Hiya
I am due to go for surgery on Thursday, I am feeling very scared and anxious, I have been reading these boards for a few months so, feel I may have the general idea of how recovery is going to go?
I'm not sure what I'm asking really, I just need someone to chat to, I am in the uk, married with a 14 year old daughter, so lots of physical help, just when they are all out at work and school, I know I'm going find it hard.
I am due to be at hospital for 07.30 GMT on Thursday, and the doctor has told me I will be in hospital for a min of 3 nights, I know this really silly, but when you are in hospital with the foot all done, and you need a wee? How does this happen? Sorry it's just I dread the thought of waking up, being desperate for wee and not making it, lol.
Hi there,
I've found these boards to be super helpful, so I hope they can be the same for you.
I had a different procedure than you, but hope my experiences can help.
When you are in recovery, definitely look into getting a knee walker or knee scooter. I don't know how available they are in the UK, but it is so much better than crutches, in my opinion. I found the first 2-3 weeks after the surgery are the hardest.
As for the bathroom question--there isn't reall a comfortable way to go until you get mobile on crutches, etc. In my accident, I hurt my back as well, so I wasn't allowed crutches, so immediatly following my surgery I would call for a nurse and use a bed pan, and then for a few days after I went home I was using one. I know there are other people on here who were able to have a bedside commode and swing there body out of bed just enough to sit on that and then get back into bed. You might be able to get by with that. The nurses are used to questions of that sort, so whatever YOU need to make it comfortable they should do.
Hope that intro information can help, write back and ask away if you need to! The people here are great.
Good luck Animal! I had to use a bed pan the first 2 days then when pain was a bit more manageable nurses helped me get to the lou on crutches. Initially after surgery while nerve block is in you should feel pretty good. When the nerve block wears off....get the drugs!!!! Practice relaxation breathing, it helped get me through between meds. You are lucky they are keeping you the 3 days! Some people get sent home the same day. I think that is insane, especially with this proceedure.
I think someone mentIoned they had a cathetar....a possibility. I didn't. Also, if you haven't had a bowel movement by day 3 ask for stool softener or laxative. The pain meds can cause constipation......but be careful with laxatives because getting to the lou in a hurry is a problem when you are home....ask my husband. : (
I wish you well....let us know how you are doing! People here understand. You will be resting and elevating while your daughter is at school....wait until someone is there to do anything else. Keep a cooler handy with icepacks, drinks or snacks...put drugs in one of those week long pill boxes so you can keep track of what pills you took and when. Enjoy a good book or movies....relaxing is nice at first but it does get old.
__________________
FDL to PTT transfer, calcaneal osteotomy with medial slide & lateral column lengthening, gastrocnemius recession, first TMT arthrodesis, bone graft from calcaneus to first TMT joint.....Oofda!
You can push a button and someone will come help you. Sometimes you may have a bedpan. I for one had a bedside commode that I could just scoot over from the bed to the toilet. The second day I was crutching to the bathroom but would call for help at night just because I was so highly medicated. That is in USA though. I don't know how things work over there in the UK.
Thanks guys
I have got to the point where I am starting to think I cannot go through with it!
It is keeping me awake all night, and I am tired all day at school the next day.
Don't seem to of got anything ready?
You'll be alright!!! It will take time but eventually you'll see that the little bit of discomfort now will be worth it in the long run.
I managed to get everything together (well my parent's did) in less than 36 hours with no prior planning. That included completely redesigning an office into a bedroom. So you have plenty have plenty of time to get things ready, and will have more time when you are in recovery.
Take some deep breaths. You got this!
The most important things (in my opinion) to have on hand before surgery (everything else can wait) is: stool softeners for the pain meds, a good book you've been meaning to read or a bunch of movies you've been meaning to watch, a bunch of pillows or a wedgy pillow to elevate on, and some ice packs.
Everything else can be acquired as needed.
Good luck!
