Im having a double bunionectomy in the morning and im so nervous that i actually feel sick!
I have had a few surgeries before but I have never felt so apprehensive before, dont know if its because i know that Im going to be totally dependant on someone else when I am normally a very independant person. My husband has just taken the kids to his mums until Sunday so I have some peace for the first few days but Im missing them already.
As well as a double bunionectomy I am having my second toe fused and alot of tendon work done. Dont really know the ins and outs of the procedure as im in the uk and the NHS arent that informative!
Its been great to read about other peoples surgeries and recoverys and it has helped me alot in understanding how i will feel and the length of time it will take to be up and about again. I am a fitness Intructor by proffession and due to the pain in my feet I havent been able to work for quite a while, so I cant wait until everything is pain free in my feet (I know that wont be until a while) and my life can get back to normal.
Be back after my op! :wave:
Deb x

Best of luck!!!

The dependency was my biggest fear, too (particularly regarding the toilet...); but my personal experience revealed two things:
1.) I wasn't nearly as dependent as I thought I'd be.
2.) It's actually a really nice change to have people taking care of YOU. It's almost like being a kid again. (And it's not going to last, so if you CAN get used to it, enjoy it :))


Take it easy - and let us know how you're doing!

Deb,
I was wondering if you'd post again. I've been thinking about your upcoming surgery tomorrow. I too was so apprehensive because of some of the things I read on this board.

I'm glad I had them both done at once. Just remember to keep it iced and elevated. Do whatever your doctor says. It wasn't too bad the first day, but oh that second day. Take your meds on time for the first few days. You'll be feeling much better by the weekend.

You're in our thoughts and prayers. Deb :angel: :wave:

I only had one foot done, I don't know how you doubles do it, you guys are braver than me! Be sure to take your pain meds the first day, even before you feel your foot again. It takes about 12 hours for the block to wear off, and you want to be iced up and on those pills already when it does.

I agree with the first two posts, for a while it is actually nice to be waited on. It gets old, but for the first week or two when you need it, you just are thankful they're there to help. About the time you need to be alone again, you will be. All day! That will also get old.

The first two or three days seems to be the worst time after foot surgery. After that, I got lots of sensation, tingles, shooting pains, throbbing, many different things. But the only true PAIN is the first few. Then you'll be able to deal.

The day of the surgery itself will not be so bad. The apprehension before is the worst part, I think. Once you're at the hospital it goes fast. Let us know how you are when you're back at the computer. Kim

HI guys Im back. They kepy me in hospital for two nights as I was really sick after the aneasetic. I had a double chevron bunionectomy with tendon release on both sides and my second toe on my left foot has been fused and has a pin left poking out for 4 weeks.
The pain has been really bad for me and I have spent most of the last two days on Morphine. Just got home about an hour ago and Im ready to climb into bed now, you dont realise how much effort everything is and how the op takes it out of you. My husband has now got two weeks off work to look after me so I should be ok in that respect but I feel so useless!
Hope that you all are recovering well from your surgeries, I will post again when im feeling a little bit more with it!
love deb x

Reading your post, 1debz, I got sympathy pains in my feet!

It will get better. Take care!

Hi Im back again.My Doctor never told me to ice my feet,how do you guys actually do it through the thick bandages? Im in intense pain at the moment and none of my pain meds are making any difference only making me nauseus. So I could be sending my husband out first thing in the morning for ice packs!
My feet feel like they are in a vice and are getting squeezed more and more(only way I can describe it!) and that there isnt enough room in the soft cast to accommodate my swelling feet.
Hope tomorrow is better for me pretty miserable tonight
Deb x :yawn:

The ice packs go on the ankles, where they cool the blood on its way to the (heavily encased!) foot. I've alternated between the top af the ankles and underneath. After a while, each area causes its own discomfort (weight ON my ankles - or my ankles pressing into hard ice). One nurse at the hospital said I could put the packs under my knees, as well (which makes sense, given how close the veins are to the surface there); but another nurse came by and said that wasn't right and moved them back to my ankles. I suppose it's whatever makes you most comfortable!

