First just want to thank everyone who responded to my post about pre-op advice. I had a Kalish (modified Austin) bunionectomy on my right foot 3 days ago (Fri). I thought I'd share my experience and then ask for some post-op advice. This is the first major surgery that I've had, so I had a fair amount of naivete going in. Beware.....long post ahead.
Reported for surgery at 10:30 AM. After vitals were taken and I waited for an hour (miserable from fasting!), I finally went to the OR a little before 1. Anesthesiologist explained the whole "twilight" anesthesia + nerve block thing again, and I asked him to load me up on drugs! I lose all recollection from about 10 minutes after he started to make me "mellow" (he said, "I'm going to make you a little mellow, then I'm going to make you VERY mellow!"). I woke up in recovery with most awful thirst I ever experienced. They wouldn't give me anything until after they had me stabilized and took my post-op x-rays. I could not feel my foot at all, so placing my foot where the technician wanted it was almost humorous. They showed me the new x-ray, which looked like a NORMAL foot (plus two permanent screws). Hooray!!! I was released about an hour afterwards, after I took my first two percocet without incident. I have a dressing and ace bandage, plus surgical sandal and crutches. I didn't leave the hosp until about 6 pm. My instructions were to be NWB for 3 days, plus constant elevation and icing. As of tomorrow, I think I'm supposed to be PWB with my boot for 5-10 minutes at a time. Post-op check up is not until next week, which will be 1 1/2 weeks post-surgery.
The first night was very simple and easy. A little nausea and dizziness, but perfectly manageable. The block started wearing off around midnight, and I woke up with pain around 4 am. Took two percocet and back to sleep. Saturday was very painful, and I kept forgetting to take percocet BEFORE signs of pain. Again, a little woozy and nauseated throughout the day, but manageable. Sunday was a totally different experience. I made the mistake of taking the percocet w/o food....and that was the beginning of my temporary descent into hell! I vomitted all morning and afternoon, not even able to keep down water. Got the on-call doc to call in prescriptions for Zofran (anti-nausea) and Darvocet. The Zofran didn't really combat the nausea until the second dose, and it wasn't until 5 pm that I was able to hold anything down. I really wish that I had read the boards dealing with Percocet b/c I would have requested something else -- I react to just about everything. I never took the Darvocet because I just couldn't bear to be both nauseous AND in pain (percocet did not take care of all the pain on Saturday) -- it's just too much. The good news is that I feel much better today. No more nausea, and the pain is being well-managed with OTC motrin. My feet have pretty much been elevated consistently, and I'm trying to be religious about the icing. Have rarely even put my foot down on my ankle, even though the doc said that was ok. It has just been too painful up until now.
I owe my mother and my boyfriend greatly, both of whom have been taking great care of me. However, my mother left yesterday night and my boyfriend is returning to work tomorrow, so I'm about to be by myself most of tomorrow. Yes, I have the DVDs, books, microwaveable foods, etc. But I am a little anxious about being by myself (even though I was fine today). We'll see how it goes.
So, any guidance about what comes next? Any advice on how to proceed over the next few days? Any exercises that you did that were helpful? Many thanks for your advice!!!!
Carin
Linear Mode
