Always Disappointment, Never Contentment (well, a little. . .)

So, Thursday I visited 'the mad scientist' for my 11 week post-op check-up.  I had been feeling so good the past two weeks that I came braced to win him over with my "I'm gonna walk outta here in sneakers" argument.  Before he even entered the room, I had unpacked my shoes and put them on the floor beside my bare foot as a visual reminder; I was prepared!

Luckily over the nearly two years that I have been Dr. W's patient, I've been able to train him on how and when he should listen to my pleas, so it didn't take too much case-making on my part.  However, even as late as a year into our relationship (and yes, I call it a relationship because we really act more like an old married couple now than we do a doctor and patient), he would still peer over his clipboard with his all-knowing arrogance (even he won't deny he is arrogant) and tell me how he knew best and how I should only follow his instructions.  We've come a long way since then. . .

So to celebrate the "balancing act of expressing all the excitement of walking with not overdoing it" and the wedding I am attending in two weeks, I decided to attempt a "pretty shoe" shopping excursion today; a first in a long time.  I had my morning perfectly planned!  I rose early, knowing that I needed to try on shoes early in the day to avoid major swelling (or else there was no hope of even getting them on) and of course the large crowds at the store.  Needless to say, my plan was foiled on both accounts.  It only took a matter of minutes for the right ankle to become the size of a grapefruit while I stood in the kitchen making my pancake breakfast.  I did manage to constrict the swelling a bit with an ace bandage, but by the time I had eaten, showered, and dressed, it was nearly 12pm and I was running late!

I arrived at DSW shortly after noon and the store was swelling with springtime shoppers.  Today was the first day of really good weather this season so everyone was out (everyone, their babies, their dogs, and their cousins, that is).  I strolled the sandal aisle dodging fellow shoppers here and there in the hopes of finding an open-toed beauty that would both match my brightly colored dress and also have enough room for my larger than life foot and tightly wound ace bandage.

After a few attempts, I quickly figured out that my only viable choice was a glittery pair of thongs.   And, I wasn't prepared for one minute to pay more than $40 for a pair of thongs!  So, after shoe style reductions and price restrictions accounted for (making a choice truly is easier when your selections are narrowed down for you, wouldn't you agree?), I had found two pair that I could actually fit my foot into and that seemed to be a match for my dress.  I took the boxes and walked over to the register line.  Unfortunately, I had to keep walking and walking (well, limping and limping) because it appeared that the line was now wrapping around the entire store!  Knowing there was no way that I could stand in that line long enough to pay for my purchase, I had no choice but to leave without anything in my hands . . .

Reluctantly, the pursuit continues . . .

We're Getting There . . .

I'm back in bandages today after 'the mad scientist' removed that big screw/pin/bolt/thorn (I've come up with so many names for it over the last few months . . .)  from my heel yesterday.  All went well though, even if I am a bit sore today!  We decided to do local anesthesia instead of general, which was a fantastic idea--and it was all my mine, I might add--leaving me able to wake easily and without any of the usual discomforts of anesthesia recovery, like nausea and major fatigue (and nausea, did I mention nausea?).  The only thing I didn't get my way about was walking out of the hospital; the anesthesiologist left my foot completely numb, so I was forced to hop home on the crutches despite my repeated declarations over the last week!

I was first up in the operating room schedule, so after an early rise, I made it home just a few hours later, giving me the comfort of my own bed for a long nap!  Michele was in the city for her own doctor's appointment, so she and her boyfriend came to visit me in the afternoon and to take care of me for a few hours!  They brought me delicious Crumbs and we dished on fantastic Mexican take-out for lunch; I felt so loved!

Even with only five little stitches, I was given strict instructions not to get my foot wet.  But, that was all a wash this morning when I got in the shower.  Even with a plastic bag tied around my foot, I managed to get the dressing not just wet, but completely soaked!  Luckily, I had some gauze and tape here at home, so I quickly slathered Neosporin all over the incision and re-dressed the wound myself.  Now to rethink my shower routine for tomorrow?!

For The Love of Mass Transit

Oh the weather outside was sticky, so I really couldn't be picky. . .
The bus was nowhere in sight, so I thought I'd risk a ride . . .
Risk a ride, risk a ride, risk a ride!

What began as a reluctant choice, turned out to be an unanticipated achievement! When the sticky downpour prevented me from finding a cab this morning and the bus was nowhere in sight, I was left with no other choice but to take the subway today.

But, I did it! I was able to tackle all those pesky stairs and make it to my destination safe and sound (without anyone stepping on my toes)! Finally, after four long months, I can safely ride the subway with all the other perfectly healthy, if harried, New Yorkers!

Like White on Rice

Well, it's Day 14 of "self propulsion" or, what you ordinary folks call walking.  And, while it's been a tremendously positive mental shift to be fully upright and somewhat independent, I am still facing a heap of challenges on a daily basis.

I've got a serious limp and I actually move slower now than I did during the last two weeks of using the boot.  Plus, having to use this brand new appendage has been a serious shock to my system.  It's almost as if after having a 13 week vacation of non-use, it's rebelling to the idea of having to return to work again.  My leg muscles are unbearably tight, the ankle is stiff, and the foot is constantly swollen.  Pulling up my pant legs, one can clearly see that my left foot--all the way up to my knee, I might add--is double, and at some points during the day, triple the size of my right foot.

I saw the doctor on Monday for a 14-week checkup.  He took one look at the ham hock and exclaimed, "this looks really good."  I just looked at him dumbfounded . . . he wasn't concerned by the size of it at all?

He just smiled and reassured me that I am progressing perfectly well and that it's just going to take some time for my body to recover from this huge trauma we've caused.  In the meantime, it's the RICE method for me--rest, ice, compression, and elevation . . . can I get some egg rolls, sweet n' sour chicken, and maybe a fortune cookie with that?

Baby's First Steps

Momentous occasions like these should be documented, right?  After some nudging from the doctor, I attempted to put two feet on the ground today.  And finally success!  No boot, no crutches, no cane, nothing but my own desire to step forward.  My foot is too swollen and rounded to manage a solid step on its own, but I can successfully shuffle around the apartment in flip flops.

My mission this weekend:  find a pair of shoes that I can successfully fit the ham hock into that are visually stunning enough to wear to the office next week!  And, if I can complete my mission, the hope is that come Monday morning, the last 13 weeks will begin to finally fade into the background . . .