funionectomy

before you begin reading, know that credit for today's clever title goes to will : )

nine days ago i had a bunionectomy on my right foot.  there are tons of different ways to have a bunionectomy done, depending on what you really need and your doctor.  in my case the real issue has been my tailor's bunions - on the outsides of my feet.  bursae (fluid/tissue sacs) had formed (years ago, really) over/outside each of the bunions.  the bumps caused by the bursae could range anywhere from no pain to inflamed, irritated, etc - especially if kicked or bumped into.  the bunions also caused my pinky toes to have pain/discomfort and be shoved over onto the next toes in, also causing them some discomfort at times.  of course these things were all affected by different shoes, situations, etc.

i first noticed pain/discomfort my freshman year of college - i don't know if i was walking more or if it was just time....  a podiatrist in provo was able to make me custom orthotics which i have worn pretty faithfully (shoes allowing : ) since that time.  he told me then that the extra arch support would take pressure off the tailor's bunions reducing irritation and slow down the movement of the bone outward.  the orthotics couldn't fix the bunions, but they could slow them down.

fast forward over the years... we like to run and between that, trekking across campus, days at disneyland, long days on my feet teaching, etc i've had some pretty painful days, and days that it really didn't seem like that big of a deal.  i've had tender blood blisters form over the bursae.  and i've had a heck of a time finding shoes that fit onto my    w  i  d  e    feet.  (like around the widest part of the diamond shaped foot that i though everyone had... hehe : )

i had friends (freshman year) who nicknamed at least one of them "paul"..... as in "paul bunion".... hahahahaha : )

so anyway... it's been somewhat of an issue for a while.  even a year and a half ago before we'd started any fertility treatments we figured that the fertility stuff was a higher medical priority for our time, attention, etc than my feet.  so it got put off... and got put off... and got put off... it was always just something we talked about getting "fixed" in the future.  when we decided that it was the right time for us to stop fertility treatments for a while and pursue adoption we knew that we'd also move on in our little compartmentalized medical minds and give time, money, and attention to my feet.  i, of course, had to start with the "regular" doctor to get my referral, then the first podiatrist who was transferring to SF in a couple months and wouldn't really be able to help me (so why are you taking appointments like mine still???).  i had to kinda start over with the podiatry department, but that is how i got matched up with my current podiatrist - who is a byu grad and in our stake!  from the very beginning i felt like he listened, cared, and wanted to take the time to explain things and what he thought was best.

we decided to move ahead with the procedure.  not only did we want to solve the discomfort, but this is an ideal time in my life to have it done (no kids, and summer - no teaching).  originally it was scheduled for later in june.  i was really hoping to do it asap after the school year ended, but those surgery dates (limited) were already taken... sigh.... so i had to settle for june 20.  it was going to have to do - and certainly better than anything in july or later.  i did have the scheduler put me down on her "waiting list" in case someone cancelled earlier in the month, but i started planning that i'd have 3 weeks or so after school got out to get things done and prepare projects for myself for while i was recovering....

well, as part of our mayzilla (post still coming....) i got a call in the second to last week of school, must have been tuesday the 21st, saying someone had cancelled and if i wanted i could move up to may 30.  that's right: 9 days away and the very next thursday (the 30th).  preschool was scheduled to end wednesday evening with graduation, and my last day at the elementary was supposed to be friday the 31st.  well, i'm losing that job due to lack of funding, and had two sick days still anyway, so my last day at the elementary became wednesday the 29th : )  and it just worked out so nicely with preschool...

