2 more days and I have my 5 week check up. I am hoping that I will be able to start walking on my foot with crutches at least. The last couple of days I have myself very frustrated at the length of recovery. I have had several knee surgeries and more than a few abdominal surgeries, none of which left feeling this helpless.
Of course I was a damn site younger when that occurred, but still I am aggravated. I am sick of people having to drive me to and fro, I am sick of the simplest thing being difficult and I am sick of my ankle not working!
Ok so it is one of those days. I am sure tomorrow will be better.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Day 26
The doctor said no weight bearing untill my next visit on March 4th. I found that with my walking boot strapped on tight I have enough support with my crutches to get around a little and certainly not fast.
Tonight I left my scooter home when we went to dinner. I found that without the scooter people were not coming up to me asking what happened to me. I guess with crutches being more common people don't feel the need to ask, which is fine by me.
I got up the stairs again and took a shower pretty much on my own, with the exception of my kitten. Itsabitsa is was always close by as he has been since my surgery. He seems to sense things are not quite right. With the stool routine worked out I did ok. I would never do it when no one was close by, just in case.
It is great to feel human again!
Tonight I left my scooter home when we went to dinner. I found that without the scooter people were not coming up to me asking what happened to me. I guess with crutches being more common people don't feel the need to ask, which is fine by me.
I got up the stairs again and took a shower pretty much on my own, with the exception of my kitten. Itsabitsa is was always close by as he has been since my surgery. He seems to sense things are not quite right. With the stool routine worked out I did ok. I would never do it when no one was close by, just in case.
It is great to feel human again!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Day 25 Post Op
After working a full week,, 2 day shifts and 3 evenings, I can tell you I am tired. I feel my whole body strength coming back, but there is a long way to go.
I had today off and I enjoyed the fact not having to get ready to go to work. It was a sense of relief when the 1PM get ready time came and I could lounge.
Tonight I insisted 2 things of my husband. Dinner out of this house and a shower.
We went to a Chinese place we like, it is low key and usually empty. I liked the thought of empty because that is less people looking at me on my scooter. Still the waiter had to ask in broken English what happened. I tried to explain on a level he would get, I said" ankle surgery" and left it at that. It is amazing how many people feel they have the right to know. I have never asked some on crutches or in a wheel chair why they needed them.
So anyway we got home from dinner and I rested a bit before I made my way up the 20 stairs to the shower.
I was feeling pretty good that day and decided to try to bear weight against my doctors advice. I made it up the stairs with my boot strapped tight and pulling my way up the railing. (the hubby thinks I crawled.
Once in the bathroom my husband placed a folding stool in the shower on a towel to prevent slipping . (we purchased the stool at Walmart for ten bucks, so I did not care if it lasts through showers). The stool was just the right height for me to sit back on to it while holding on to my husbands arms. From there I pulled my legs in and turned forward. We have one of those shower heads on a hose so he handed it to me and I adjusted the water temperature to my liking and showered away I really worked on my leg. The skin where the cast was is really dry and peeling and driving me nuts. My knee is forming a callus where I ride on my scooter so I worked hard on that. Thankfully I had received some body scrub from Bath and Body Works for Christmas and that came in extremely handy for getting rid of dead skin.
I felt so good after the shower, not the tired I had with the previous shower, so I know I am getting stronger day by day.
For those strong in the stomach I decided to post a picture of the incision site, mind you this is 25 days post op and there is still quite a bit of swelling going on.
As a post note, I would like to add I had my first experience the other day at Walmart as a person in a power scooter and rude people. I was turning into an isle and this woman just shoved her way in front of me, cutting me off. I stayed where I was at and heard her husband say something to her about me turning and she retorted with the excuse I was sitting down so it was no big deal and besides she could move faster so she should just have gotten ahead of me. I am not one much to let folks like that get the best of me, but that was a great lesson on being more aware of people with special needs. When this is all said and done, I will be sure to give the right of way, I think I always have but now I will pay even more attention.
I had today off and I enjoyed the fact not having to get ready to go to work. It was a sense of relief when the 1PM get ready time came and I could lounge.
Tonight I insisted 2 things of my husband. Dinner out of this house and a shower.
