:rolleyes: Remember those old movies where Frankenstein would be lurching around, his face all covered in black stitches and lumpy and swollen? When I went this morning for the first check-up after the 7/5 surgery, that is what I was reminded of. The doc said I might not want to watch as the layers of bloody bandages were cut off, but I wouldn't have missed it for anything. Looks weird with all the many lines of black stitches and the pins sticking out of the toes, but I guess I have to think of it as a "work in progress". At least the toes are straight and the bunion that was sticking out two inches is gone. I was told all the blood I had been worrying about was mainly due to their having to remove the pin from the second toe after it had been inserted. That was the worst toe, crossing the others at a 90 degree angle. It started to turn white and that meant there were circulation problems, so they decided it was best to remove the pin. That left a hole that most of the blood flowed out of. Said it will heal fine even without the pin......hope they are right. The whole mess was definitely starting to smell funky but that was only the odor of dried blood, not infection. The bleeding had been so intense it stained the entire inside of the surgical boot, so they gave me a new replacement one.

Asked the doc if I could take a picture of the unbandaged foot for my "journal", explaining it had nothing to do with any future malpractice lawsuit...I just wanted it for the memory. I suppose it was an unusual request because the doc raised an eyebrow and politely left the room for a minute so that I could take a photo or two without having to give me explicit permission.

Still in pain, especially since I had a friend with a car to help and we did a few other errands, like picking up my mail, getting groceries, picking up a new prescription, etc....more activity than I have engaged in for the entire week. And oh yes, I talked the doc into drawing another smiley face on the new bandages. Next post-op check-up is Tuesday, next surgery on the other foot is 2 weeks from now. If nothing else, this whole thing has been a most interesting experience and maybe after everything is done and healed, I'll even be able to walk like a normal person. What a thought! :p

Huh... I never even thought to ask permission to take pictures. Just whipped out the camera and did it. Never thought of using it in litigation, either. I just wanted to send the pictures of my progress to my dad who was across the country.

Anyway, glad that things are all straightened out. :)

I never thought about a pic, but that's a pretty good idea when you have some wanting to say, but it was just minor surgery!!
When they removed my bandages, the first thing that popped in my head was the movie "Saw". My incision went right across the side and top of my foot, only not as deep as they did in the movie!! Good luck on your recovery! :wave:
expo-92

MKL!
I'm glad you're progressing! Smart, taking the pics. I wish I'd thought of it. When its all over, nobody will believe how awful our feet were! Are you really going to have the second one so quickly? Are you nwb? Or walking? Take care of yourself! Kim

Glad it went well and everything was as it should be, healing wise! So tell us, do we get to call you Frankenstein's Bride now? ROTFL

I am jealous you got a new boot, tho you certainly earned it. The heat and humidity here at the coast has mine stinking. Any clues on how to clean it? I tried just rinsing it one day but didn't really help. I change the sock/liner thingy so at least that helps some.

Too bad you can't post the photo for all of us. We would like to see your new 'receorating scheme'...
jane

Jane...a friend of mine who is a real Domestic Diva told me (before I got my new, free replacement boot) to try sponging the inside down with a mix of peroxide and water, which is especially good for blood stains. Another thing she suggested was spraying it down with OUST, which is really a bathroom air sanitizer, but very effective with any kind of noxious odors.

Kim, I am getting around walking on the heel of the operated on foot and leaning heavily on a cane. I find the hardest part is doing the five flights of stairs, as it is not possible to be completely NWB then. The surgeon scheduled the second foot three weeks after the first because he says by that point the left foot will be able to bear weight and he likes to do the surgeries as close together as possible, the theory being that during the interval between surgeries, the two feet are out of balance....one good, one bad...and that the longer the asymmetrical walking goes on, the more problems it can cause due to the mismatched gait, such as back pains or leg pains.

Frankenstein's Bride...I don't THINK so! After two divorces I don't want to be ANYONE's Bride. Ms. Frankenstein will do just fine.

I am SO up for the second surgery now that I know what to expect and see that I can handle it. One of my greatest fears was that I couldn't. I think we all have untapped reserves of strength and determination that we usually aren't even aware of.

Marianne

MKL --

my two surgeries were 3 weeks apart....(april 12, may 3)...initially my OS was a bit skeptical about doing them so close, as his typical schedule is 6 weeks apart...but he had me come in right before foot 2, foot 1 was healing well, and i showed him i'd be able to do crutches, with weight on foot 1 only (altho crutches were only 3 days each foot, anyway), so he went ahead with foot 2. i am SO glad i did them only 3 weeks apart. it would have been far too discouraging to have foot 1 completely healed, and then go back to being 'disabled' again. plus, what would you do for shoes in the interim??
on the pics...i had to laugh. when i went in 2 days post op foot 1 to have the bandage changed, nurse undid the wrapping, and i saw my frankenfoot(!!) -- i said to hubby -- oh darn, i should have brought a camera...he whipped out his camera phone, and snapped a pic for me. doc wasn't in the room yet..nurse looked at us kind of weird, but didn't say anything...it didn't even occur to me to ask permission. but i then realized i'd never gotten 'before' pics..but that was ok, i still had one foot left -- so as soon as i got home, i took a pic of foot 2,as a before pic! don't forget to do that -- you'll want it later. almost all of my family is out of state...so i ended up with a series of about a dozen pics, to send to them -- and they were absolutely amazed...hadn't realized how bad my 'befores' were, didn't realize what a big deal the surgery was, and shared my delight at the results.
good luck, keep that camera handy, and those spirits high.

laurie

:blob_fire FRANKENFOOT!!!! Laurie, that is SO funny. I would never have come up with that myself. Thanks for the laugh.