Deb You really need to get an icepack tonight. You are going to need it. Your feet are probably swollen. If your husband can't get them tonight, some people have used frozen peas or crushed ice or ice cubes in zip lock bags. Wrap in a thin towel so your bandages don't get wet. Good luck. Hope things go okay for you tonight. Deb :angel:

Hi, I haven't been using ice packs, but what I've been using are gel packs, bought from walmart, I got 4 so I could rotate, and my parents gave me 2 more. For the first 5 days that's ALL I did was ice constantly. I know you're probably not supposed to ice constantly, but that's what I did. I just wrapped a paper towel around the frozen gel packs, and laid them on top my foot. They fit nicely enough so that they covered my toes, and they touch my ankles, so I got cooling from both ends. I even got creative with my velcro boots and started laying them on top my foot, and securing them in with my boots, it worked quite nicely. But I definitly think icing is very important especially early on in recovery. It definitly helped me because I like you was nauseous from the pain meds, and stopped taking them. Whenever my feet started to throb, I'd just slap another gel pack on and elevate my feet. The gel works great because it molds around your foot comfortably. So sit back and ice those feet for a while.

Thanks for all your help everyone. I had a better night last night made a makeshift ice bag and that really helped what a difference it made!) and I think I finally got on top of the pain meds as before i got out of hospital they were sometimes leaving me 6 hours inbetween doses and the pain got bad.
My husband has gone out now to buy some of the gel packs as they sound alot easier to use. Bless him he is being so good hope he doesnt get fed up with me, I have been so tearful and emotional too were any of you the same?
You all sound like the second week has been alot easier for you and cant believe how youve been getting out and doing things, makes me feel like im being a complete wuss!
take care everyone and thanks for your support its great to speak to people in the same boat.
Love Debx

Deb, the pain pills can make you very depressed...you will feel better when you dont need them anymore..maybe in a few days you can switch to plain motrin or advil..

1Debz~
I am so sorry you're having such a rough time, glad you're here and seeing some improvement. Keep icing and elevating, taking meds until you don't need them, and let us know how you're doing! If meds make you feel sick, don't forget to eat, bland foods. I'm praying for you, hope to hear you're feeling better. I had different op, so can't picture your cast. Do your toes protrude? Whenever you feel it's gonna kill you because its so tight, check the coloring, see that they are warm to the touch, check the nailbeds, and if you think your circulation is impaired, go to an ER. They will cut it, or remove it and replace it with one that gives you some swelling room. My OS put me in a splint loose enough to accomodate the initial swelling, and I didn't get a hard, (miserable) cast until 2 weeks. Let us know. Kim

Deb,
How are you doing today? It sounds like you had a rough few days, but hopefully the worst is behind you! I found that taking Advil or Motrin in addition to regular pain meds can help with inflammation. Some people cant take these meds though as they can upset your stomach or possible interfere with bone healing. How long will the pin be in for?

Hi everyone,
Still having a rough time of it really. Two days ago I thought I thought that Id passed the pain milestone and I was up all day had loads of visitors and felt like things were getting back to normal, but boy have I been paying for it since My feet were really sore yesterday. I think the thing that has been the worst for me is not being able to sleep, with having them both done I just cant seem to get them both into a painless position at the same time, I dont think sleep came until after 3.30am again last night (starting to look like a zombie!).
I go back to the pod next wednesday I presume to have stitches out and he wasnt sure if would be put into a hard cast, the pins arent removed for four weeks. I hope that I get a hard cast because they are so easy to knock and move at the moment and my four yr old little boy is so clumsy hes like a magnet to my feet!
I hope everyone else is recovering well (and doing better than me), Im not usually one to moan and have never felt so bad after surgery before, but tomorrow is another day and today could be the last of feeling like this.
Rbstarr and footsy how are you both doing?
sorry for being on such a downer
Deb xx

Hi Kimann,
My toes protrude from the cast and are very widely spaced apart. They have put some tape over the pins out my toe so that I dont get grossed out over it I think!. Oh what id give for 5 mins fresh air on my feet!
Deb x

"Oh what id give for 5 mins fresh air on my feet!"
Oh, Debz! When you're at the Doc's, you'll have it, and if they do not offer, ask if you can briefly wash. I'd give anything for a naked foot, bucket of hot soapy, and chunk of steel wool!!! The first time, his assistant brought warm, wet cloths, cleaned it up a bit. The second time, I had maybe 3 or 4 minute wait while she did something else, had to sit on my hands to keep from scratching every last flake of skin OFF!!! LOL, my Dad was with me, giving the evil eye. I am in fiberglass from base of toes to 3" below knee, and the skin is fairly normal on the top half, but the skin on the bottom half and the foot is just flaky, dry, itchy, hateful! Bits and flakes fall out in a trail while I move around. Yeck! My grandma said grandpa, in full body cast, cut holes in his own cast and tore up wire hangers to scratch. Tempting, and the only thing keeping me from it is the idea of having to go to ed and say, "whoops!!! help!" :eek:
:( I am sorry it's so rough on you, and no need to apologize, everyone here knows how hard it is. I agree, young ones are rough on a body, have no idea how they can hurt you, so will pray you get hard casts!!! Take care, and feel better!!! Kim

