So one week has passed since I had my 6th surgery and I'm in alot of pain. Which is very odd because I haven't had alot of pain from Friday thru Monday. I got a new prescription for pain meds on Friday and only had to take one pill and that was on Saturday. I didn't like how it made me feel all wigged out and all. So I just went to taking one pill at bedtime and that seemed to be working fine until last night.
I had a good day yesterday. I felt great even if I was bored to death. I broke my day up into getting the kids off to school followed by a little bit of computer time then I took a nap. When I awoke I got me some lunch and did needlepoint in bed for 3 hours. It was time to move on out of the bedroom and into the den until time to pick up kids from school. Courtney helped with making dinner and it was soooooo gooooood!!!!! Everything was going good until some of my family members decided not to use common sense to do things that needed to be done without being asked/told to do them. (That really pisses me off when they act like that!!!) So I believe it was that inconsiderateness of my family that set me spiraling back into the pit of pain I had worked so hard to get out of.
I went to bed with my standard one pill and tried to go to sleep. I slept some but the pain kept mounting. It felt like my leg/foot was swelling so much that the splint/cast was cutting of circulation. I'd wake up to get the pillows fixed to keep my let propped up. I had to give in and take another pill in the middle of the night. Still that didn't really give much relief besides helping to fall asleep and stay asleep until time to start the day. I was OK during the day and in the afternoon the pain came back with a vengeance!!! I've had to take 2 pills at one time at 5PM. It's almost an hour and a half later and I don't have much relief. My head is feeling really loopy. I don't like what these pain meds do to me.
Let's hope tomorrow is a better day....
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
A Few Days Later...
I've been doing OK these last few days. Besides the obvious pain in my ankle I have found out that I am allergic to Percocet. I have been ITCHY ever since I started taking those pills. Luckily, I don't have a rash (that I know of). I called the doctor's office today to see if I could get a different pain medication called in. So we will see....
I have been surprised that the majority of my pain has felt like it is in my heel. It would get to throbbing/aching so bad, I couldn't handle it. I've had minor pain where I know the doctor made his cuts but the heel is just awful.
I'm getting new medicine. YAY! Me!
I have been surprised that the majority of my pain has felt like it is in my heel. It would get to throbbing/aching so bad, I couldn't handle it. I've had minor pain where I know the doctor made his cuts but the heel is just awful.
I'm getting new medicine. YAY! Me!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
The 6th Surgery is Done!
I am so glad that this day is coming to an end and I am home and clear headed. Seriously, I have felt awful ever since waking up in recovery until 8PM tonight.
The day started at 5AM. I made sure both legs were thoroughly shaved. I even used a new razor. See, I learned my lesson back in '07 on just how hairy your leg gets when it's all wrapped up. Anyway, I.B. and I leave for the hospital (Outpatient Surgery Building).
I have to say that the staff at the USF Morisani Center is awesome!! I didn't have to wait at all just check in and BAM! they take me back to tee-tee in a cup!!! It hurt pretty bad getting my IV but those things are never pleasant to get. I had to put on a Support Hose on my Right Leg. So it didn't matter if that leg had be recently shaved. The Anesthesiologist comes in asking me if I was going to get a Nerve Block. I was like...I don't remember Dr. Shereff mentioning that. In the end, I got a Nerve Block behind my left knee. Oh, I forgot to mention that I had to lay on my stomach for that and I had to be heavily sedated. So after that point, I was a little loopy. I remember Dr. Shereff coming in and marking my left leg to cut on. I asked for the screws and bone chunk to be given to me BUT, unfortunately, I could not have them. :( That's about the last I remember BEFORE surgery.
AFTER surgery....Ugh!!!! I had that anesthesiology smell/taste in my nose and mouth, my head hurt, and I was just not feeling good. I couldn't wake up. It took a long time for me to get awake enough to be moved to the awake area of recovery. I had to be given that nausea medicine thru my IV before I could transfer beds. I was soooooo light headed. I got to get my long shorts on during the transfer. The nurses gave me a Diet Coke to help with my stomach. It tasted funny but it was cold and wet and that is all I cared about. I think that I.B. has come in by this time. I remember him being loud but I could have just been dreaming that because he is naturally loud.
So Dr. Shereff finally came by to talk to us. He said I have a 90 yr old Arthritic Ankle. He said that it was a very trashed up ankle. He was able to remove BOTH large deck screws!!! He also removed the large bone chunk and bone spurs and the floating cartilage that was doing no good. I have an Ankle Joint Space now!!! He believes that I should get 20-30% of my motion back i.e. I should be able to move my ankle joint to bring my foot up towards my leg.
