extremely picky eater, and is as quiet as a mouse. Yes, that's right: no howling for me!
We live in an apartment, up a long flight of stairs. We sleep together. He is the best boyfriend ever! My real boyfriend lives about 40 minutes away to be near work. We've been together for five years.
Okay, so that's the background stuff....
I'm having bunion surgery on Tuesday! So, I was looking online for any advice/experience others who've gone through this might have. Low and behold, I found it here! I really appreciate the other blogs, and thought I'd share my story too. So here goes:
I figure skated for about a decade, and when I started skating more, I didn't have great coaching or the right equipment. To make a long story short, I was in stock boots (size 4) and I started to train so much before I was in a good pair that the blades on those boots actually broke-off during one session. Needless to say, I spent a good amount of time in a pair of skates that weren't the right size or strong enough. I now have a Tailor's bunion on both feet and bunion deformities at the other ends (near my pinkie toes), as well as heel spurs. The good news is, they're not too bad. The heel spurs are minimal, and my right foot bunions are quite mild. My left bunions, however, bother me most. Tuesday, my podiatrist is going to "correct" both the Tailor's bunion and the bunion deformity on my left foot at a hospital near my boyfriend. Surgery is scheduled for 10:15am, and I was told to arrive at 8:45am.
My podiatrist actually told me that my recovery time will be 3-4 weeks. I'm pleased with this, but also a bit skeptical based on what I've read thus far. Standard time for bones to heel is 6 weeks, so I'm not sure what he meant by 3-4 weeks....
Anyway, my biggest concerns are with recovery. I have five weeks from the day of the surgery until I have a class that I must be able to both drive to and do a lot of walking to get to. And considering that I have a little dog I walk multiple times/day, and live up a long flight of stairs, I'm worried about how this is going to work-out....
I plan to stay at my boyfriend's the night before surgery and bring my little dog with me. After surgery, I plan to be there that night as well. Once he gets out of work the following day, he's going to take me and our little dog to my mom's. He has plans with his family who live near my mom's. My little dog, Caesar, and I will stay at my mom's over Thanksgiving and my mom plans to take me back to my first post-op appointment to change the bandages. So, for that first week, my mom will be caring for me Caesar.
I'm not sure what will happen at that point. I'd hoped to be able to drive then, since my car will be at the hospital there and I need to get back to my place. I do drive with my right foot after all....
My boyfriend planned to be over every day after work the second week. Perhaps I can have someone come walk Caesar for me once during the middle of the day, and my boyfriend can take him out before and after work. I'm hoping once the stitches come out about two weeks after surgery I'll be able to walk Caesar again, but I'm not sure about this either because when I asked my podiatrist when I'd be able to walk my dog again he said four weeks. !!! :(
Anyway, so far, I've been to the podiatrist for an initial consultation and x-rays. Then, I saw my PCP for a required pre-op "physical" during which she filled-out a medical history form, and then said I need an EKG and a blood draw! I had no idea this was required! Here comes my rant: First of all, I am extremely conservative. I've had exactly one boyfriend. He's had exactly one girlfriend. I had no idea I had to remove my shirt and bra for an EKG, where another medical staff member (not sure if she was a nurse of medical assistant) sticks stickers all over your legs, arm, and around your left breast! This was terrible for me. She had to repeat placement because I was so nervous and couldn't relax, so the machine couldn't read/detect a heartbeat at all the first two or three times! Not to mention, I'd planned on waxing the night before surgery, so I've been letting the hair on my legs grow to be the 1/4" necessary length for that to last longest. I had no idea she needed to put stickers with wires on my hairy legs! The blood-draw wasn't so bad, except the nurse used a standard needle and took two tubes. I have small veins (I'm 5'0" and 115 lbs). The last time I had blood drawn, they used child-sized needles. My arm still hurts. This was all done yesterday. I also saw my podiatrist for a pre-op visit. He told me what to expect, and two prescriptions for pain to be filled beforehand so they're there when I need them. No antibiotic necessary, he said. I also purchased a special bag from his office that you put over your foot/leg for showering to prevent any water from getting near the incisions. I'm surprised no one else has mentioned this yet. I'll post a photo of it, along with a "before" photo of my foot. It's a rubber bag - blue, that goes up to just under your knee, and you squeeze this blood-pressure taker thingy to suck-out any air so it stays air tight while in the shower. He also said he's bringing my black "shoe" with him to the surgery so he can put it on afterward. I had to give him my size, so it's not one size fits all. When I skated, I measured a 3. Since I've stopped, I measure a 4 now. He had me try it on. It's about 1.5 or 2 inches longer than my foot, I'm assuming for comfort, although I'm not sure how that will work walking or sleeping....
