Foot Operation - week 3

Being able to sit still just isn't something I can easily do. I'm so used to doing this, doing that, just running upstairs for something, driving there. The last few weeks have been a real challenge.
I returned to the nurse a couple more times to have my foot checked and happily everything seems to be looking good.
On Wednesday, two weeks after my op, I went along for the last time. This was a day I'd been really looking forward to because I could finally wash my foot! The instructions I'd been given were to only soak it for less than 5 minutes.
Until now I have been using something called 'Limbo'. One of my patients kindly lent it to me to use and it has been an absolute godsend. Basically it means I've been able to have a shower without getting my foot wet or having to wrap a plastic bag around it.



Anyway I was very excited that once I got home I could take off the dressing and I washed it in a bowl of warm salty water. Every morning since I have sat outside and done this, just dipping my foot in, keeping the actual cut out of the water but using pieces of cotton wool, dipped in the water, to gently clean some areas of my foot. I have then, sat with my feet up in the warm for at least an hour before applying a new, smaller dressing.






The foot is still quite swollen and a bit bruised but overall it's looking good. I have also started to not use the crutches so much around the house. It's mainly because its easier if I have to carry something.
My hubby has been an absolute star, doing all the cooking, cleaning etc which to be fair he does a lot of usually anyway but he has also driven me around places and had to listen to me saying, 'could you just.......?' more than once a day!
However after 2 weeks he has to return to sea so the last 4 days I have been looking after myself. Another reason why I need to be able to carry things.
I'm using the stairs ok now too. Shuffling up and down on my bottom was effective but not very elegant. I am careful though that I don't stand up or walk for too long as I am still not putting a lot of weight onto my big toe so a lot of weight transfers onto the outside of my foot and that can ache at times.
If I have been stood up or walking for too long my toe and side of my foot starts to hurt and I think, 'right, time to sit down and put my feet up'.
Hubby also made sure I wasn't too bored by bringing down a nice big basket of ironing.



I won't be able to drive for at least another couple of weeks or so I should imagine, which is annoying and frustrating but people have been very kind offering lifts to me, back and forth to the doctor mainly.
My own foot patients have all had their feet done before my op and a few that are due to be done in the next three weeks have agreed to come to my house and have their feet done instead of me visiting them at home. It will only be about 5 per week but it will be good to be busy.
I have also saved lots of mundane jobs, such as my tax form, to do whilst I'm housebound. So I'm sure I won't get too bored.

Foot operation - week 2

So one week after having my operation I have to visit the practice nurse at the doctors surgery. It's so they can have a look at it and redress it. I have been looking forward to seeing what my foot looks like and as the weather has been so hot it'll be nice to get a bit of fresh air to it too.

The nurse started by taking off the original dressing.



I was quite nervous about this because I remember when I had broken my finger a few years ago and had to visit the nurse for redressing. I always ended up in tears, it was so painful.
Luckily the dressing had not stuck so they came off easily.



The bruising round the ankle is from where the consultant put in one of the local anaesthetic injections! The yellow is the iodine!



Traces of the black pen used to remind the consultant which foot he was supposed to be operating on!
I wasn't surprised to see how bruised and swollen my toes were though. I was surprised at how long the cut in my toe was.



My toe had obviously been bleeding judging by the amount of dried blood which had gathered around my big toe. The nurse seemed quite pleased with it apart from a small area near the very top steri strip which looks a bit red and raw. So she has redressed the foot but I have had to make another appointment to go back on Friday to make sure it has not become infected.
Until then I have to rest it as much as possible which is easier said than done!

Foot operation - week 1

As a foot health practitioner you would think that I would have perfect feet.....wrong. I've always had odd shaped feet, inherited from my mother and grandmother. Neither of my big toes are straight.

Before - my strange shaped feet!

They've never caused me much hassle thankfully and I've always worn sensible shoes. I don't wear heels very often, just on special occasions.

Over the past year I have noticed that the toe on my left foot had moved so that it rested underneath the next toe slightly. The joint was also a bit uncomfortable at times too. 

Last summer I  wrote a post about my feet and what had  happened when I'd slipped down the stairs and landed heavily on my left foot.
This had resulted in a small piece of bone, being chipped from the joint and floating around so that when I walked my toe would randomly lock in position, leaving me cursing about the pain and hobbling until I could click the joint again into a comfortable position.
I was eventually referred to see a consultant and after more X-rays ( revealing the loose bone) it was agreed that I would have an operation on it to straighten the toe and remove the offending piece of bone.
Last Wednesday I drove to one of our local hospitals with hubby to have it done as a day surgery case under local anaesthetic.
The consultant came along and gave me the anaesthetic which hurt for a start! Slowly though my foot started to go numb, a bit like when you have a job done at the dentist.
Eventually the nurses came to wheel me into theatre and get me ready for my operation.
I watched as they applied an ankle tourniquet and then covered my foot in iodine.