I just have the soft gauze bandaging and let me tell you, I get nervous whenever anyone comes near my feet. I haven't even gone to see my poor niece and nephew yet. I usually spend alot of time with them, but I think I'll wait a bit more. I can just hear all the questions my nephew will be asking (he's 4). Anyways, hope your all doing well, and take care of those feet, don't let them get bumped around.

Oh Kim you poor thing in plaster up to your knees! I know what you mean about wanting to scratch, alot of my problems in my feet were due to an accident a few years ago and I had broken feet and I know what its like. Wait until you see how hairy your legs are!
Debx

Oh Kim you poor thing in plaster up to your knees! I know what you mean about wanting to scratch, alot of my problems in my feet were due to an accident a few years ago and I had broken feet and I know what its like. Wait until you see how hairy your legs are!
Debx
Debz,
How are you doing? Are you feeling any improvement? You broke both feet? :eek: Poor you! Which bones? My break was at the ankle, which is why the long cast. Thank God it is fiberglass, a plaster this big would weigh a ton!!! I think it is 3# or 4. I laugh at the hair, remembering I was cast 3 weeks initially, and when that one came off, the first thing I did was shower & shave, I was SO disgusted, and destroyed a couple of razors. After 10 weeks, I'll probably need to go to Sam's and buy a case of them!!! I hope you're sleeping better and feeling better today. Let us know! :angel: Kim

Hi
I had my accident bacause I was messing around on my daughters bike (she was 9 at the time so it was far too small for me) I went over the handlebars and broke my ankle, my toes and had stitches in my chin. The breaks in my toes didnt heal properly and I ended up with osteo arthritis thats why Ive got toes pinned (fusion)now and luckily I had that done at the same time as my bunionectomy.
Only got 4 hours sleep last night again but ive tried not to kip in the day today because Im turning night into day! Boredom is setting in now too!
I used to sprinkle talc down the sides of my plaster to try to stop the itching,its worth a try if u havent already tried it.
Debx

Hi
I had my accident bacause I was messing around on my daughters bike (she was 9 at the time so it was far too small for me) I went over the handlebars and broke my ankle, my toes and had stitches in my chin. The breaks in my toes didnt heal properly and I ended up with osteo arthritis thats why Ive got toes pinned (fusion)now and luckily I had that done at the same time as my bunionectomy.
Only got 4 hours sleep last night again but ive tried not to kip in the day today because Im turning night into day! Boredom is setting in now too!
I used to sprinkle talc down the sides of my plaster to try to stop the itching,its worth a try if u havent already tried it.
Debx

Geez. You've had a rough row to hoe, girl. Hope this does it for you! Were the initial breaks surgically repaired, and didn't heal? Or just cast?
Sorry you're still having so much trouble sleeping. I'm in the same boat, getting a few hours in bed, getting up when it starts, and then spending the day in a stupor, catnapping on the sofa. I've gotten so worn down, don't care about day/night, etc., and won't worry too much about it until I'm near being released. I don't have children, so I don't have to keep a schedule, sympathise with you.
I'll try the powder thank you for the tip! I saw something called cast blast, looks like the canned air we clean electronics with, but the price is a little high, I will use powder. I'd guess the worst cause is not being able to bathe, dead skin cells are not sloughing quickly enough???
Take care, Debz, and FEEL BETTER! Kim

Hi Kim
My breaks were just in a cast and at 6 weeks I was told everything was ok and that I didnt have to go back again and I presumed that the pain was just normal so I left it at that! Little did I know! Forgot to add I also broke my left hand at the same time! Must admit it seemed easier then than it does now after bunionectomy, maybe because im getting older?
I feel much better today because I got a really good sleep last night and I feel like a new person, surprising how grumpy and down we become if we dont get our sleep.
My husband is going to help me have a bath now, I go in backwards and leave my feet over the sides, I really must be a sight for sore eyes!
The weather has been terrible here i England the last week none stop rain, so I still havent had my ride in the wheelchair, hopefully it should change soon this is our summer!
all the best Deb x