the only other things it kind of affected were this morning's church cleaning assignment (way to represent, will : ), some young women camp things (which worked out since everyone just came on over : ), and the upcoming cub scout day camp... now instead of missing the last day (the 20th) i can be at all the days... just casted and with crutches now... : )

sooooo throughout that week i had all sorts of calls to get me pre-registered and prepared.  they've got to ask all sorts of things.. just in case... you know?  i also had a call with the doctor going over what we'd be doing in which he instructed me to start taking some supplemental vitamin d3.  an hour or so later i got a call from the doctor who was to prepare me for the anesthesia.  after all his other questions, etc (and computer issues : ) he tells me to stop taking anything like ibuprofen and any vitamins.  ok, got it.  then i debrief will.  (know when you read the may post that this was all going on during the marathon comcast installation visit and right after the sears delivery.)  and will points out: all vitamins except for d3, right?  and i was like.... ohhhh.... i guess i forgot to say anything!!  sighhhhh.... well i didn't know how much my life was at stake at this point so i HAVE to call the anesthesia doctor back... i have to leave a message with some girl, but he did call back before too long.  and the once fairly nice (and so appreciative of teachers!!) doc suddenly seemed very annoyed that i needed clarification.  well.... hello... one doctor tells me take this, and the other tells me don't take that (in general terms).  so which is it?  i don't want to die over vitamin d3, people!!  so since it seemed so important that i not be taking anything in that week leading up to the surgery i wanted to know if i should be taking it or not!  i mean, right?? : )  the convo went something like this...... me: i know you said to stop taking all vitamins and supplements, but my husband pointed out to me that dr. L told me to start taking vitamin d3, and that seemed to go against what you said.... him: well did he tell you to take it?  me: well, yes. him: then do it.  me: oh..... ok..... well i just wanted to check and make sure it wouldn't mess anything up! (and i told him specifically what and how much daily) him: it should be fine (sounding like he really wanted to be off the phone). me: ok.... thanks..... ???  sighhhhh so i dutifully started taking the stuff, but naturally with a worry in the back of my mind... don't worry... i made it out!!

thursday came and we went over to the hospital it was at and got checked in (the bracelet part : ).  i went in for some pre-op stuff then ended up waiting a few hours just hanging out on my fancy rolly bed in my gown and lovely socks.  at some point the doctor came and marked on my foot.  every step of the way (and then some) they reviewed my name, medical record number, what i was there for, and which foot!!  that always caused some excitement with every nurse, etc because they all had to explain to each other that while the stuff said left foot (cause they made me pick one when i got my referral and i decided later to "fix" my right foot first for driving reasons) it REALLY was my right foot!!  that had been decided long ago, though... the doctor knew when he called the week before that we were doing the right foot... so i really wasn't worried about him slicing into the wrong foot.  even after he marked it they washed and prepped it and wrapped it up in special things so it was clear (though a couple people wanted to peek in to be sure... ha : )  the other foot just had the tan socks (both) with the white zigzag grippy stuff (for which i was really grateful later!).

i had to hang out with the iv in for at least an hour, too, but i guess that gave me time to get used to it.  but then the time came for me to miraculously (after all that had been done) go the the bathroom once more (iv hook and sock stretched over my coverings), kiss will, and start getting my drowsy/happy juice! : )  i do remember being wheeled into the OR and scooting myself off my rolly bed and onto the operating table.  and i do remember another name, #, foot, etc check.  then they put the mask thing on me and i breathed the oxygen for a little bit, but i'm thinking when it was time, it didn't take long for me to be out!  (sorry if this makes anyone woozy...)

the next thing i knew (kinda) i was waking up, back in "recovery."  i say "kinda" because it really was a super weird sensation to wake up there and try to figure out where i was and what was going on.  i wasn't in any pain, of course, just felt really dazed and sleepy. (oh, i guess i did feel pressure in my foot.)  i think i also felt a little like i wanted the mask off and i wanted to get up/out of there.  i don't know how long i slipped in and out of sleepiness (or whatever it really was : )  but at some point i started getting in "trouble" : ) if i wasn't breathing enough (? deep enough?  i can't remember)  but i had the mask on still and if i let myself start to slip back out and my breathing slowed then something would start to beep and the nurse would call something over about breathing... : )  i also remember some lady coming in with stuff to xray my foot as i laid there.  i heard them talking about will having gone to get the meds, and eventually he showed up.  they also informed me that someone in the OR (whatever her technical title would be) accidentally got stuck with a needle that had been used on me..... oops?  so they had to do a blood draw on me to test for things like HIV and to make sure i wasn't going to get her sick.... at that point i'd done enough stuff (and i've done enough blood tests for fertility stuff, including my most recent pregnancy test a couple days before so they'd let me in that day - though, really people, i could have told you that wasn't necessary.. : )  (though it was a nice fantasy, huh? : )  so it really wasn't that big of a deal... i just left the hospital bandaged up on both my right arm and my left hand (iv).  (good thing it worked out that way with the sides because they can find a vein way easier on my right arm... in case you ever need to know : )