The ankle tourniquet

After that they reclined me slightly and put up a small screen so that i couldn't see what was going on. The consultant came in and had another chat with me and then got on with the surgery whilst I wisely put my earplugs in, selected some cheerful music on my ipad and turned up the volume.
From time to time I could feel my leg moving and my foot being tugged but having no idea what was happening i just closed my eyes again and listened to my music.
After about 25 minutes I sensed that things were reaching a conclusion so turned off my technology and came back to the real world.
Right enough, after just 30 minutes I  was being wheeled back to the little room, where I was offered a drink. I had a cup of coffee, had a surgical stocking applied to my left leg and then was given a few boxes of painkillers to take home with me.
Next was a few sheets of paperwork, explaining what had been done, what exercises I should do, plus dressing for the doctors nurse next week. I could then get dressed again, before being given a quick lesson in how to use crutches. My hubby appeared and I was wheeled off to x-ray before being deposited safely in the car to go home.
My first night and the next day were not nice. The local anaesthetic wore off at about 0230 in the morning. I was in a lot of pain and although I took some painkillers, my foot was still hurting. I got up to go to the toilet and found I couldnt even put my foot to the floor without pain shooting right through me. I was trying to be as quiet as I could as I didnt want to wake hubby. He had a long day ahead of him, as he had to go to a meeting down on the south coast and i knew he had to get up at 0530 so didnt want to wake him beforehand. I was up again at 0445 and in the toilet again trying to cry quietly! Have you ever tried this? Its almost impossible!
Anyway I managed to sleep a bit more once he had left and then he called my mum and she came over to stay with me for the day. That was really nice and although I felt awful and in a lot of pain it was nice to have the company.
6 days on and today I went out for a little walk today which afterwards seems to perhpas have been a little too long! My foot has ached for the rest of the day. I have reduced the amount of tablets Im on however and tomorrow I go to the nurse to get my dressing  changed.
I hope to be able to see for the first time what my new look foot is like and take a photo! In the meantime I'm learning to sit down more and put my feet up and rest. Its not easy!!

Water Babies

Today I had quite an emotional experience. I can be emotional, don't get me wrong, I'm good at showing my feelings! But this was a feeling which took me quite by surprise.
My little step-granddaughter, who is now 17 months old, has been attending Water Babies since she was about 3 months old. Emma, her mum takes her and we've been to a class and watched as she has splashed about, happy to be dunked underwater, and admired some wonderful photos of her underwater too.
Water Babies is a concept which was started about 10 years ago by a couple who enjoyed swimming with their young children. The main aim is to teach parents how to teach their children to swim and enjoy the water. At such a young age babies are able to control their breath underwater which is quite a strange thing to get your head round but a wonderful thing.

A few months ago a newly pregnant Emma asked if I would be prepared to come along to Water Babies and take Baby No2 swimming. After all how would she juggle two swimming babies? Of course I said yes, I'd love to.
Well today was that day. Me and the little man, we had our first swimming lesson together. So what you may say. Well if I told you that it was the first time we had met each other because he was only born 5 days ago perhaps you may understand my excitement/trepidation/emotion.

He was sleeping when we met, in fact, he slept through his sisters swimming lesson, he slept while his mum was trying to feed him and when she changed him into what seemed like a massive swimming suit!
He slept when I handed him to the instructor as she demonstrated how to safely get baby and yourself into the pool. He slept when I gently wet his face, when we 'splish splashed' around the pool and he even slept when he got his first underwater experience.
Basically he slept from start to finish, I was relieved to say the least because I was so worried he would start crying and then what? Oh yes, try to get him to stop.

I should just point out here that I am not the maternal sort. I never have been really, children were never really my thing, nor did I desire any of my own. When I met my husband, I did think it would be nice to try and have a family of our own. However one vasectomy reversal and two IVF treatments later, it hasn't happened and to be honest I'm quite glad. I'm quite a selfish person really, I like my tidy house, I like being able to do things when I want to and hubby and I enjoy ourselves with the grandchildren! Our dog is our baby I suppose and she does as she is told so we're happy.
I never had young children around me before they came along so I've sort of learnt what to do along with their parents really. I love them to bits, I enjoy showing them things, playing with them. However I can honestly say it hasn't made me regret not having my own!

Today however I almost floated home. my head was filled with the extraordinary experience I had just had. I felt extremely privileged and honoured that Emma and her partner had asked me to be the one to take their precious son swimming. I thank them for giving me that wonderful experience which I will treasure forever. And every week me and the little man will improve our swimming together. I can't wait.



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Time to spare

It's amazing how time flies. We've had Easter, jumped into British Summer time and I realise I haven't posted since January.
Where has the time gone, what has been going on?
You would perhaps suppose that big important events have occurred to mean I haven't had time to spare.
Well we've had a couple of mini breaks away, I've done a successful talk, I've worked, we've been to watch a comedian do his stuff, been sledging, I've met up with friends I haven't seen for ages, (in one case 9years) and I've kept a couple of medical appointments. In summary, life has happened!

My literary juices will no doubt flow again soon :)

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