Day #8 and beyond without plaster cast

Hey, how have you been?  

Seems like I've been on a hiatus.  It also seems like every blogger on the planet has a hiatus every so often.  It wasn't deliberate. It never is.  Well, that's my excuse anyhoo.  However, it was one of those "Round tuit" procrastinating times when I should have got my fingers out of the biscuit tin and on to the damn keyboard!

Just to prove such things exist, here's an image (from ebay) of ....wait for it.......drum roll please......A ROUND TUIT!!

Well, who knew?  AND they come in all manner of sizes, some ceramic, some handpainted.  Check them out here for Round Tuits, and get one as a Christmas pressie for your favourite procrastinator!

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Lately there have been a few times when something happened and I thought, "I so need to blog this!" 

So here's a few things that happened to me in the last week:

• Now the plaster cast is off I've been walking on two feet, and using two crutches. 
• Gentle short distance walks are helping and I'm getting less pain as each day passes. YAY!!
• On Sunday, Grumpy Trousers bundled me into the car announcing "We're going out!" like it was some huge deal.  I was so taken aback at his instigation of an outing, that I zipped my mouth shut and duly complied with instructions. 

• And here are some of those instructions.
• "Get yerself in the the car then". I'm in already.
• "Gimme them crutches an I'll put 'em in t'backseat"  Where else will they go?
• "Av yer got yer 'andbag?" What's that on my knees?
• "Av yer got some money?" Erm, that'll be a no. I do however, have a pack of mints, a fluffy fruit jelly from the bottom of my handbag, my uncharged phone, and a dried up biro)
•  "Av yer been t'lav?" Jesus, I'm not 6!! (Even though I can feel a tantrum coming on)

(Apologies for all the above being in dialect.  Grumpy Trousers does't speak in Queen's English.  Let me know if you need it translating)

So all this happened on Sunday as I said.  We ended up at a little shopping village out in the Peak District about an hour from home.  I like this place as its flat, has a small selection of useful shops, and a larger selection of useless ones that sell everything you never knew you wanted.  Example, gorgeous scarves, fragrant candles, driftwood sculptures, handmade cards, wooden ducks in sets of 3, and for some reason life-size painted metal cockerels - go on you know you've always wanted a life-size painted metal cockerel.  No?  Well,that's YOUR Christmas present up the spout then!

Seriously, given my obvious lack of imagination, what would you do with a life-size painted metal cockerel if you were given one as a gift? Too big for the kitchen window sill, just not quite right for the living room. Hmm, bung it in the garden then.  In a bush.  In fact BEHIND a bush, where it can't actually be seen!  Better still, pop down to the Charity Shop and make it a donation.  I'm sure it would look wonderful in their window display and encourage custom.  Just thought of an even better use - donate to local church for use at Harvest Festival time.  What a cracking idea!  It could stand guard over the copious amount of eggs that are given at this time.  See, I'm warming to the idea of life-size painted metal cockerels now.  In fact I might come over all giddy.

Anyway, that's last few days, such as they were.  We're half way through this week already.  Don't they call it Hump Day?

Day #2 without plaster cast

Slightly better day today.  Remembered to take the painkillers in plenty of time so gave myself a good start on the day.

• Had another long and satisfying shower!
• Put cream on my ghastly peeling skin.  Lumps of my skin are falling off. I'm like a shedding snake.  I've even resorted to putting cling film over the creamed areas so my skin will shluuuurp it in.  I'll try anything once!

(Not my image I hasten to add.  Credit below)

Image credited tess95.blogspot.com

• Foot and toes still swollen.  I'd post a picture, but I respect your digestion.
• Had an outing to a small shopping mall to visit the opticians so Grumpy could get his eyes tested.
• I figured I could manage the short distance in and out of the mall on the crutches.
• Didn't bargain for needing to make several stops due to people cutting in front of me while mindlessly gabbing on their mobiles.  
• Sat for an hour in opticians so my bum was completely numb.
• Grumpy took me for a coffee and a toasted teacake afterwards
• Had to use the lift to go downstairs to the Ladies.  Very kind person held the toilet door open for me.  I was well impressed with that small act of kindness after being cut up earlier by ignorant mobile-users.
• Headed out of the mall but every step was agony (painkillers were wearing off)
• So happy to get into car and let out a loud squeal of relief.  If anyone else had heard that they may well have been confused with the scene from When Harry Met Sally.