Anyway, I guess I'm doing this because I have such small feet, it's hard enough to find shoes as it is. Generally, I get them from Nordstrom because they're the only department store I've been able to find that actually has an entire stock/selection of shoes size 4. And, I refuse to buy shoes online. Also, I have extremely narrow heels and because of my bunions, the balls of my feet appear to need "wide width." If I buy wide shoes, though, my heels flop-out the back, even with heel cups and inserts. So, having mostly standard width shoes, my bunions cause pain after walking for about 15 minutes. Currently, I wear Uggs (children's size 3... saved me $20 compared to adult size, plus they run large) and a pair of rainboots size 5 because my foot doesn't come out. I've been wearing these for about 1.5 years now, and even though I'm a nerd, it's embarrassing. So, next stop: Bunion surgery!
~Michelle
P.S. Does anyone know if you can wear make-up to surgery? Does it matter since they're not doing anything on my face? I know it's not necessary, but I've learned a few things from skating besides how to skate, discipline, etc.: How to do my hair and make-up! And I've generally found that when I wear make-up/look prettier, I'm treated with more kindness. Sucks, but it's true. I'd prefer gentler handling when I go-in for surgery!
P.P.S. I know, no nail polish, otherwise they can't check oxygen levels. :(
I was told no make or jewelry. Michelle, I think driving one week later is unrealistic. I think that's more around the 4 weeks. Again this is just what I read. Email Sarah and ask her when she started, but I thought it was around a month. I'd have a backup plan in regards to how you will get home from your post op. appointment. Yeah, I wish someone would give me the shower bag. Your the first to report out on that too. Sorry to hear you were uncomfortable in your pre-op physical. There is nothing worse then having to do something you were not expecting especially when your having to be touched, etc.. I didn't have to do that for mine, but I've had to have that procedure done because my brother had a heart issue and the family was told to get our hearts checked out too. If I was you I'd get a plan in place to get help with your dog. Is there someone in your apartment that could help you or check up on you during the day? I'm afraid to go down my 8 steps to my basement with one bad foot. It's good you have help that first week, yet just incase you need extra help see if you can stay with your mom longer. Great post!!!
ReplyDeleteCurious are you having the bunions physically removed or shaved off? If they are being shaved off maybe that's why you are told 3 to 4 weeks. For me my guy told me to allow myself 3 months and up to a year before I am totally back to all my normal activities. He said usually by 3 months everyone is back to normal and each month up to the 3 month mark gets better and better and you can do more and more.
A nurse called me 2 days before my surgery and went over everything I needed to do or not do and at that time is when I got my surgery time too. Do you know if your going to be talking to anyone today or Monday to go over last minute details. The nurse actually went through some medical questions with me too. All repeat information, but it was still nice to talk with her to feel prepared. If you have any questions don't hesitant to contact your doctors nurse and have her review the details with you again. Okay, I just made a long post on my site and waited to the 6 hour mark for my pain pill. I am going to try to take a little nap now. If there is anything I can do to help you just let me know. Just be honest with the nurses the day of your surgery and they will make sure all goes smoothly for you. What state do you live in?
Hi, Michelle - I agree with all of Julie's comments. Same experience for no jewelry/make up/nail polish and pre surgery phone call.
ReplyDeleteI have a 2 story home and went up and down the stairs on my butt to shower for the first several days. I started going up and down the stairs standing probably 4-5 days after surgery. Starting out very slowly. Going up side ways and not switching feet, and down regular, but not switching feet. I was pretty proficient on the stairs by my post op visit. I did have surgery on both feet at the same time, so I have two boots. But I have had an EXCELLENT recovery and likely not very typical.