We went to a Chinese place we like, it is low key and usually empty. I liked the thought of empty because that is less people looking at me on my scooter. Still the waiter had to ask in broken English what happened. I tried to explain on a level he would get, I said" ankle surgery" and left it at that. It is amazing how many people feel they have the right to know. I have never asked some on crutches or in a wheel chair why they needed them.
So anyway we got home from dinner and I rested a bit before I made my way up the 20 stairs to the shower.
I was feeling pretty good that day and decided to try to bear weight against my doctors advice. I made it up the stairs with my boot strapped tight and pulling my way up the railing. (the hubby thinks I crawled.
Once in the bathroom my husband placed a folding stool in the shower on a towel to prevent slipping . (we purchased the stool at Walmart for ten bucks, so I did not care if it lasts through showers). The stool was just the right height for me to sit back on to it while holding on to my husbands arms. From there I pulled my legs in and turned forward. We have one of those shower heads on a hose so he handed it to me and I adjusted the water temperature to my liking and showered away I really worked on my leg. The skin where the cast was is really dry and peeling and driving me nuts. My knee is forming a callus where I ride on my scooter so I worked hard on that. Thankfully I had received some body scrub from Bath and Body Works for Christmas and that came in extremely handy for getting rid of dead skin.
I felt so good after the shower, not the tired I had with the previous shower, so I know I am getting stronger day by day.
For those strong in the stomach I decided to post a picture of the incision site, mind you this is 25 days post op and there is still quite a bit of swelling going on.
As a post note, I would like to add I had my first experience the other day at Walmart as a person in a power scooter and rude people. I was turning into an isle and this woman just shoved her way in front of me, cutting me off. I stayed where I was at and heard her husband say something to her about me turning and she retorted with the excuse I was sitting down so it was no big deal and besides she could move faster so she should just have gotten ahead of me. I am not one much to let folks like that get the best of me, but that was a great lesson on being more aware of people with special needs. When this is all said and done, I will be sure to give the right of way, I think I always have but now I will pay even more attention.
Day 2 back to work, day 17 post op.
I have had enough of sponge baths and washing my hair in the sink. I thought hey my parents have a walk in shower, I will take a shower there! I was so excited! The thing I forgot was no matter which door I used, there were 4 steps up into my parents house. I was determined to take a shower though and I managed to get up those steps in my own fashion by crawling up on my knees. Once there I got up on my crutches and made my way to sit down in the chair for a bit. My sister put a chair in the shower on a towel so it would not slide and I got in there. I told her not to worry, I was probably going to be in there long enough to use all the hot water!
I worked hard at getting all the dead skin off the cast leg, it felt so good to have that hot water beating down on me.
I had to lie down a bit after the shower, it took all I had after a day at work to get in and out and it relaxed me so. Amazing how a shower can make you feel human again. Ahhh... the things we take for granted in life.
I worked hard at getting all the dead skin off the cast leg, it felt so good to have that hot water beating down on me.
I had to lie down a bit after the shower, it took all I had after a day at work to get in and out and it relaxed me so. Amazing how a shower can make you feel human again. Ahhh... the things we take for granted in life.
First day back to work
I did not sleep well the night before. Planning all the little things like what I would need to take with me, what time I needed to get up, what time we had to leave the house. The morning went pretty smooth, I got the animals all situated and we were out the door.
Pulling up to work I had some apprehension about wheeling in there on a scooter. I work at at a police department and those guys can be a tough crowd. I managed to get in the building without much notice. As the day went on I had to go give my work release to the boss and then the razzing started. I had folks asking me if they could take it for a ride, they said things like "do we have give you a driving test on that thing, or I'm going to give your scooter a parking ticket,or hey do we need stop lights for on coming trafic or why didn't you ring your bell, ect, ect,
I figured they would get used to and give it up if I did not react.
Going to the bathroom the first time was a little unnerving as I had a routine at home to hold on to things, but this was all new. I took my cell phone with me in case I ran into some problems. All went well, no falls, no getting stuck.
The real fun part was when it was time to go home. I had my elderly parents pick me up and they started calling at 10 till the hour, I said I would be out in a bit. They called again. I said I am finishing up my paper work I will be out.