Liz
The following user gives a hug of support to AdkLizard46: Animal1968 (12-09-2012)
Hi Animal, I'm having surgery, Chrisman-Snook, on Tuesday morning, so I totally understand your anxiety level, and I'm sure everyone here experienced the same anxiety levels prior to surgery. It's only natural. Don't think about backing out,,,,,,like the others have said,,,sooner done, sooner feeling better. you're going to be fine. I know your mind is thinking of all kinds of stuff,,,mine is too!! everyone here has been SOOOO helpful in sharing info and encouragement. You'll never get EVERYTHING done, but it's ok,,,you'll get the things done that are important. that's all that matters. We will all be here for you, we'll get through these surgeries, and we'll be here to discuss our recoveries! Good luck to you. jeannd
The following user gives a hug of support to Btrfli1: Animal1968 (12-09-2012)
Thank you everyone,
I am trying to be brave, should be ok during the day today, the kids at school keep me busy, it's the the nights that are not my friend, lol.
I know I have to go through with it, it is restricting my life so much already, btrfli1 hope everything goes well, and you are out and home soon.
Do you really think I will need a raised toilet seat? And for the bath do you think seat inside or seat bar that goes across top, is one better than the other??
I have a seat that sits in the bath. A bar seat across likely will work too. I didn't have a raised toilet seat. It probably would have been nice though. I got by just fine without it. Don't forget a cast cover for showering. A definite must. Good luck to you!
Animal, I didn't feel I needed toilet seat. I found, for me, I felt more stable bathing in the tub. I have hand held attachment for washing my hair.......don't know what would work better for you.
I didn't have a raised seat either. Just make sure you have things you can grab on to when you stand up.
I had a shower seat in my tub, since standing on one leg while holding on to a bar proved to be exhausting. I had a nice cast cover. I WISH(!) I had had a handheld shower head. It would have made life a lot simpler. Definietly look into one of those.
You'll be fine, keep breathing and soon it will be Friday and you'll be writing to us saying how sucessful the surgery was.
Animal, everyone's situation is different, as far as what ancillary equipment (covers, seats, etc). For me, it depends on how much help you'll have to take care of everyday needs, how stable you think you'll be on one foot, and what your dr recommends. Of course, I believe, recommendations of those here, who have lived through it, make the most sense!! My bathrooms are pretty roomy, so I have room to move easily, with the scooter, crutches, or a walker. plus to have a folding chair to sit in while drying, dressing, etc. You could always do a practice (try bathing, drying, dressing, with your bad foot outta the picture for support, to see how manageable it's gonna be for you. best wished for your surgery! jeanne
I had a calcaneal osteotomy among other things last week, and I have been very thankful to have a lot of help this past week. Pain wise, I was beyond surprised that the pain was very manageable for me, much, much better than what I was expecting. Until the nerve blocks wore off, I was not very comfortable moving around on my good foot, the fact that my leg felt so heavy and I couldn't feel it from the knee down I was really worried about hitting it on something and not knowing it, and it really was just difficult to move it. I used a walker to go to the bathroom the first few days, I found I could pull it up close to the toilet and really rely on it to get up and down. It wasn't easy, but I could do it. Now I'm comfortable going on crutches, but it took a few days to get there. My mom had a shower chair that I borrowed and my husband bought me a cast cover, so I was able to shower yesterday. It was soooo nice! It wasn't easy, and I wouldn't have been comfortable doing it without my husband helping me in and out of the shower (there's a small step into my shower I wasn't comfortable navigating on my own. I'd love to take a bath but my tub is one of the deep garden tubs and I can't figure out how I'd get in and out, even with my husband's help.
I will say, what I wasn't prepared for, despite reading it on here, is the exhaustion. The first night I felt like I was going to throw up getting from my living room to my bed - it's a short distance. I broke out in a sweat, I was nauseous, dizzy, it was awful. I was practically in tears. I am relatively young (in my 30s) and was relatively active prior to surgery, I can't imagine going through this as an older or less active person. But, it gets a little easier every day. I went to lunch with my family on Saturday, my first time navigating on crutches, and although I was exhausted when we got home, all in all it wasn't bad. My husband took me to lunch today, and I felt even better today and don't feel the overwhelming sense of exhaustion.
