Day 12

It's is 12:52 am and I am up watching t.v. I had another bright idea last night after my eventful day the day before. It has to be the precocet. Yes let's blame it on the pills. Why not.
Anyway, I decided I wanted to sleep in my own bed and take a half bath in my bathroom. I'm so surprised Anthony agreed. Maybe he missed me being in bed with him? I don't know, but I'm sticking to that. He misses me and to be honest I miss him too. Downstairs is so lonely by myself. I just wanted to feel apart of my family again.
It was so delightful to be upstairs. I had not seen that upper floor in 10 days. It almost felt like I was coming back from out of town. Now the journey up those stairs were very exhausting. I think I stopped about two or three times. I was so surprised I made it. There are 16 step in all. So for me to make it without incident way very rewarding. My arms and legs were shaking by the time we got up there, but I made it.
It was so refreshing to be able to get a semi bath and change my clothes. I will say it was a little different sleeping in a bed that does not have the ability to elevate my feet. Can you say a tad bit spoiled? I had to go old fashion and get pillows. It worked well and I slept well. It was a joy to see my son's, Zaaye, face the next morning when he saw me in my bed.
So you may be wondering where did I decide to sleep last night? Downstairs! I did not have the energy to climb those stairs two days in a row. Thinking about it is making me tired and plus, it's like a mini move. I have to take all my stuff upstairs and my knee scooter. Well not me, but my poor husband and mom. It's a lot to ask of them. They are pretty much waiting on me hand and foot. I'm so grateful.
Until next time

Post Op appointment

All I have to say is OUCH! I went today to have my temporary splint & stitches removed. But let me rewind to getting to the appointment.
My appointment was scheduled for 4:20 pm. Unfortunately, I was about 10 minutes late due to my poor husband having to come from work 20 minutes away to pick me up and then drive another 30 mins to the doctor's office. When he finally made it to our house, I had this great idea to help speed up the process of getting to the doctor's by going down the six steps in the garage by myself. Can you say bad idea. I made it to the second to the last step and I swayed a little bit on my crutches and hit the bottom of my heel on the last step. I wasn't in pain but was in shock. Mad at myself for being so stupid to go down the stairs by myself. My husband, Anthony was so mad at me and I understood his anger. I cried & prayed the whole way to my appointment. I didn't know if I had undone everything my doctor had done 10 days prior or if I had a new injury. I think the fear of the unknown was the cause for my tears. 
After all that drama we made it to my appointment.
When the tech took my temporary splint off I was so amazed at how good my foot looked. It was not discolored or swollen at all. There was minimal blood. Anthony was shocked too. They did an X ray and surprisingly I did not do any damage with my foolishness. PRAISE GOD. Prayer works.  Removal of the stitches were another story. Let's just say again, OUCH! The calf removal was painless, but the two at the ankle were very painful. I did have to hold on to Anthony because I started getting lightheaded thanks to the Precocet I had taken an hour earlier on a almost empty stomach. On to the cast.

This was my very first cast ever and it was uneventful. I really didn't have that much pain when I had to put and keep my foot at a 90 degree angle. Anthony has video documented my little journey too and he said it took the tech about 10 minutes to put my cast on. That is pretty amazing to me.
I think from check in to check out we were there for about an hour and a half. Remember when I told about the Precocet I took prior to my appointment? Well it came back and bit me in the butt. Or should I say stomach. Nausea & vomiting is not a friend of mine. Especially, when it makes you become friends with a trash can in the lobby area. Thank goodness I was the last patient there and thank God for the receptionist who gave me a pretzel stick to settle my stomach.  Whew!
Now you would think after all of that a smart person would go home. Well I had the bright idea of going to Costco to pick up a couple of things. I am not making great decision today. Which I realized after the fact. Remember my unwanted friendship with nausea & vomiting that visited me at the doctor's office? Well they showed up at Costco along with an even bigger trash can friend. I am so thankful for Anthony, as I got acquainted with my new trash can friend, he blocked our meeting with his body and a 20 roll pack of Bounty paper towels. I just need to go home.
Home sweet home. I made it and will probably be here for a while. It's a jungle out there. Especially when you have one foot.
Until next time

Day 9

It's 1am in the morning and I am up watching my Denver Broncos play on the NFL network. We are playing the Los Angeles Rams. That just sounds weird to say. Right now the score is 17-9 with Denver in the lead. I'm feeling pretty good about the Broncos since Peyton Manning retiring last season. We look really good.  Yes I know it is pre season, but we still look good.
Anyway, I have not had any pain meds today, or yesterday I should say. Even after my little outing to get ice cream. I had some weird nerve pain, but it only last for about 15 seconds or so. Keeping my leg elevated is the key. Oh and ice. I think it has really helped with the swelling and me having minimal pain.
I even did my own sponge bath without help from my mom & husband. I was tired afterwards, but I felt a little independent. It was great.
Well I'm getting sleepy and starting to have a little ache in my heel, first time since surgery. I think I will take a Tylenol to be on the safe side.
Until next time

Day 8

I am currently in the car on my way to get ice cream. It was a challenge to get down six steps on crutches, but with my husband in front of me I felt pretty confident.
This is my first time out of the house in 7 days. With the air blowing on my face and thru my mini Afro, I feel pretty good. A little winded from my adventure down the steps, but good none the less pretty good.
Until next time

Day 7

It's been about two days since my last post. I'm doing pretty good. I have had some pain. I had to take two Percocets last night. I might have to call the doctor because everytime I take them I get a slight headache.
Anyway, I'm a little anxious about going to my post op appointment on Monday. I really want to see what my foot & leg looks like. My foot sometimes feels like its wet, but I don't think it's bleeding. It might just be the nerves again coming back. I also want to know what all he did. I was suppose to have a tarsal tunnel release, explore the posterior tibial tendon, gastro recession and right heel medial displacement calcaneal osteotomy. So it will be interesting to see if he had to do all of that. Monday we shall see.
Until next time.