A picture is worth a thousand words and I have a whole pile of my pre-op ugly and deformed feet....actually for two reasons. I spend a lot of the time on the beach and I got so tired of people asking me why I was wearing sneakers and socks and trying to explain that I literally could not walk without my heavy duty orthodics and shoes, that I would just whip out a picture and show it to them. That explained everything! And of course, a bikini looks pretty stupid with shoes and socks, so I would wear denim cut-offs and a bathing suit top. I can't wait to be barefoot AND wear a bikini. Yes, 63 year old biddies DO wear bikini's! Also, the deterioration of my feet was documented over the years because I would have to see my routine podiatrist ideally every 6 weeks or so to have him do interim first-aid. Clip my nails because my toes were twisted like a nest of snakes and I could never find the nails to cut; shaving off the bleeding callouses that would develop on my two inch bunions; whittling down the ulcer on the bottom of the worst foot that grew because of the way the sides of my foot kind of curved inwards because of the bunions and braided toes. We were always apprehensive my insurance would question the frequency of those visits and so wanted proof of the horrible condition should questions arise.

A lot of people who are lucky enough to have "good" feet have no conception of we Frankenfeet live with (until we actually do something about it). And then the question was always: How in the world can you walk like with feet like that.

Well, it got to the point I couldn't and that is when I decided to do something about it. This board has been a blessing in making the decision and dealing with the aftermath, which has not been nearly as bad as I expected, and addding a bit of humor to the whole situation, an added bonus!

Hi, Ladies!
Maryann, I had forgotten your earlier description of your place, so had forgotten about the 5 flights! I don't know how you do it! In a restaraunt, I "hopped" up 5 little steps once, holding the railing, and it was tough, no way I could do what you do!
??? The boot cleaning. I thought we all had basically the same thing, but evidently not. My outer shell can be cleaned with any mild all-purpose cleanser. I asked about the liner, and the nurse said I could wet a cloth with a little laundry soap and water, and wipe on it really well, let it lay until it dries. I wear a sock to protect it somewhat. I guess a really good washing is out of the question because of the bladders and pump. I'd love to have a second liner! Mine, with the utmost of care, has a slow leak. I have to watch this, because I don't always notice the difference in pressure until I put weight on it. Cheap, $300 boot lasts 3 weeks! Go figure. But be very careful with your liners if they have air bladders!!!

Holy Cow, Kimann! Those surgical boots cost $300 EACH??????? Now that is sticker shock! Then the surgeon really did me a huge kindness in giving me a replacement boot for free, since my insurance only covers one boot per foot, no matter how bloody they get. And mine was so bad that the nurse put on a pair of latex gloves before picking it up to put it in a boot body bag.

As for the air bladders....I didn't even know mine had one. They didn't mention it to me at the horsepital when they put in on my foot. When the doc gave me the second one, I was given a blue gizmo with it and asked what it was for. I had no idea! The nurse told me it was to inflate or deflate the bladder, but how do I know if I want more pressure or less pressure? I've just been wearing it, as is.

The GOOD news for today is that I finally turned a corner sometime during the night and for the first time, this morning I noticed a little less pain with each step. Still pain, but less. Hooray!

How do I do the 5 flights of stairs? Well, when you have to, you manage somehow. I just kept repeating to myself with every step "I can do this, I can do this!" interspersed with !!****!!!!!:mad:

Marianne

I have the boot stink solution!!! My PT saw me in the market and told me (I was standing in the air freshener row looking for the OUST spray you mentioned)

Said i Could damp wipe it like you said but they also do the following: Use Febreeze made for pets!!! Yep, spray it on until damp. After it dries then hit the old boot with Lysol, Oust, etc. He said he prefers plain old Lysol as it won't "eat" the interior pading (what padding, I say) ands is the best at killing germies and fungus. They did caution me against using any type of foot spray as this will end up eating away the covering of the bladders and usually makes it stink more in the long run (go figure!). I am now the owner of a well used, but fresh smelling boot!! I keep washing the 2 liners (giant socks) and rotating them daily - after all it is July and yesterday it qwas 97 degrees.

I have the XP Aircast boot - big gray ski boot in 2 pieces (front and back halves) with 4 valves and a blue pump bulb. Always have to repump due to slow leaks. I was told it should feel 'more than snug, but not tight'. By afternoon/eve I have to let some air out/deflate as my foot swells up. I used to have the Donjoy (black) MaxTrax CAM boot. I think they ALL leak, are uncomfortable and HOT.

MKL- a pretty foot, less pain, 5 flights and a bikini and all in NY...
Girl - YOU ROCK!

jane