Long Live the Queen

It's been 4 weeks since my surgery. I had a doctor's appointment on Tuesday. My cast was removed and my foot was x-rayed. Everything is looking great! The doctor told me that my foot was doing better than he usually sees. My swelling has gone down as well. He was extremely pleased with my results! He wrapped up my foot with an ace bandage and I was fitted with a 'walking boot air cast'. You'll see my newest accessory here.. and the grey bubble on the top is my 'air pump'. This inflates the boot so it will wrap around my ankle and helps with stability. Groovy!

So, I'm off to the races~ it's time to start walking! My reign as "Queen of the Couch" is beginning it's demise. Now my recovery is all about gaining strength as my heel bone and tendons continue to heal. I no longer am to keep my foot elevated when I sit, but to leave it down unless it gets really swollen. The doctor told me to start walking 25% of the time with 25% of my weight on my left foot while I use my crutches for support. Each week or so, I will shift more weight on my left foot, will eventually stop using my crutches, will walk with the boot only, then onto running shoes. This process will happen over the next 3 months, and will go as quickly as my foot allows. He told me to be prepared for increased pain and to push through it, but never to the point of injuring myself. This is a fine fine line to figure out, and it's my responsibility to judge. I am so ready to get moving again and since I've learned to tolerate foot pain so well, I have to be careful. I definitely am feeling overall muscle atrophy from laying down and sitting for 4 weeks, so I added some yoga/pilates into my day. All mat/chair work, since I'm still not able to stand. So the hard work begins! Those first few steps where so painful/crazy! It was a sharp jolt of nerve pain from the center of my foot all of the way up to my hip. I have NEVER felt pain like that in my life...crazy! I am incredibly thankful to be on this part of my recovery journey (even though it's painful).. there is a bright light at the end of the long tunnel!!

So, the doctor kept me home from work for 2 more weeks. He didn't like the idea of me commuting 30 minutes each way and won't release me to drive because I still am on a narcotic for the next two weeks. So, now I am to completely focus all of my energy on building foot strength and getting our household ready for my return to work. I am fearful of how I will balance it all once I go back, considering I was having a rough time doing that when I was walking normally. But, since I've been 'reigning' from the couch, my family has learned to help with much more than they were. Overall, I think this time with me being 'Queen' has forced my 3 men to pitch a hand, and has helped our family. For this, I am blessed!

Here's my new motto: "It's not I think I can. It's I know I can and I am!". Peace be to all!

Stir Crazy ~ Keeping the 'crazy' from going 'crazy'!

Look at the beautiful flowers my boss/APU sent me last week! They are still living and the lilies are so fragrant. Love it! Thanks Todd! (and Azusa Pacific)

Well.. it's been 19 days since the big day. So far, I've been content resting with my foot elevated, watching tv/movies, and being on my kindle. I've been out of our apartment only a handful of times ~ to the dr, pharmacy, Target, and to 2 friend's homes, but only for a couple of hours each. Today.. for whatever reason.. my lack of mobility has hit me. The weather is GORGEOUS outside and I am longing to go for one of my walks through the Father of the Bride neighborhood, one of my favorite things to do! Alas.. that won't happen for months and months! I knew this going into the surgery, and I know the benefits will outweigh the costs, eventually. The rehabilitation stage of this surgery is intense, and part of that will be my emotional state. I have to 'choose' to hang in there day by day, hour by hour, sometimes minute by minute!

Even though I am feeling 'antsy', my spirits are still high. I have decided to be proactive regarding my emotions. For me..depression can sneak into my life. I am a very extroverted person, and since I have little contact with others right now, I am aware that the 'bummer bug' could hit me at any time.

Here are a few things I am doing to stay positive and emotionally healthy!

*Even if I'm groggy from my nightly pain meds, I get up and out of bed by the time Jeremy leaves for work and the boys leave for school. This gives me time to connect with my family and then I am not tempted to stay in bed all day. Jeremy brings me my coffee before he leaves and I watch the Today show for the first few hours.

*I am sure to get 'ready and dressed' for the day.. even makeup and hair, no matter if I plan to leave the house or not. This season in my life almost reminds me of my first time being home with a new baby, minus the lack of sleep and caring for someone else 24/7. I remember being told by my new Mom friends to 'get ready for the day' and how important that was for overall sense of sanity. Since I am in a cast and non-weight bearing, this 'project' takes me about an hour or more, so it's a great thing to take up some time during my 'slow' day!

*Clean, clutter-free surroundings. Sitting in a messy place (without the ability to clean it quickly) drives me crazy. This has been more difficult for me this week, now that I have no 'help' at home with me during the day. I have found that with my glorious knee scooter, I can pick up some things and get them to the right place, as long as they aren't too big. Once the laundry is brought to the living room by my family, I can sort laundry, and fold it once it's done (Jeremy and the boys have to actually do the washer/dryer thing). I can't unload the dishwasher, but I can load it. Sometimes I do too much, or attempt too much, and yesterday I lost my balance on my scooter and fell on my cast, toes first. OUCH. I am sure to 'remind' my family to put things in their place before bed and before school and work. Everyone has been pitching in and it's been a great thing for our entire family to gain some discipline!