So folks, that made up a big part of my day.  Oh, and I just discovered the cling film that I forgot to take off.  It's been on 10 hours, so a bit overdue for removal.  Nice!

Day #1 without the plaster cast

Oh dear me....where do I start??  I had great hopes for today such as:

1. less pain
2. more mobility
3. stable mood
4. a long and satisfying shower!

So one out of four wasn't brilliant.  In fact it was No. 4 on the list that worked out fine. In fact it was utter bliss.    No's 1-3?  Not so good.

It was probably my own fault for not taking my painkillers soon after getting up.  I left them until mid morning for some stupid reason only known to my sub-conscious.  Result?

1.   Crippling, searing hot pain in my ankle area on both sides, so couldn't put my foot down.
2.   The ortho-sandal from the hospital wasn't helping as it kept coming loose, and the walking stick wasn't keeping me stable,  Reintroduced the zimmer frame, so slightly better.
3.   Mood dropped like a brick due to the pain and spent a good half hour in floods of tears, being a right mardy-bum wondering if I'll ever be able to walk properly again!  

I had to buck myself up after a while as I could see Grumpy was getting a bit upset.  He's not used to me caving in.  I'm the strong one.  The one that keeps everyone else glued together.  So today, he had to be strong for me and it doesn't come easily for him.  I felt drained afterwards, and couldn't concentrate or be interested in very much.  The mid morning painkillers eventually kicked in and I needed to sleep again for a short while.  So having learned from that mistake, I've kept them topped up throughout the day at 4 hour intervals and don't feel in so much pain now.

My next door neighbour kindly loaned me his crutches as his knee is better and he's not using them much now.  I test drove them this afternoon and all was good.  I have them on short term loan now until I get some of my own.  In hindsight, I realised that the hospital never asked me how I was getting around at home, and what I was using.  Neither did they ask to see me walking in the ortho-sandal to make sure I was OK with it.  So what's that all about then?  Reflecting on this has made me quite cross and unhappy.  I need to stop thinking about it now, and just bloody well phone the fracture clinic tomorrow and ask pertinent questions!  You never think of these things at the time do you?

However, I found this fabulous cartoon that I need to conclude my mardy piece of writing with, if only to show that I don't stay down for long.  It appealed to be as not only does she look a bit like me, it's also the sort of daft thing I'd do.  Eventually!

I found the image on https://abodyofhope.wordpress.com/tag/funny/

And eight months since my last post.........

Well whaddyaknow, the foot operation to fuse my joint finally happend!  Almost three years since it was first scheduled, I was admitted as a day patient at our local hospital, but ended up staying overnight due to the lateness of my place on the operating list.  

I had a spinal anaesthetic which, when taking hold made me feel drunk and sober both at the same time!  Losing feeling in my legs normally happens after a few beers or a bottle of wine (you realise I'm exaggerating, don't you?) but then my head will also be mush.  The anaesthetic however, left my brain working perfectly well, so see what I did there?  Drunk/sober?  No? Oh well, you needed to be there........  They asked me if I wanted a sedative too so I gladly took all that was on offer and kipped through most of the operation.

It was too late to send me back to the day ward so they found me alternative accommodation in a side ward off one of the main ones.  I had a great roomie called Dorothy, a lady in her 70's and after a quick natter found we had mutual friends.  That made the experience more bearable.  I'd been starved of course all day, in fact going beyond endurance so when the nurse brought me a cuppa and a sandwich I was so grateful I almost cried.  Anyway, it saved me from chewing at the bed-frame!

Once the feeling came back into my legs it was rapidly followed by the most appalling itching, especially round my tum and bum.  It went on for hours!  I was given an antihistamine which seemed to settle it down a bit, but it began all over again and kept me awake.  Seemingly it was a side effect of the feeling coming back into my nerve endings.  Small consolation since I'd just scratched myself sore in my sleep.

So here's my plastered leg and foot while in the hospital.

Later in the day the physiotherapist came to see me armed with a pair of arm crutches.  Sadly I couldn't use them as my balance is bad and I'm quite weak down my right side.  Off he went and came back with a zimmer frame and all manner of aids for the bathroom.  The zimmer was marginally more successful than the crutches in that I have 4 points of contact with the floor instead of 2.  All good you'd think?  Yes, while bobbing around in the little side ward in straight lines.  Not so good at home having to negotiate corners from room to room.  I got so tired and weaker still with my hands and shoulders taking the strain of hopping on one leg with the zimmer.