You are probably going to need help with the dog even if you can get up and down the stairs, because once you got down, you'd need to sit and put your feet up and wouldn't be able to walk the dog. If there is a place to sit right by your door and you got maybe an extra long leash to give the dog a little more space, you could probably make it work to get the dog to go potty for most trips. I was able to walk my dog (again in two boots) about four houses down and back at around a week after my surgery - just 1 time a day. But I have to rely on my family to take my dog for "real" walks.
If you can stay with your family another week, it probably would be best for you and Cesear!
Michelle, how did things go for you? How are you doing now that it's been a few days?
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteSo, it's been four days since surgery, and I'm not doing as well as I should be. I can't walk yet. It hurts to put weight on my foot.
The surgery took 3.5 hours, which was an hour longer than expected. I'm not sure why. My follow-up is Monday, so I'm going to ask then.
I went through all of my prescriptions in about 24 hours (15 demerol and 15 phenergan). I called my podiatrist during that time, and asked if I could take more at a time. He said okay, and gave me another prescription for more demerol, phenergan, and vicodin. I haven't finished the vicodin yet, thankfully.
Even when I'm given prescriptions, I don't usually take them. I don't take vitamins, or even advil when I get headaches, so the fact that I blew through class II narcotics in a day or two is ridiculous and speaks to how much pain I've been in.
My boyfriend was there for the surgery, and carried me into and out of his car. He dropped me off at my mom's Wednesday night. She's been caring for me and Caesar since then, but she's certainly getting sick of it. Caesar is a handful. She's also taking me to my follow-up on Monday.
I have some photos of my bandages and shoe, but they're nothing surprising. I'll post them a little later. I'm fairly miserable right now just bc I'm using a rolly chair as a make-shift wheelchair to get around - mostly to the bathroom.
I'm sleeping in the library at my mom's because it's on the first floor and right next to a full bath. She and my brother moved a mattress down for me.
I kind of can't wait to get out of here, though. I constantly feel guilty for being here. Maybe my boyfriend won't mind if we stay with him this coming week. It's close to my car, and my doctors' offices anyway. (I left my car in the hospital parking lot; I hope it's still there on Monday).
That's all for now,
Michelle
Michelle, so sorry to hear your in so much pain. You had more done to them than the average person. Try to take it day to day and I hope your appointment tomorrow is good. It has to be hard being at some one else's home and do ask your boyfriend for help. Can you take another friend to get your car for you so you don't have to drive? I have no clue why I didn't feel pain following my surgery. I'm sure every procedure is done and mine was more straight forward. You might want to take these comments you posted and put them in a "post" versus the comment section. I truly think anyone reading your story will find it helpful. Everyone's experience is so different. I will send good thoughts your way that the week ahead is much better for you. And keep taking the pain meds if it gets you through the day. You will get off of them as soon as you can tell your more comfortable. I'm sure the extra stress at staying at your mom's isn't helping either. Hang in there. One day at a time your almost done with week one. Sarah who had her surgery done 9 weeks ago mentioned she pretty much is back to all normal activities and often forgets she had surgery, so there will be a light at the end of the tunnel. Hang in there!! Make sure to thank your mom each day so she feels appreciated as I'm sure she feels sort of helpless not being able to take away the pain. Keep venting!!!
ReplyDeleteHi, Michelle - so sorry to hear you are experiencing so much pain. :( That was a very long surgery for one foot. We clearly had very different procedures. I had a Chevron Bunionectomy on both feet and my surgery took one hour total.
ReplyDeleteI hope you can work it out to stay with your boyfriend awhile, it sounds like you won't be able to do those apartment stairs for awhile. Definitely get some crutches ASAP so you can move around a little better. They helped me quite a bit those first couple of days.
Take those pain pills as long as needed and make sure to elevate and ice your foot most of the day. If you don't have a good quality gel ice pack I'd also recommend you pick one up it will be easier for you to manage than ice cubes.
Good luck and let us know how you're doing!