Hi guys
I have been reading the threads and I know that I need a toilet seat raiser, a shower chair, foam wedges, crutches and a roll about. My sister has picked these up for me ( as she is in Charlotte, where they will operate).
I have stocked up on lean cuisines, fresca and foods that I think that caregivers will want. What am I forgetting?? I am totally stressing.
My mother is taking me to Charlotte tomorrow night. We are staying in a hotel then going to the hospital Wednesday morning at 7.30. They are keeping me one night and then we are driving back Thursday ( 90 miles ugh).
My peaceful planning weekend went sideways- my ex boyfriend decided to come to a charity event and I said that we could go together- mistake- and I got a letter from a court in Pennsylvania saying they were issuing a warrant for me for an unpaid $10 parking ticket that I got months ago in a rental car. In all honesty, I got the ticket but forgot about it- I travel every week so one city blends into another. So, I called and had to send them $141! It would have been nice to get some interim notice!!!
I guess my point is, I am afraid that my frazzled state is making me forget something. What else do you think that I should get???

thanks!!!!

Sounds like you're pretty well on the ball. Just make sure you have enough ice packs that you can use two of them continually. Also, if you have time, go through the house and make sure that the "aisles" are clear enough for crutches (ie no furniture in the way or stray items on the floor). If you have throw rugs, throw them in a closet. (I'm so lazy, one of mine is still rolled up.)

Also, a waterproof cast cover is useful, although I did fine with a garbage bag and 2 rubber bands, and leaving my leg propped up on another chair outside the shower curtain. Actually, that was freaking inconvenient. Get the cast cover.

Got DVD's or other easy-on-the-brain entertainment? Those totally saved my life, after.

You're gonna be fine. If you weren't stressed out at this point, you wouldn't be human, but you're gonna be ok.

It sounds like you've gotten everything covered that you will need right away. The cast cover isn't a bad idea to have on hand, but you can get it later and use garbage bags in the interim. You might want to be sure to have a pillow or two for the long ride home after surgery. Make sure you've taken some pain meds before leaving the hospital too...your foot might get sore/painful with bumps and such on the road.

You'll be surprised at how you feel when you wake up after surgery and that stress is gone! Waiting for some time for the surgery can just make it that much harder and more stressful, as you have time to think and worry, which we all do! But soon enough that will be over and you can focus on recovering and getting back to life! You'll do great! Keep us posted on how it goes!

I HATE to say this because I really don't want to stress you out, but if it were ME, I would make sure I had a barf bag or garbage can because either the anesthesia or the pain meds always make me sick and that is a long ride, but that's just me 8=]

The barf bag is probably not a bad idea. I am not really prone to motion sickness but with my mother driving, the anesthesia etc, it might be a miserable trip.
Joy

I second the barf bag, although the hospital will probably give you one or two, at least they always gave me some.

Yeah, but they usually give you those little bowl things that would barely hold a goldfish.

Little kidney basin doesn't hold much at all. Was in the ER one night with one violent case of the flu and completely missed! I can't imagine trying to hit that little basin in a car while it was moving however small the amount was. Maybe just bring a little garbage can with some bags, just in case. ;)

well, I made it back without puking! I had a plastic bag in case. The only real nausea was after the surgery when I had a reaction to the pain meds and they had to give me benadyl, steroids etc. They then put in a big bolus of antibiotics- coupled with no food for 18 hours- I was green but didn't actually get sick.
My foot has been elevated and iced non stop but it is still swelling so much that it hurts up to my thigh. I hate having it hang down even for 5 minutes to go to the bathroom. How long does this throbbing/swelling last??
thanks

Good to hear you made it out of surgery pretty well, minus getting sick with the meds! Since I have had issues with nausea/vomiting with anesthesia in the past, I was given some anti-nausea meds during surgery. They worked wonders...no nausea!

Anyway...to answer your question about the throbbing and swelling. It really varies from person to person, and even surgery to surgery! My first PTTD surgery was almost 1 yr ago and I had a lot of the pain, throbbing, swelling, discoloration of the foot. The swelling was an off and on thing for some months. The throbbing went away within the first month or so, though it came back some later with the heat/humidity and the cast. You can't see your foot, but it's likely turning a purplish/bluish color when you're up, which is normal. Your foot has undergone a lot of trauma and everything has to adjust, including circulation. Elevating, icing, taking pain meds and generally staying off of your foot are the best things to do right now...you're doing everything right.

Hang in there! The first week is especially hard...but it get's better as time goes on!

nj, welcome to "the other side". Glad it went well and that you didn't need the barf bag! Really, the first week or two is the worst. You will have ups and downs after that as you go along in the healing process but it is all progress. Keep us posted!

NJ

I am so glad for you that your surgery is over and you are home recovering. My prayers are with you.:angel: Hope that you'll keep us updated. Hang in there.

Hugs Nadine:)

Thanks guys-
It is doing ok today provided I keep it up and cold. I am deciding that lots of things are unecessary- like underpants- they're hard to get on and off when balancing on a crutch so I am going commando until this feels better!:D My mom has been great. No matter how old you get, you're never too old to need your momma. My dad was going to come tonight but his wife had to be hospitalized. I feel so sorry for him- it never rains but it pours.
One of my friends put a horn and tassles on my turning leg caddy. It looks cute but I haven't tried it out yet- I am too afraid to bend my knee in that direction.
Thanks again for the support guys.