marybn
11-10-2008, 10:13 AM
Hello Again
I have been missing for a while but have been reading everyones threads.
Congrats to smile2006 on running again and to Hurts2walk for starting to bw again.:)
I think I am ready for my surgery but still concerned about how much help I will need at home. My husband will be home for two days after I get home from surgery, after that he will get me settled in the morning, a friend will come in at noon to check on me and help, than he will be home at 4:00. Does that sound like enough? It sounds like I will be sleeping alot.
Also did anyone do anything before surgery to help reduce the scarring?
I have been missing for a while but have been reading everyones threads.
Congrats to smile2006 on running again and to Hurts2walk for starting to bw again.:)
I think I am ready for my surgery but still concerned about how much help I will need at home. My husband will be home for two days after I get home from surgery, after that he will get me settled in the morning, a friend will come in at noon to check on me and help, than he will be home at 4:00. Does that sound like enough? It sounds like I will be sleeping alot.
Also did anyone do anything before surgery to help reduce the scarring?
Sponsor
hurts2walk
11-10-2008, 11:31 AM
I think that everyone is different when it comes to "help" after surgery. I had my surgery on a Friday so I had my family around for the weekend. I ended up having to go in to see the doc on that Monday to get my meds changed so my husband took me of course. But after that Monday I was completely alone during the day until the kids got home from school and husband home from work. I made sure I had what I needed close by and I was getting around with a walker then so I was fine. I slept most of the time anyway. I think it is a personal decision and you have to play it by ear. If I would have been doing "not so great", I would have asked my husband to stay home with me but that was not the case.
So in answer to your question I guess I think you will be fine with the plan you have! BUT like I said, play it by ear and see how it goes!
I didn't do anything before my surgery for scarring.....just vitamin E and anti bacteria ointment after the staples came out.
Keep us posted!
So in answer to your question I guess I think you will be fine with the plan you have! BUT like I said, play it by ear and see how it goes!
I didn't do anything before my surgery for scarring.....just vitamin E and anti bacteria ointment after the staples came out.
Keep us posted!
smile2006
11-10-2008, 07:13 PM
I guess I was sort of a weeny!!! I had my surgery on a Wednesday, came home Thursday afternoon and my husband stayed home with me through the following Thursday. He is a computer programer so he was able to work from home. I remember I felt like I really need someone through about Tuesday, after that it was just nice to have company and to have someone make food for you!!!! Enjoy that while you can!!!! I think you'll be OK with having someone stop by. I have been diligent with larger scar on my inner foot/ankle post-surgery, rubbing vitamin E into it. I have not been so diligent with the scar on the outer heel and I notice a difference in appearance so I think the vitamin E does some good. I didn't do anything pre-sugery for scarring. Thanks for the well wishes about running. The funny thing is I wore a semi-dress pair of shoes to work today that made my foot swelled up more than my 3 mile run and yardwork (raking leaves) yesterday!!!!
marybn
11-10-2008, 10:08 PM
Raking leaves, how lucky. We have snow already! We had three inches, that all melted now we have about one inch. It looks like winter is here already . . . too soon.
I will see how it goes, I know if I need it my husband will stay home longer. With my surgery the week before Thanksgiving it will only be three days that my husband will be at work than home again for the four day weekend. I asked our kids to make other plans for Thanksgiving since I won't be good company and they will all be home for Christmas and I should be much better by than.
OK now a bunch of probably dumb questions. How long did your surgery last? How long between when you left your room to when you were back in it? Did your husband or someone stay in the hospital the whole time you were in surgery?
I will see how it goes, I know if I need it my husband will stay home longer. With my surgery the week before Thanksgiving it will only be three days that my husband will be at work than home again for the four day weekend. I asked our kids to make other plans for Thanksgiving since I won't be good company and they will all be home for Christmas and I should be much better by than.
OK now a bunch of probably dumb questions. How long did your surgery last? How long between when you left your room to when you were back in it? Did your husband or someone stay in the hospital the whole time you were in surgery?
hurts2walk
11-11-2008, 12:05 AM
Your questions are not dumb! My surgery lasted about 3 hours. I was home by the afternoon (day surgery).
JayCon3
11-11-2008, 06:32 PM
I think I'm a bit weenie-ish myself as well. I had surgery last Wed. 11/5 and was home by dinnertime. My wife has been able to take a week off to help me, but that ends today. She is back to work tomorrow. Since your husband will only be home for the first 2 days I would suggest making sure you had someone who could get to you right away if necessary. Can the friend who checks up on you at lunch get to you right away as well. I always like to have that little extra measure of security. I may be a weenie, but I am also way too gutsy for my own good in that I'm the kind of person that will try to "push the envelope" and do too much.
Good luck!
Joe
Good luck!
Joe
uff da
11-11-2008, 07:20 PM
Hi
I had my surgery on Sept. 30th. My actual procedure was about 1.5 hours long. I was at the center all day, but went home that night. I had a pain block for the first 3 days, wow was that nice! I think I could have been home alone after the first couple of days and been fine. My foot hurt the worse the first few days after the pain pump was gone. Lowering my foot to the floor was a killer- throbbing like I have never experienced. I had not been expecting that. With that said, it definately made me stop and think beforehand if I really needed to get up. It might be handy if you have a small lunchbox like cooler for icepacks to stay in the times between when someone will be with you. Keep food simple and easy to transport. I am still surprised by things that I thought I could do on my crutches, but can't quit make it work. May things go well and smoothly!
