Sunday, March 15, 2009
So...For the Sake of a Good Laugh
I will divulge what type of procedure I had on Tuesday. I had a colonoscopy. There I said it. I will not go into the gory details because the ankle ickyness is probably enough. I was semi-conscience for it, but thank God I don't remember it. The reason why I am sharing this is because we watched "GhostTown" last night starring Ricky Gervais and Greg Kinnear. The opening sequence Ricky Gervais is getting ready to drink 3 bottles of laxitive for his colonoscopy the next day. We had no idea when we rented it. It was hilarious and I could definitely relate...unfortunately. lol
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Great post. Well I went to the surgeon for my first post op visit. I am a little.....confused??? He is a great surgeon (especially in this tendon issue) but he is so quick at appts. He is in and out before you know what happened.
ReplyDeleteThey took off the cast/splint. I saw my foot for the first time. YUCK. Wow swollen and yuck. The incision is only about 5 inches, which I was expecting longer so that was good. He does not want to take out stitches yet. I have been on complete bedrest with leg elevated and only got up to eat and go to the bathroom. So today he takes that cast off and gives me the dreaded ugly black boot (that is too long since I am only 5'1) and tells me I can do full weight baring and still keep icing, and I can shower sitting down but never stand unless I have the boot. Well I tried to step on my foot and about fainted. He acted like I can just get up and go! OUCH. I am scared I will rip the stitches out. I am so confused. Before surgery he said he does not do the typical surgery on the peroneal tendon. His is 'cutting edge' and after more data it will be "the way" all surgeons do the surgery now. I think I told you that earlier. Anyway, after a couple of weeks in cast I go to boot for 4 weeks and I am done. Well that sounds great but I am no way going to be able to put my weight on this.
I am really scared right now. I am trying to give it to God but it is not working. I am hitting a depression with this whole thing and no one really understands. This is 9 months I have been dealing with this ankle and did not get a diagnosis until 3 months ago. I want my life back. I am sorry to vent here but no one understands what I feel. I have wasted the entire last year of my life and now my surgeon thinks I should just walk!! He does a lot of surgeries for the Stars Hockey and Dallas players, I am not an athlete. I cannot even do crutches because I tried from one room to the next and I was so out of shape I thought I would have a heart attack. I HAVE to get this extra 100 pounds off. I was overweight but with this ankle I have been virtually motionless for months.
Do you do Physical therapy? How do you keep your spirits up? I want to crawl in a hole and not come out ever! I have to put a smile on my face however, since I have a 2.5 year old running around. I am sorry to be a downer, I just expected..........I do not know what I expected. The look of the ankle put me into shock.
Julie, First a "Big Hug". Get yourself a walker!...They are about $50 new or go to a secondhand shop and get on for cheap. Call your doctor's office and ask to speak to a nurse. Have her write or authorize you to get a walker (so your insurance will pay for it). Tell her you can't manage with the crutches and feel unsafe. You may feel silly, but you can use the walker to pull yourself up from sitting and with your leg in the boot you will have limits with the weight of the boot, and the lack of flexibility. The other thing you can try is just using 1 crutch or a cane. You will need to use it on your good side, not the side with the bad ankle. This is proper way to use 1 crutch or cane. Remember you are very weak and even before the surgery, your ankle was being favored and not used correctly. I too tried to use the crutches and it is very tricky at best...and can be dangerous. Especially if you are nervous using them. By the way, I too have quite a bit of weight on my big beautiful body, so I get the whole weight issues. Don't worry about how your ankle looks right now. It is at it grosses stage.
ReplyDeleteThis is just a bad day in the mix of many good days. Please PM me if you would like to talk over the phone. My e-mail is janlynnthomn@yahoo.com
Thank you for the hug. I am having such an emotional day. I am all over the place. I might email you also.
ReplyDeleteI guess I expected a miracle just cuz the first cast came off.
Julie
sergejulie@sbcglobal.net
my e-mail should be janlynnthom@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteomit the n before the @
Wow! I am so glad to have found this blog.
ReplyDeleteIn Feb 2008 I fell on some ice and suffered very similar injuries to my ankle that you did (dislocated the ankle, some bone chips shredded the tendon, torn ligaments and muscles) and also destroyed my knee (dislocated my knee, broke off part of my knee cap, severed some ligaments and tore some muscles). I'm still in PT and just last week the dr told me that I would have permanent peroneal nerve and peroneal tendon damage/ pain.
You're right about the pain, it can be unbearable and it's so hard to explain (especially to co-workers).
I'll post more later, but wanted to send you a note, let you know that you are not alone and that I really appreciate your courage to blog & post photos about something that is so traumatic, painful and life changing.
I can't imagine what my life is going to be like with the pain and the inability to go down stairs like a normal person (alternating legs) and I feel like my life over (it's not, I realize that, but I am grieving the loss and it's hard to find others who understand).
Thank you for sharing.
Sophia