More later...
The day started at 5AM. I made sure both legs were thoroughly shaved. I even used a new razor. See, I learned my lesson back in '07 on just how hairy your leg gets when it's all wrapped up. Anyway, I.B. and I leave for the hospital (Outpatient Surgery Building).
I have to say that the staff at the USF Morisani Center is awesome!! I didn't have to wait at all just check in and BAM! they take me back to tee-tee in a cup!!! It hurt pretty bad getting my IV but those things are never pleasant to get. I had to put on a Support Hose on my Right Leg. So it didn't matter if that leg had be recently shaved. The Anesthesiologist comes in asking me if I was going to get a Nerve Block. I was like...I don't remember Dr. Shereff mentioning that. In the end, I got a Nerve Block behind my left knee. Oh, I forgot to mention that I had to lay on my stomach for that and I had to be heavily sedated. So after that point, I was a little loopy. I remember Dr. Shereff coming in and marking my left leg to cut on. I asked for the screws and bone chunk to be given to me BUT, unfortunately, I could not have them. :( That's about the last I remember BEFORE surgery.
AFTER surgery....Ugh!!!! I had that anesthesiology smell/taste in my nose and mouth, my head hurt, and I was just not feeling good. I couldn't wake up. It took a long time for me to get awake enough to be moved to the awake area of recovery. I had to be given that nausea medicine thru my IV before I could transfer beds. I was soooooo light headed. I got to get my long shorts on during the transfer. The nurses gave me a Diet Coke to help with my stomach. It tasted funny but it was cold and wet and that is all I cared about. I think that I.B. has come in by this time. I remember him being loud but I could have just been dreaming that because he is naturally loud.
So Dr. Shereff finally came by to talk to us. He said I have a 90 yr old Arthritic Ankle. He said that it was a very trashed up ankle. He was able to remove BOTH large deck screws!!! He also removed the large bone chunk and bone spurs and the floating cartilage that was doing no good. I have an Ankle Joint Space now!!! He believes that I should get 20-30% of my motion back i.e. I should be able to move my ankle joint to bring my foot up towards my leg.
More later...
Monday, January 18, 2010
The Day Before the 6th Surgery
The countdown has begun. I've got 24 hours to go until surgery time tomorrow. I'm not ready for it.
I've been experiencing more pain on the outer front side of my ankle since I've decided to go thru with this surgery. Also, the screw head has seemed to come out even further. It is most annoying to try to lay on my side with my ankles touching each other. Hopefully, that will be more comfortable once I am healed from this surgery.
I imagine I will be taking Trixie out all 3-4 times she needs to go today. I've got a few more loads of laundry to do. And most important...I've got Cowboy Spaghetti to make for "linner" (that's a late lunch early dinner word...the kids came up with that!) I hope that I remember to get a picture or two of my ankle before surgery.
I've got lots to do.....more later.
I've been experiencing more pain on the outer front side of my ankle since I've decided to go thru with this surgery. Also, the screw head has seemed to come out even further. It is most annoying to try to lay on my side with my ankles touching each other. Hopefully, that will be more comfortable once I am healed from this surgery.
I imagine I will be taking Trixie out all 3-4 times she needs to go today. I've got a few more loads of laundry to do. And most important...I've got Cowboy Spaghetti to make for "linner" (that's a late lunch early dinner word...the kids came up with that!) I hope that I remember to get a picture or two of my ankle before surgery.
I've got lots to do.....more later.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
I'm back....2010
I know that it has been a LONG time since I last posted. OOPS!!!
I'd like to use this blog more of as a journal for myself. If you all find it entertaining that's even better.
So, an update on my ankle situation, since that is what I like to post about. I finally went to an Orthopedic/Ankle Doc on March 17, 2009. He took ALOT of X-rays. I mean ALOT!!! He even did a CT scan. The result of it was Ankle Fusion. That was all he could do for me. I was like "No Thank You" and went on with life until August 2009, that's when I could not walk without crutches or cane. It was BAD!! I would be in tears from just trying to walk Trixie. I called that Doc up to get at least a Handicap hang tag and another appointment. This appointment the office assumed would be to discuss the Ankle Fusion surgery. I still didn't want to do that.