When I got outside I found my Dad parked sideways across 2 handicap spots, IN FRONT OF A POLICE DEPARTMENT! On the way home I gently said, "Dad, you can pull up straight into the spot, they are striped on one side so that would leave plenty off room if someone pulled next to you. He said he was not there that long and as long as he had to put that scooter in his trunk he would park any way he wanted and besides, you work there, so what it the problem?"
I was like ohhh lord help me, someone has taken over my parents and I don't know who they are anymore.
I was happy to get home and lay down, it was a long first day back to work and foot was swollen beyond comfortable.
Pulling up to work I had some apprehension about wheeling in there on a scooter. I work at at a police department and those guys can be a tough crowd. I managed to get in the building without much notice. As the day went on I had to go give my work release to the boss and then the razzing started. I had folks asking me if they could take it for a ride, they said things like "do we have give you a driving test on that thing, or I'm going to give your scooter a parking ticket,or hey do we need stop lights for on coming trafic or why didn't you ring your bell, ect, ect,
I figured they would get used to and give it up if I did not react.
Going to the bathroom the first time was a little unnerving as I had a routine at home to hold on to things, but this was all new. I took my cell phone with me in case I ran into some problems. All went well, no falls, no getting stuck.
The real fun part was when it was time to go home. I had my elderly parents pick me up and they started calling at 10 till the hour, I said I would be out in a bit. They called again. I said I am finishing up my paper work I will be out.
When I got outside I found my Dad parked sideways across 2 handicap spots, IN FRONT OF A POLICE DEPARTMENT! On the way home I gently said, "Dad, you can pull up straight into the spot, they are striped on one side so that would leave plenty off room if someone pulled next to you. He said he was not there that long and as long as he had to put that scooter in his trunk he would park any way he wanted and besides, you work there, so what it the problem?"
I was like ohhh lord help me, someone has taken over my parents and I don't know who they are anymore.
I was happy to get home and lay down, it was a long first day back to work and foot was swollen beyond comfortable.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Day 14 Post OP
Day 14 was a big one. I had my first follow up and I was to get my cast off. I had done some research on cast removal and found there was nothing to fear. What I did not mentally prepare for was the removal or the 20 staples running down the back of my ankle to the heel. Why? I just never went there. So they nurse starts to take them out and I turned my head away and held my breath during each removal. The nurse said "Are you breathing?" I was like yeah,, just get this over with! Then the doctor comes in to take a look see. He said it looked good and to wear the walking boot again. I said so I can walk with the crutches right? He said no! 3 more weeks of non-weight bearing. I as a bit disappointed. The good news, I could take a shower. He did have one ominous warning. He said in 3 weeks the "real" fun would start. I said physical therapy?
He shook his head yes and asked if I had enough pain medicine I said yes, but then started to wonder by the way he talked about the physical therapy if maybe I should be stock piling pain meds for when it starts.
So home it was, Shower time! What a mistake. I crawled up the stairs and got to the bathroom. I was determined to get in that shower. It became clear to me as I sat next to the tub there was no way for me to get in it. I was going to need help and a stool. I sat there and cried. I just wanted a simple shower, but there is nothing simple to a shower when you can't use one of your legs and you have no help.
I ended up washing my hair over the tub and scooting down the stairs, totally draining me of any remaining energy.
I called work and told them the doctor released me to come back the day after the next.
I was nervous about my return as all the plans I had made pre op about rides and times were shot out the window when we lost two employees while I was gone. I was now on evenings 3pm to 11pm.
The night before returning to work I had my husband get my uniform ready and I washed up and did my hair so the morning would go easier.
He shook his head yes and asked if I had enough pain medicine I said yes, but then started to wonder by the way he talked about the physical therapy if maybe I should be stock piling pain meds for when it starts.
So home it was, Shower time! What a mistake. I crawled up the stairs and got to the bathroom. I was determined to get in that shower. It became clear to me as I sat next to the tub there was no way for me to get in it. I was going to need help and a stool. I sat there and cried. I just wanted a simple shower, but there is nothing simple to a shower when you can't use one of your legs and you have no help.
I ended up washing my hair over the tub and scooting down the stairs, totally draining me of any remaining energy.
I called work and told them the doctor released me to come back the day after the next.
I was nervous about my return as all the plans I had made pre op about rides and times were shot out the window when we lost two employees while I was gone. I was now on evenings 3pm to 11pm.
