My feet have bothered me for many years. They were bad enough that they were having a severe negative impact on the activities in which I participate–or don’t participate in lately. I’ve written about seeing the podiatrist, Dr Dave. Yesterday, he worked on my right foot.
My foot before surgery.
Yesterday, Dr Dave performed a bunionectomy on my right foot. The surgery had originally been scheduled for 2 PM. The hospital called a few days ago to say that the time had been moved to 1:30. Excellent.
Sylvia took me to the hospital and we arrived at 11:30 as we were instructed to do. After a bit of paperwork, we were directed to the waiting room while they prepped a room in out-patient surgery for me. Twenty minutes later we were taken to the room by a short nurse with a heavy accent. I asked about the accent.
She replied, “What do you think it is?” “Spanish,” I answered.
She literally froze in her tracks and her mouth dropped open. “You are the first to correctly identify it.” She is originally from Columbia and married a missionary from the USA. She was astonished that we speak Spanish and had lived in Ecuador. The rest of our business with Marta was conducted in Spanish.
Lesley was the next nurse to visit us and started by telling us how excited Marta was that we speak Spanish. This led to a lot more talk of languages. Lesley has a German immigrant grandfather.
After that Nurse Deb came by. She has to be Lin’s sister by a different mother. The way she talked, looked, did her hair and a killer sense of humor gave it away. She delighted in teasing me about being on a pre-surgery fast.
The anesthesiologist stopped by to confirm his paperwork. A bit later Dr Dave stopped in and reported that the hospital was behind schedule. (No doubt someone had some complications and it took longer than the estimated time.)
It was after 3 PM by the time the OR was ready and they came to wheel me away. Next thing that I knew I was back in the room. I don’t remember being in recovery. When I asked Sylvia a question she smiled and answered. I said, “I asked that before, didn’t I?” She confirmed that I had and that we had been talking together for about 20 minutes. I don’t remember that either.
I finally was able to put my own clothes back on in prep for leaving. They put a protective boot on my foot.
Ready for soccer practice. NOT.
At home, Sylvia helped me remove the boot so we could apply an ice pack. Here’s the after shot.
The bleeding is normal and has now stopped.
Even through the dressing you can see the big toe has been straightened and the huge [sidecar] bump is missing.
In three weeks I should be able to walk around in my shoes. That’s going to be nice.
Thank goodness you have Sylvia there to spoil you a bit, it looks like you could still use it some! I’ve only had one surgery (elective when we decided our family didn’t need to be any larger 😉 ) and I don’t remember recovery either…but they said I woke up crying and looking for my husband. :awe:
Still wishing you a swift recovery time. You’ll be playing ‘this little piggy’ in no time at all!
Couldn’t agree with you more about the goodness of having Sylvia here to spoil me. :angelic: I hope you’re enjoying a good weekend.
Every weekend’s a good one, si señor? And we’re about to head over to Chuck E Cheese….what could be better? :ha: :beam:
¡Es cierto! Someone’s going to have a lot of fun. :dance: Enjoy! 😀
That was me. I was your secret nurse. Hahaha! 😉 It’s good to know that there are more nuts out there like me.
Well, I’m glad you are done with that part….now let’s get on to healing. You will be better before you know it– just do what they tell you to do. You are lucky that you don’t have to work or anything like that–taking the time to heal is important.
Glad you didn’t die, Chuck. 😉 :yea:
I felt like it was you. :gum: The hair and face similar but it was that sense of humor that reminded me of you most of all. Sylvia agrees. At one point she told Sylvia that when they finished with me in the OR that Dr Dave would meet with her in the waiting room and tell her that everything went perfectly . . . or things went bad and they had to amputate. Somehow, that didn’t seem like something you would say.
I’m glad I don’t have to be up and moving around very much, because right now it is no fun at all. :no:
You had the courage to do the right thing. Now to have the patience to follow the therapeutic routine to ultimate healing. Wishing you well.
Thanks. For now that seems to involve a lot sitting and that mostly in my recliner with the sore foot elevated.
Oooowwww. But, hey. They couldn’t cut your toenails while they had you immobile?
Oooowwww indeed! 😥 The toenails were trimmed recently. Also took a sample to see what kind of fungus I have under three of those nails. When results are in, we’ll know how to attack.
trimmed recently? Well, ok, you aren’t a hiker. Those toenails would be instant problems banging inside a shoe/boot for extended walking. Mine get trimmed way back.
With these feet, I am not a hiker. I’ve seen pictures of how you trim them. I don’t have the hand control to even try that. :surrender:
Ooooh, but it still looks painful!
My grandmother had and kept bunions on both feet, just cut holes in her shoes. Can’t help but wonder if that’s in my future as well…
Hope you feel better soon.
Greetings from Minneapolis,
Pearl
Hi Pearl,
It is painful. 😥 But after it has healed, it will be much better than it was before. I hope that bunions are not in your future.
My mother-in-law did the same as your grandmother. m-i-l’s were very bad.
Greetings back at you from a half hour east of Grand Rapids, MI. 8)