I had my surgery on Sept. 30th. My actual procedure was about 1.5 hours long. I was at the center all day, but went home that night. I had a pain block for the first 3 days, wow was that nice! I think I could have been home alone after the first couple of days and been fine. My foot hurt the worse the first few days after the pain pump was gone. Lowering my foot to the floor was a killer- throbbing like I have never experienced. I had not been expecting that. With that said, it definately made me stop and think beforehand if I really needed to get up. It might be handy if you have a small lunchbox like cooler for icepacks to stay in the times between when someone will be with you. Keep food simple and easy to transport. I am still surprised by things that I thought I could do on my crutches, but can't quit make it work. May things go well and smoothly!
smile2006
11-11-2008, 09:49 PM
Mine was expected to be about 1.5 hours but lasted almost three hours. The reason for this was because I had tons of extra tissue around the torn tendon that had to be removed. My bodies response to the tendon injury was to produce extra tissue (Due to the excess tissue, I ended up doing a bunch of lab tests for RA which were negative thank goodness). Also because of the extra tissue the tendon to the little toes could not be used and my doctor ended up using the tendon to the big toe. So there were some unexpected things that happened. I know my doctor had one more surgery after me. I feel bad to have held that person up!!!! I was actually considered an outpatient with 23 hour observation. So I went from the recovery area to my room. I remember the room wasnt ready so I was in the recovery room for about 4 hours............starving with only Coke and crackers!!!! My husband was their when I went to the room but did not stay the night with me. He came back first thing in the morning. I was fine with that since we live close to hospital and I was on morphine anyway. This allowed him to smuggle in some good coffee in the morning!!!!!
marybn
11-11-2008, 11:47 PM
I know the operating room is schedule for three hours for my surgery, so I am thinking it will probably be shorter I just wasn't sure how long in the recovery room but what ever it takes.
I too kind of push the envelope, thinking I can do it all. I always think to myself I had four children without any pain medicine, I can do this; but I think this is a whole different ballgame. After the children I had the reward of a beautiful baby and I could get up walk and function . . the reward for this will be a long ways down the road, it sounds like I will be more the "baby" on this recovery. I do have a knee scooter and wheelchair reserved for when I get home, so that should help, right? I won't be left at home until the 5th day after surgery, so that should make a difference too.
Good coffee, what a great idea. Since we don't live in the city where I am having surgery we will have to scope it out before so my husband can bring some in.
Whenever I start to get nervous and having second thoughts I know I can always come here and get info. It really helps alot, thanks to all of you.;)
I too kind of push the envelope, thinking I can do it all. I always think to myself I had four children without any pain medicine, I can do this; but I think this is a whole different ballgame. After the children I had the reward of a beautiful baby and I could get up walk and function . . the reward for this will be a long ways down the road, it sounds like I will be more the "baby" on this recovery. I do have a knee scooter and wheelchair reserved for when I get home, so that should help, right? I won't be left at home until the 5th day after surgery, so that should make a difference too.
Good coffee, what a great idea. Since we don't live in the city where I am having surgery we will have to scope it out before so my husband can bring some in.
Whenever I start to get nervous and having second thoughts I know I can always come here and get info. It really helps alot, thanks to all of you.;)
hurts2walk
11-12-2008, 12:17 AM
Oh my gosh marybn I just had to resspond to your comment about childbirth and not using any pain medicine! I had my children without any either and as my feet got worse and worse over the last years I made that comment over and over...how could I give birth naturally and now be crying because my feet hurt so bad? (that baby "reward" has something to do with it!)
This is a "different ballgame". This is hard....not lying to you. This surgery is one of the hardest things I have ever done. But it is necessary and it will be worth it. Keep "talking outloud" here...it helps! And take the pain meds.....this time!
This is a "different ballgame". This is hard....not lying to you. This surgery is one of the hardest things I have ever done. But it is necessary and it will be worth it. Keep "talking outloud" here...it helps! And take the pain meds.....this time!
marybn
11-13-2008, 08:18 PM
My internet was giving me problems yesterday, sorry for the delay in responding.
I was wondering about the pain meds. I have read to stay on top of the medicine, did anyone set a timer and what did you use? Is there something that just beeps every set time or does it need to be set everytime?
I was wondering about the pain meds. I have read to stay on top of the medicine, did anyone set a timer and what did you use? Is there something that just beeps every set time or does it need to be set everytime?
PatG25
11-13-2008, 08:30 PM
I had my surgery 7 days ago; on a Thursday. By Monday I was staying home alone. My wife made me lunch so all I had to do is hobble over to the fridge to get it out. A few suggestions:
- I have to agree with Huff Da, putting my foot down is the worst pain. I keep thinking my foot is going to explode. You will not want to get up a lot. I am trying to stretch my bathroom walks out as long as I can.
- Get more non-slippery socks. I got two at the hospital, not enough.
- Instead of a timer for medication, I taped a sticky on the bottle and wrote down the last time I took it. However, I only needed the hard stuff for a couple of days.
- I have to agree with Huff Da, putting my foot down is the worst pain. I keep thinking my foot is going to explode. You will not want to get up a lot. I am trying to stretch my bathroom walks out as long as I can.
- Get more non-slippery socks. I got two at the hospital, not enough.
- Instead of a timer for medication, I taped a sticky on the bottle and wrote down the last time I took it. However, I only needed the hard stuff for a couple of days.
klbs1961
11-13-2008, 11:08 PM
I have the following that has really helped:
shower chair
knee scooter
body pillow (fold in 1/2 and place between legs - really helps)
hightened toilet seat
grap bars in potty area
Hope this helps! My surgery was 3.5 hours, but there was a lot of damage.
Kathy
shower chair
knee scooter
body pillow (fold in 1/2 and place between legs - really helps)
hightened toilet seat
grap bars in potty area
Hope this helps! My surgery was 3.5 hours, but there was a lot of damage.
Kathy