at some point i think i realized that i felt like i had an anchor attached to my foot.  i was also having some occasional nausea... so when they asked if i wanted to go to the bathroom before i left i said no.  because that really was about last on my list... : )  i must have started having little shoots of pain somewhere in there, too.  but they equipped us with little blue plastic barf bag things (with a plastic circle at the top) and several additional ice bags.  somewhere in there will started to feel a little woozy, too and asked if he could sit down.  they hurried to get him a chair and an apple juice box : )  i really can't remember how i got into the wheelchair... maybe i used the crutches?  but she wheeled me out to the drive thru place and will brought the car over.  by some miracle i made it in and was able to get my foot somewhat up on something - i was in the backseat.  i was pretty nauseous and tired all the way home.  i think i fell asleep...

at our new house we park on gravel.  well, i made it out of the car and into the wheelchair, but we couldn't make it move across the gravel.  plus, we're amateurs.. : )  so somehow i had the strength to crutch over to the ramp and then i could sit in the wheelchair to go inside.  how convenient that our little home was originally for someone's parents and has a ramp up to the front porch : )  will helped me get all settled in bed with a stack of pillows under my foot and my ice.  can't remember the first night, but they recommended freezing water in a 2 liter bottle and putting that in the bend of my knee.  it works really well!  they didn't say to, but they iced the shin/ankle with ice at the hospital, so we've been doing that at home, too. will spoon fed me some applesauce (i hadn't eaten or drank all day and it was 8:30 by the time we got home) and i had some saltines.  i got a cup of water with a crazy straw : )  we called my parents (who had requested), i took some of the big guns meds, and slept the night away!!

while i could justify the strong pain meds i enjoyed the side effect of drowsiness and took naps throughout the day.  it helped pass the time and if i was asleep, nothing hurt.  i was supposed to be weaning myself off them when i could and onto tylenol (or the store brand with the same active ingredient : ).  i was happy that i could do that since it meant i wasn't hurting so much, but i did miss my naps going away.... that and my ability to sleep through the night!

sooooo my friends.... since that eventful thursday 9 days ago it's been a whirlwind of fun and excitement around here!!  not.

less naps and less sleep at night means more hours to entertain myself each day.... i can be lazy and enjoy associated activities... for a while.  but it gets old pretty fast when you HAVE to and have to keep your foot above your heart (they said better to aim for nose level..... wah).  that's just a lot of laying down...  and every time you get up you have pressure/throbbing/pain in your foot - though it's declined.  i can get myself to the bathroom and i can get a drink refill or food.  BUT using crutches (with your non-dominant foot, no less) wears a girl out!  at least this one... : )  however, i can appreciate that the extra time it takes me to do things does take time.  and the extra effort can help tire me out for the night.  but have you ever tried to use crutches and carry anything?  yeah... not gonna happen... : )  i've also learned about the aches and stiffness i'd get by being in weird positions night and day for so long...