Sorry this is so long, guess I don't have antyhing else to do other than type right now!
Hi NC Girl, Wow,,,you're doing great!! Don't apologize for the length of your post,,,I found what you had to say interesting. Always good to hear from someone who is post surgery and feeling better each day. Glad to hear you were feeling well enough to get out of the house for a little while. I have a really hard time sitting still for too long and am easily bored. I know I'm gonna go stir crazy the first two weeks and am trying to plan accordingly with things to keep me busy. I have a deep, jetted tub in my master bath and found if I sat on the side, I could lower into the tub, while keeping the bad foot still on the edge. That's what worked for me. Also, dr ordered a knee scooter for me, which I hope won't be as tiring as the crutches and will provide a little more unassistance, once I get past the first few days. Hope you continue to feel better, but be careful not to overdo! Jeanne
The Following User Says Thank You to Btrfli1 For This Useful Post: ginger62 (12-10-2012)
Wow
How inspiring NCgirl96 what a brilliant recovery you are making?
Glad it it seems so positive, that's such good news.
Ok I am still anxious but coping, although the added risk is that at school we have a virus broke out, headaches temperature and sore throat, some with sickness, now paranoid I will get this and my surgery will be called off? Can you imagine getting so close and then being turned away ��
I have had a flu jab, so am hoping that this will help fight the germs. We had 25 % of our school off sick today, mind only a couple of the staff have been affected. I normally take vitamins and stuff, but hospital said I had to stop taking them a week before, has anyone else had to do this? I also have to stop one of my blood pressure tablets the day before?
Yes, I think I may suffer from cabin fever in the first few weeks, but have brought a new tv and a ps3 for my bedroom and so unmatched DVDs and books, and if I get really bored I will have my work laptop with me?
I hear you with the illness, there is so much going around right now and I was completely paranoid about getting sick before surgery, and I knew if I had to put it off I'd have to wait until after Christmas. But, all was good and I felt great!
The anxiety lessened for me the closer it got, which I know is kinda weird. By the morning of, I was really not very anxious at all, just ready to get it over with. I thought I would be a mess! I was somewhat anxious during all of the pre-op stuff, but once they started the sedation stuff, all was smooth sailing from there!
Oh Animal, You have to stay well!! The flu and all those airborne diseases sure spread quickly in schools. I'm certainly not medically trained, but I believe they wanted you off all the vitamins and supplements because they really don't know what binders might be used and how those binders might interact with meds they'll be giving you. Not sure about why to stop bp med. Am getting more anxious by the hour. Have to check in at hospital at 5:30 am. I know I won't be able to sleep tonight. I can't sleep if I'm worried or upset about something. I took "before" pictures of my ankle just to remind myself why I'm doing this!!! Severe swelling and constant pain. Am ready to do this and start healing. I hope all your upcoming surgeries go well and we'll be in touch! To those of you who are recovering, take care, continue to heal well and don't push yourselves too much. jeanne
I agree! You may want to double check about the BP medication. I was in pre-op before a knee surgery a while back and the guy on the other side of the curtain for me showed up for his surgery and had to cancel because he did not take his bp medication. His BP was too high to perform his surgery. I know they told me before my last surgery that I should take all necessary medication with limited amounts of water. I am not a doctor but you definitely should double check this.
Btrfli- Good luck! I will have you in my thoughts tomorrow.
~Kimberly
The Following User Says Thank You to LadyKanner For This Useful Post: Btrfli1 (12-10-2012)
Well, here we go, I am packed and ready for a good night sleep (yeah right)before tomorrow's surgery lol
Managed to miss all the bugs at school, really don't know how but, its a good thing, although late this afternoon i started with a headache, but i think that might be down to tension.
Checked medication and bp meds just to stop on morning of op, and only one of them.
Really nervous now, and when I left work tonight everyone was so nice it made me want to cry. My friend got me a card and came round and gave me a great big hug for tomorrow.
See you all on the other side xx
The following user gives a hug of support to Animal1968: Btrfli1 (12-12-2012)
Calcaneal osteotomy on Thursday 