*Daylight and fresh air. This one is also tough for me. But I can hop out onto my back deck, and can roll my scooter out into our courtyard. I have tried to be intentional to get the sunlight on my face for at least 15 mins a day. Amazing what a bit of fresh (smoggy) air will do! Now that I'm feeling better, I am also going to try and get out of the apartment at least every other day. So important!

*Teen Dramas on Netflix. Probably not a therapist's suggestion, but it's working for me. Now, I'm not going to 'expose' which drama I am watching right now. I decided to watch something that would pull me in like a soap opera, but that took little 'thinking' to watch. Originally I had planned to watch Battlestar Gallatica, but it was too 'smart' for me, considering my meds are so sedating. I found something that has 86 episodes and honestly, I am able to blow through the days watching it. I figure this is the only time in my life that I'll be able to watch so much tv.

*Enjoying extra time with my boys. Since I work full-time and commute, I miss out on the before school and after school rituals of my boys. I have loved the days when they burst through the door after school and talk my ear off about their days. I have been able to help Parker brainstorm his science project ideas and was able to be home when Colby got the flu. I am soaking in this 'extra blessing' during my recovery and am loving every minute!

*Last and definitely least.. Roscoe. Yes, I said Roscoe. Our dog has caused me more headaches over the past year and a half..and has always driven me crazy. I have regretted saying 'yes' to my husband when he sent me pics of Roscoe as a puppy. Welp.. I guess we have bonded during my recovery. He keeps me company and I have actually enjoyed having him around.

I guess that's all for this LONG post. I had hoped on blogging more during this experience, but it just hasn't been the case. I would say for those reading this who are considering the surgery.. it's really not that bad when you are in the 'non-weight bearing' stage, if you keep your head on straight and prepare for down time. It's made all of the difference for me, for sure! Peace to all...

Happy Valentines Day!! 12 Days Post-Op ~ Graphic Pics ~ Beware

Happy Valentines! Tonight we celebrated with a delicious dinner made by my helper 'Cousin Carin from Colorado' and chocolate cake and wine from Jeremy. We played Quelf as a family and laughed til we cried. Not the most 'romantic' of evenings, but it was filled with love! I can't tell you how thankful we are to have Carin here, it has been so much fun to spend time together face to face after not seeing each other for 5 years! Anyways, onto my 'medical' update...

Today was my 12 day post-op appointment. I had my stitches removed and am now in a fiberglass cast. Dr. Harris looked at my foot and ankle and said everything was successful and is healing perfectly! He decided to keep me in a cast and on 'non weight bearing/bed rest' for 2 more weeks to be super safe about my healing. He said I should be able to transition into a walking boot in 2 weeks. Hopefully I will be back to work at that point too. I was kind of disappointed to be in a cast for 2 more weeks, but I am willing to do whatever it takes! I am finally weaning off of the heavy narcotics and am transitioning to a less 'loopy' medication as well. All in all I felt great about the appointment. Carin came with me and took pics and the two of us kept the entire dr's office very entertained with our continuous banter and wit!

Here are some pics from my appointment today.. beware they are graphic and a bit gory. Turn away now if you need to! The 'yellow' haze you see on my skin around the stitches is bruised skin..ouch!


Dr. Harris checking out my foot and some pics of my stitches and appointment.

1 Week Post-Op

So, it's been 1 week since my surgery. Honestly...I have been pretty zoned out the past week. Narcotics around the clock. My days are basically spent moving from couch to loveseat to bed..with my foot propped up with ice. I have watched some tv, lots of reruns though, my brain hasnt been up for anything that requires deep thinking. I hope to be in a state of mind to read soon or in the very least watch something like Battlestar Gallactica. Amazing how lofty my goals are, huh? Haha.

So as far as recovery, the swelling has gone down a bit, which actually makes the splint/cast a bit more painful. Lots of pins and needles and sharp throbbing burning pain. My foot is set in a non-neutral position, and I can actually feel the plaster gripping my ankle. No fun. This is definitely much more intense than my last surgery. I am supposed to keep it up 24/7 until my post op appointment next Tuesday. At that point the Dr will decide if I can move into a partial weight bearing cast or will stay non-weight bearing in a plaster cast. I am ok with either..I am willing to do whatever it takes to heal properly.

People have been asking if I feel stir crazy since I've been housebound for a week. I can honestly say..no. I think the last few months of my life have been so intense and busy that being on bed rest has been a good thing for me. Although, today I realized that my body hasn't been in natural light since last Thursday around noon. I seem to be more sallow in tone than usual as well. So..I decided to mix it up and sat outside on my deck for a bit. The fresh air was wonderful and I loved the sun. I think I'm going to add it to my daily routine. Maybe I will have Jeremy pick up some outdoor plants to spruce up our little piece of the concrete jungle.