Thankfully my lovely friends have loaned me their daughter's folding wheelchair and it's fine going through doorways and will turn tightly so that has been my saviour.

As I write this is the end of the first week. It's definitely been a rollercoaster ride, but I've had visits, cards and messages from family and friends and that has lifted my spirits no end.

Tonight I've booted Grumpytrousers out to the pub.  We've been cooped up together all week and both need a well earned break and a bit of peace.  So while he's propping up the bar of the local, I'm in my favourite chair, with the wheelchair in nearby reach, watching cheesy music programmes instead of the Olympics, and having a read of Rita Marley's life story.  Aaaahhhh!!

I have a date for my foot operation!

13th  November is the big day.  Good job I'm not superstitious.  I saw the consultant yesterday and he was very optimistic regarding the success.  

In one way I'll be glad to get it over and done with, but I'm looking at a recovery time of more than a year.  I'll be in a plaster cast for about 6 weeks, then will have to wear a spongy boot thing.  All that time I'll be on crutches.  I'm quite looking forward to that bit - I can see me causing mischief and mayhem with them.  The rest of it I'm NOT looking forward to.  Get a load of this ......

NAVICULOCUNIEFORM JOINT FUSION

The operation can be performed comfortably under a Local Anaesthetic block, which is achieved by either a series of injections around the Ankle, or an injection behind your Knee. You will be fully awake during the operation and will be able to feel touch, pressure and vibration, but you will not feel any pain. If you do not wish to consider having the operation performed whilst still awake, or your Consultant does not feel this is the best option for you, you will be offered Local Anaesthetic with sedation or General Anaesthesia. If this is the case then you may need to be referred to a different surgical team to facilitate this and your consultant will be happy to discuss with you further.

The operation usually takes 60-90 minutes, although you will be in the Day Surgery unit longer.  You must have a competent adult at home for the first day and night after surgery.  Your operated leg may be non weight-bearing in a cast for approximately 6-8 weeks. It is therefore very important that you have people to look after you and any dependants such as children, elderly or disabled relatives you have during this time.

First 2-4 days

·         This is the time you are likely to have most pain but you will be given painkillers to help.  You must rest completely for 2-4 days.

·         You foot will be in a cast.

·         You will be able to stand and take weight on your non-operated foot) after the operation, but you must rest, with your feet up, as much as possible. 

·         You should restrict your mobility / to going to the bathroom and when getting about use your crutches in the way you have been shown. 

·         You can get about a little more after 3 days.

One week after surgery

·         You may need to attend for your foot to be checked and, if necessary, redressed/recasted

Two weeks after surgery

·         You must attend again. Sutures will be removed and a fresh cast applied.

Between 6-8 weeks after surgery

·         The cast will be removed, if all is proceeding well and you may be fitted with a removable boot that will allow you to start walking.

·         Your foot will be x-rayed to check how healing is progressing

Between 8-10 weeks after surgery

·         You should be able to start wearing a good lace-up shoe/trainer.

·         The foot will still be swollen and twinges of discomfort are not uncommon at this time due to you increasing activity. Your leg will feel naturally weak to start with as it has been in a cast.

·         You will be instructed regarding rehabilitation exercise or you may be referred to a physiotherapist.

·         You may return to work but may need longer if you have an active job

·         You may return to driving if you can perform an emergency stop. You must check with your insurance company before driving again.

Between 12-16 weeks after surgery

·         The foot should continue to improve and begin to feel normal again.

·         There will be less swelling.

·         Sport can be considered depending on your recovery.

Six months after surgery

·         You will have a final review between 3- 6 months following surgery.

·         The swelling should now be slight and you should be getting the full benefit of surgery.

Twelve months after surgery

·         The foot has stopped improving with all healing complete.

Please note, if a complication arises, recovery may be delayed. If you develop a complication please contact the unit.

So there we are - that's my recovery programme.  Grumpy Trousers will have to come with me to the Pre-Assessment to see the consultant so he can be informed how it will affect him, just so he knows that I'm not pulling a fast one on him.  From then on I'll be queening it like Lady Muck!

I now feel in really urgent need to start my Christmas shopping, take a little holiday, spring clean the house and Lord knows what else before I'm incapacitated.  AND I have a room to decorate.  Better get started then!