Day 4

Today has been uneventful, except for not having a bowel movement. I know TMI. I did finally have one after taking a couple of laxatives.  I have to say that is the only real problem I am having. I just took a pain pill. The last time I had some was at 1130pm last night. I think the nerves are coming back to life. I have this feeling of when your foot falls asleep.
Other than that no pain since my nerve block wore off.
So you ask how can you have this major surgery and not have that much pain?
PRAYER!  Before my surgery I asked everyone that I know to pray that I have minimal pain and I believe God has answered my prayers and my friend's prayers. If you are reading this and are not a believer, just try it and see.
Well my husband just came in from work, so I'm going to spend a little time with him.
Til next time.

Day 3

Well I have to say that the pain is not that bad. I have been taking my pain meds every 4-6 hours. My biggest problem is the nausea from the pain meds. Other than that I'm doing pretty good.
My mom gave me a sponge bath yesterday and I have to say afterwards I felt like a new born baby. I am so thankful she is here.
I think the best investment was the bed. I can not imagine climbing those stairs. We also got a raised seat for the toilet.
Another good investment. I can't wait until my knee scooter comes in, my under arms are a little sore from the crutches.

Until next time. My meds are kicking in.

Day after Surgery

It's the day after surgery and so far so good. I stayed over night in the hospital and I'm glad I did. It is 6am and my foot, lower leg is starting to come back to life.

We (as in hubby, daughter, my mom, and me) arrived to the hospital yesterday @ 7am. We were taken up to my room around 8am and I was taken to the surgery holding room at 10am. An I.V was started and I was given a nice little I.V cocktail before the Dr. did a nerve block on my leg. After that all I remember is being back in my room with a huge bandage on my lower leg. I did get a little nauseous after drinking water, but not too bad. I was so happy to be able to order dinner and have my sweet husband feed me once it arrived.
The nurse advised me to start taking pain meds before my leg comes back to life. I have had two doses of Percocet. Two tablets each time. As I write this I can feel a little bit of throbbing on the right inside of my ankle.
Oh boy! Now the fun begins! NOT!

Game day Surgery day

Well it's 3am and I'm up and can't sleep. I have to be at the hospital at 7am. I'm hungry and a little nervous.  I think I will try to go back to sleep.

1 Day Pre-Op

Surgery day is getting closer.  I have one more day of work and then it is game day! Sorry I am a huge Denver Broncos fan.  I will miss Peyton Manning this year!
Anyway, my parents came in today.  I am so thankful.  I think my family and I can relax a little bit knowing that they are here.  I believe I am pretty prepared for this surgery the best I can.  I have arranged rides for my kids from school.  My son is in Marching band and their season just started.  I am pretty bummed that I will probably miss most of it.  I am a uniform mom and the band booster secretary.  So I'm hoping I will be able to at least make a couple of games and a competition.  I think my daughter will probably miss it the most.  She enjoys going to the football games seeing her brother play and seeing her friends outside of school.

In preparing for my surgery I decide to purchase a bed to have downstairs in my family room.  I have so many stairs leading up to my front door and going upstairs.  16 inside and about 12 outside and that's not counting the 5 leading into the house from the garage.
We thought about renting a hospital bed,but after finding out our insurance would not pay for it, we decided to look online at Wal-Mart.  Yes you read it right, Wal-Mart.  

It is called a Pragma Everyday Bed in a Box Wooden Slat Adjustable Bed Head & Foot Multiple sizes Twin XL for $235.  I ordered on Sunday and it came today. I also order a comforter set.  It should be in tomorrow or Friday.  The head and foot are not adjustable with a motor, but manual.  Which is okay with me.  It seems pretty sturdy and was easy set up.  No tools needed.  Oh and the mattress came with it.  I believe it is a 6" memory foam.  I have not tested it out yet because you have to wait 24 hours for the mattress to expand.  so I will let you know how it feels after my first night sleeping on it.

I still have a ton of things to do.  At least I think I do.  I have crutches, but I still need to order my knee scooter.  I'm thinking I might have to purchase one online from Amazon.  Well I will think about that tomorrow. Have a great night! 

After reading countless blogs about Calcaneal Osteotomy surgery, I decided to document my journey before, during and after my surgery. 

I went to my pre op appointment about 5 days ago and I have to say it made me a little nervous.  They asked me everything possible about my health, twice.  Then the nurse told me what the doctor's orders said what he is planning to do to my poor ankle and heel.  I would have put it in the title but it was do dang long.  The plan is to do a gastrocnemius recession.  Basically, cut the gastrocnemius tendon and lengthen it. OUCH!  Then he will explore my posterior tibial tendon. I guess to see if it needs to be repaired too.  He will also do a Tarsal Tunnel release to help release the nerve and relieve pain.  Now the biggie, Rt.  MDCO (Medial Displacement Calcaneal Ostestomy.  Moving my right heel over and putting in a plate.  To my understanding I will not be able to put weight on my poor ankle for about 6-8 weeks.  This is going to be very challenging, but I should be okay.  My parents are coming tomorrow and will be here until Sept. 7th.  Yay!  I will also have help from my wonderful husband, Anthony and my kids, Zaaye, 16 and Trinity, 11.  

I have so much to do between now and Friday that I am seeing double.  So until next time, be blessed.