Time goes on. I get my handicap parking and I use my cane or crutches as needed. I had ALOT of people telling me to get a 2nd opinion and go to a Sports Medicine doctor. So I did. That was one of the BEST decisions I have ever made. My first appointment with Dr. Sheriff was September 14, 2009. He gave me soooooo many options instead of Ankle Fusion. He gave in shoe inserts, an air cast brace, and put me on Mobic. He also wanted to give me a Cortisone shot while I was under anesthesia. (Surgery #5) We did that on September 22, 2009. That was the best shot ever!! I was able to get up and walk bare foot without a limp!!! Of course, the Novicane helped alot at that point. Anyway, the shot worked pretty good over all. I had nearly a full week of NO pain. After that week, the pain was much more tolerable especially since I was taking Mobic.
I went back on November 4, 2009 to check how life was going. We re-evaluated the pain issue and at that point the screw on the inside of my ankle was the most bothersome hardware I had inside me. It has been trying to work it's way at since 6 months after it was put in!! Also, the 2 large bone chunks, 1 in front and 1 in the back, hinder my mobility of my ankle. (mostly the one in the front). So we left it at continue as I had been and come back after the holidays.
So, that brings me up to today's visit. I've decided to have surgery again. This time Dr. Sheriff will be removing the screw from the inside of my ankle and to remove the large bone chunk in front. If the other long screw is viewable at that time he will remove that also. This surgery is scheduled for January 19th.
We discussed that these 2 bone chunks are probably the result of the original doctor using "bone mesh" to try to clean up the mess that I made of my ankle when I fell off the step-ladder. We also discussed maybe one day (when insurance would cover it) of trying an injectable synovial fluid. I did find out that the brace I wear is for the arthritis and comfort. I have found that I do not begin the day without putting it on along with my shoes. There is no more going barefoot for me. Hopefully, this upcoming surgery will help me get back to walking comfortably without shoes.
I'd like to use this blog more of as a journal for myself. If you all find it entertaining that's even better.
So, an update on my ankle situation, since that is what I like to post about. I finally went to an Orthopedic/Ankle Doc on March 17, 2009. He took ALOT of X-rays. I mean ALOT!!! He even did a CT scan. The result of it was Ankle Fusion. That was all he could do for me. I was like "No Thank You" and went on with life until August 2009, that's when I could not walk without crutches or cane. It was BAD!! I would be in tears from just trying to walk Trixie. I called that Doc up to get at least a Handicap hang tag and another appointment. This appointment the office assumed would be to discuss the Ankle Fusion surgery. I still didn't want to do that.
Time goes on. I get my handicap parking and I use my cane or crutches as needed. I had ALOT of people telling me to get a 2nd opinion and go to a Sports Medicine doctor. So I did. That was one of the BEST decisions I have ever made. My first appointment with Dr. Sheriff was September 14, 2009. He gave me soooooo many options instead of Ankle Fusion. He gave in shoe inserts, an air cast brace, and put me on Mobic. He also wanted to give me a Cortisone shot while I was under anesthesia. (Surgery #5) We did that on September 22, 2009. That was the best shot ever!! I was able to get up and walk bare foot without a limp!!! Of course, the Novicane helped alot at that point. Anyway, the shot worked pretty good over all. I had nearly a full week of NO pain. After that week, the pain was much more tolerable especially since I was taking Mobic.
I went back on November 4, 2009 to check how life was going. We re-evaluated the pain issue and at that point the screw on the inside of my ankle was the most bothersome hardware I had inside me. It has been trying to work it's way at since 6 months after it was put in!! Also, the 2 large bone chunks, 1 in front and 1 in the back, hinder my mobility of my ankle. (mostly the one in the front). So we left it at continue as I had been and come back after the holidays.
So, that brings me up to today's visit. I've decided to have surgery again. This time Dr. Sheriff will be removing the screw from the inside of my ankle and to remove the large bone chunk in front. If the other long screw is viewable at that time he will remove that also. This surgery is scheduled for January 19th.
We discussed that these 2 bone chunks are probably the result of the original doctor using "bone mesh" to try to clean up the mess that I made of my ankle when I fell off the step-ladder. We also discussed maybe one day (when insurance would cover it) of trying an injectable synovial fluid. I did find out that the brace I wear is for the arthritis and comfort. I have found that I do not begin the day without putting it on along with my shoes. There is no more going barefoot for me. Hopefully, this upcoming surgery will help me get back to walking comfortably without shoes.
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