so i'm not sure if it's my lower back pain (driving me crazy), or just not using up enough energy on the couch that's been waking me up at night, but i haven't slept through the night in dayssssss.  some nights have been worse than others.  and i've usually been able to fall back asleep for a little bit after will leaves and gets me situated.  but this morning, for example... i woke up at about 5:20 (the latest in days as well) and couldn't fall back asleep... one could argue that i didn't try hard enough, but i really was just awake - and that darn lower back pressure i get from having my foot up... : (  so i laid there for 3 hours entertaining myself until will woke up after snoozing his alarm a few times... : )

in all seriousness, it really has been tough.  i knew i wasn't nervous for the actual procedure.  i trusted the doctor and had confidence in him and i knew i'd be out : )  and the night before will and one of our home teachers gave me a blessing.  it was the recovery time that i was more unsure about and dreading the thought of.  honestly, i was right to be scared : )  it's been some of the longest 9 days of my life!  i know there are lots of ways to make 9 days or 9 hours or even 9 seconds feel long, but i'm dyin' here!  within the last day or two, though, i thought of the quote that president monson used in his talk given at the 2012 general young women meeting, "believe, obey, endure": "life by the yard is hard, by the inch it's a cinch."  keep that in mind : )

so to entertain myself i do things like write suuuuuuuuuuuper long blog posts that no one can get through without a snack and a bathroom break, i spend loooots of time checking up on facebook and being much more active than usual : ), i write emails that need written, i read (scriptures and harry potter, mostly), i watch/listen to conference talks, i watch movies, i eat and make my necessary trips around the house, and my favorite is talking to family members on the phone : )  i don't know if that's an all-inclusive list or not sometimes i just lay here and do nothing.... except think : ).  i've also had the "humanitarian hut" crew come over to work on stuff for young women's camp a couple of mornings in the last week which has been a nice way to break things up AND have human interaction! ha : )  i have been indoors for the last 9 days, but i've had some glimpses out the front door when i've answered it a few times.

my favorite pastime of all can have it's own paragraph: taking a shower!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  they didn't give specific instructions, but due to the effort and energy it takes me and the effort and energy it takes for will to tape up my leg (because this splint goes up to my knee!) in a towel and then a plastic bag, i've only been showering every 3 days... gross, i know : )  as it's been getting hotter, i've been getting smellier... : )  lucky for us we've got those seat things in our shower AND a fancy shower head that can come off and has a hose so you can maneuver it!!!! (very much like the one at the blind school we used to fight over!! : )  so those two things REALLY help.  it's so satisfying : )  i really love shower day and am thrilled to report that TODAY is shower day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (good thing, too, because it's 100 degrees here right now.... : )

i guess i didn't explain what they ended up doing for me... warning, this may be a bit graphic for some of you and/or cause sympathy pains... : )  dr. L decided that it was worthwhile to "fix" my minor "regular" bunion at the same time.  my big toes also angle in - i thought everyone's did... : )  maybe one caused the other?  anyway... so while some people just have parts of bone shaved off for a bunionectomy, mine was a little more.... bold?  my first and fifth metatarsals got cut and then realigned. they're held in place by screws now.  additionally, to fix that crooked big toe, he was "possibly" planning to straighten that out, which i imagine would take another bone cut, or something like that.  and based on where i've had some pain, i think he must have cut up that far and done that.  so really, it's like i got my foot broken in a couple/few places... and now i need it to heal in the right places.... : )  AND he was able to take the bursa out!!!  the doctor told us that it all went well and the xrays looked great!  he also reported that my foot is a lot skinnier now... hallelujah : )

so yes, i'm in a splint for now.  my follow up appointment is thursday the 13th.  i'm really living for that day because i'm pretty sure i can have my foot down after that which will open the world back up to me!!!!!!!!!!!  i'll just need you all to drive me everywhere : )  at that appointment i think i've been told that i'll get put in a cast... we'll see.  it will probably be heavier.... but i like to dream that it will be a little lighter than this anchor i've been lugging around!

i've got big plans for after the 13th!  i'm in charge of the "tag-alongs" at cub scout day camp again this year (i'm listed as the director in the volunteer handbook : )  so i've been working on my fun plans for those kiddos and doing other prep for that...

and it's summer!!  i can't let this thing slow me down!  well, until after the 13th at least : )

until then.... entertain me!!!!!!!!!!! : )