Jeremys Mom leaves tomorrow morning, so tomorrow I am on my own! Should be an interesting day for sure!

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly!! Part 3 ~ The Good

The Good ~ The Help!

Nanc Green is in the HOUSE!! Jeremy's Mom, Nancy, came on Sunday to help us out for the week. She has been an incredible blessing for our family during this time. She has kept us fed, cleaned like crazy, organized my closets and kept up our laundry. She's played board games with the boys and even walked the dog. It's also been really helpful for Jeremy to have another person who is able to help me out. We are so grateful that Nanc was able to take time off of work to be with us during this time. Thanks Nanc! My father in law Jake, just had back surgery less than 2 months ago, so we are thankful he 'lent' her to us during this time as well.

My parents were unable to 'physically' come to help us during this time. My Mom just had open heart surgery and my Dad is having knee surgery, so they are in 'recovery' mode themselves. However, they sent 'help' in their own way...a Kindle Fire! I have been able to read books, watch movies, and play games to get through the days. I have put it to great use and love it! I am so thankful for their generosity during this crazy time when I am 'couch bound'. Thanks Mom and Dad!

We have so many incredible friends! The Stenzels, some friends at our new church, Knox Prex, have coordinated meals for us for a few weeks! This list includes friends from our church and non-church friends, and we are so thankful! I have had countless emails and texts from my friends and neighbors offering help as well. We are SO thankful for our community here in Pasadena and beyond and are blessed and humbled by the outpouring of love and help from all! It truly has made all of the difference, knowing we have so many that are just a 'text' away. Many thanks and much love to all of you!

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly!! Part 2 ~ The Bad

So once I got past the first nasty day of recovery, I have been trying to find a way to be 'comfortable'. This has been difficult for me for a few reasons. For the first 72 hours, I had to keep my foot elevated above my heart at all times. In order to do that, I have needed to prop up pillows etc. The challenge has been to get my foot high enough without aggravating my bad shoulder. I have some issues with my right shoulder/arm/hand, and I have found that laying with my foot up makes it worse. I think it's more about the angle I lay with my neck/etc. By Sunday, my shoulder was so spasm-ed that I was experiencing numbness to my fingertips. So I have started taking a muscle relaxer in addition to my other pain pills, to try and stay on top of it.

I started off taking a new medication called "Nucynta"... which is a class 2 medication and not carried by all pharmacies. It hasn't really done much for me, so the dr switched me to 1500 mg's of hydrocodone every 4-6 hours. That is the strongest dose of vicodin I have ever experienced. That coupled with the muscle relaxers.. and I have been pretty out of it, to say the least. I am slowly starting to reduce the dosage, so I am slowly coming back to 'life'.

For those of you visiting my blog that are considering a similar surgery, I'll describe how the pain is. For the rest of you.. no need to read further. :)

The simplest way for me to describe the pain is a 'shooting/burning' sensation. The pain is in my heel and in the arch.. as well as up the achilles tendon. Occasionally I get a sharp pain, but it is more of a dull burning pain. I also can feel the 'pin/screw' in my heel a bit. It is a bizarre feeling.. and not necessarily pain, more of an annoyance. I have been told that I won't feel this once I'm fully healed. I also feel a general 'swelling' feeling. My heel/arch has a cast around it that is formed to my foot, so if I swell at all, I can feel the cast, and that can be painful as well. As long as I keep my foot up.. I seem to be ok.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly!! Part 1 ~ The Ugly

Greetings from my new home.. the couch! Sorry I haven't done any updates yet.. I have been seriously drugged up! I am going to summarize the last few days in 3 blog posts... starting with "The Ugly"... Warning **nasty**

So, since I had a major nerve block, I was basically 'pain free' the first 24 hours. I started my pain medication on Thursday night, in case the block wore off in the middle of the night. So on Friday morning, I was still doing pretty well. Jeremy set me up with everything I needed within reach, and headed into work. Unfortunately, about 30 mins later, I began to 'react' to coming off of the general anesthesia. I became violently ill, and was so dizzy and faint I couldn't move to a more appropriate place to vomit. My nerve block ,began wearing off around the same time, so my pain levels were sky high as well. I was trapped, surrounded by my own vomit and couldn't move. I had to call Jeremy and ask for him to come home. Jeremy got home about 20 mins later and called the dr. The dr prescribed me an anti nausea pill, which didn't work. :( The 'ugliest' moment of the next few hours was when I grabbed a bag to 'be sick' into, and it had a HOLE in it...so 'red gatorade' vomit went all over myself, the floor and even part of my surgical dressing. Poor Jeremy.. had to clean it all up, since I was completely unable to even sit up at the time.

A few phone calls to the dr. later and they finally found an anti nausea pill that worked for me, and switched my pain meds as well. By about 10:30 on Friday night, I was finally sleeping and had the pain someone managed, and was no longer getting sick. Friday was the worst one of the recovery.. and will forever be labeled... The UGLY.