The night before returning to work I had my husband get my uniform ready and I washed up and did my hair so the morning would go easier.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
My first outing after surgery
On Day 10 I finally got to leave the house! I know most folks would relish ten days of doing nothing, but I could take no more. My son, my husband and I ventured out on a Saturday to have lunch. I did not care where as long as it was not at home. We ended up having Mexican food.
The big decision of the day was if I should take my scooter or my crutches. We decided on the Crutches. That was a bad choice. It has been non stop snowing here and my crutches slipped from under me going into the restaurant. I caught myself on the door and wall and managed to keep my foot up, but it was scary. I did not want to undo what ever the doctor had done!
We had a nice lunch and decided we would stop at Walmart and then a movie.
My son went to get me one of those electric scooters when we got to Walmart, however being a Saturday they only old clunky wheel chairs left. Gavin brought it out to the car, he is just a sweet 15 year old boy and he pushed his old Mom in the store. Once inside it took some adjustment as I felt all eyes were on me. I soon got over that and headed to the Valentine isle. I picked up a few cards and a birthday card. My son then wheeled me over to the pet section for food for the kitties. Good thing the wheelchair had a basket on the front. My cats can only have canned food as my oldest cat is diabetic and 24 of those cans are quite heavy. We then headed over to the craft isle so I could pick something up to help pass the time. A teach yourself to crochet kit caught my eye as it had a baby blanket on it, and well with a new granbaby what is a Grand mom to do?
It was then time to go to the movies. We stopped at the house to get the scooter as the AMC theater is quite large. I got some looks from folks as these scooters are not well known yet. From the front they look a lot like the scooters the kids ride around and I sure the double takes from the public were folks wondering what is the 40 year old woman doing on a scooter. But you know what, I put it out of my mind and get on with things. We enjoyed a good movie and headed home. I really did not want to go home, I was enjoying my day out of the house. So I talked my husband into stopping a Jewel. They had a power scooter! My son brought it out to the car and off I went. I really did not need anything at Jewel, but hey the scooter was fun and I was out of the house! I managed to cover the entire store and then some. I give the guys credit, they hate to shop but they were good to me and put up with my scoot about! I ended up with some Kellogs Special K protein drinks and bars and some apple juice. We then headed home and to bed.
The big decision of the day was if I should take my scooter or my crutches. We decided on the Crutches. That was a bad choice. It has been non stop snowing here and my crutches slipped from under me going into the restaurant. I caught myself on the door and wall and managed to keep my foot up, but it was scary. I did not want to undo what ever the doctor had done!
We had a nice lunch and decided we would stop at Walmart and then a movie.
My son went to get me one of those electric scooters when we got to Walmart, however being a Saturday they only old clunky wheel chairs left. Gavin brought it out to the car, he is just a sweet 15 year old boy and he pushed his old Mom in the store. Once inside it took some adjustment as I felt all eyes were on me. I soon got over that and headed to the Valentine isle. I picked up a few cards and a birthday card. My son then wheeled me over to the pet section for food for the kitties. Good thing the wheelchair had a basket on the front. My cats can only have canned food as my oldest cat is diabetic and 24 of those cans are quite heavy. We then headed over to the craft isle so I could pick something up to help pass the time. A teach yourself to crochet kit caught my eye as it had a baby blanket on it, and well with a new granbaby what is a Grand mom to do?
It was then time to go to the movies. We stopped at the house to get the scooter as the AMC theater is quite large. I got some looks from folks as these scooters are not well known yet. From the front they look a lot like the scooters the kids ride around and I sure the double takes from the public were folks wondering what is the 40 year old woman doing on a scooter. But you know what, I put it out of my mind and get on with things. We enjoyed a good movie and headed home. I really did not want to go home, I was enjoying my day out of the house. So I talked my husband into stopping a Jewel. They had a power scooter! My son brought it out to the car and off I went. I really did not need anything at Jewel, but hey the scooter was fun and I was out of the house! I managed to cover the entire store and then some. I give the guys credit, they hate to shop but they were good to me and put up with my scoot about! I ended up with some Kellogs Special K protein drinks and bars and some apple juice. We then headed home and to bed.
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