Tootsie

I feel as though I have done nothing but talk about my damn foot since last
December, but I don't think I have given a full update on it's condition
here since it was decided just what in the world was wrong with me.
Additionally, I feel like I need to write it all out, just so I know what
the heck is going on.

First, a brief history:


- Late November/early December: Realize that Fourth toe is swollen and
very much hurting. Self diagnose that I have either a badly bruised or
broken toe, and try first to ignore it, then to tape it (bad idea), then to
will it away. Nothing works.
- Early January: Finally haul ass to the doctor. Get x-rayed. X-ray
normal.
- Mid January: Pain has moved to the ball of my foot, yet Toe is still
swollen. Doctor thinks its a stress fracture and orders Bone Scan.
- Late January: After not even looking at the scan herself, she
confirms her diagnosis and refers me to an Orthopedic doctor.
- Wait time on Ortho doc is MONTHS. Get in with Ortho PA in Mid
February who blindly follows original doctors diagnosis and installs Das
Boot for three weeks. On Valentines day.
- Beginning of March: Das Boot is a waste of time, and only makes me
hurt more. PA tells me he thinks I have a
neuroma,
and that it's probably due to the fact that I was a big lazy fat ass for too
long, and that the large amount of working out I have been doing is actually
what caused it (sweet.) PA shoots the nerve up with cortisone and sends me
on my merry way. The shot worked for about 6 weeks before the pain returned.

- Beginning of May: Ortho PA finally sends me to the real Ortho doc...
Sara waits for appointment
- and waits
- and waits
- Early June: Pain in foot has almost gone away thanks to sa-weet
Birkenstock's but meets with Ortho anyway. Ortho recommends surgery. Sara is
kinda Meh on the whole deal, esp. considering she will have to be totally
off her foot for 3 whole weeks after necessitating this awesome piece
of medical equipment,
but after wearing heals to her SIL's wedding the pain returns and she is
ready to go under the knife. Mostly.
- Because Ortho doctor is semi retired, surgery cannot be scheduled
until August 9. So we wait.

OK, maybe that wasn't so brief. But that's the deal-yo. I have surgery at
9:30am on the 9th of August. Until then I have been trying to ignore the
damn pain in my foot. For the most part, its bothering me all the time now.
If it's not hurting, it is causing strain on my ankle and left calf, which
now feel really tight and strained all the time. My left calf is enlarged as
well, and it looks as though Varacose veins are about to pop out on my calf
at any moment now. My foot feels like it always has a cramp, and does this
weird buzzing thing too, where it feels like a fly is stuck in my foot and
can't get out. It's all very fun. I have been trying not to let it slow me
down because knowing that there will be no working out for 3 weeks has made
me feel like I have to get as fit as possible before then, as to not pudge
out totally while on the scooter.

The surgery itself is a half hour long out patient procedure. I should be
home by lunch time...but since setting the surgery date, lots of questions
have cropped up. Like; How am I going to shower? How in the HELL am I going
to get in and out of my car? Do I get a temporary handicap permit? How the
hell am I going to grocery shop---or cook in my super narrow kitchen on that
scooter? And can I rent the scooter, or is it mine like Das Boot? Can I find
spinners for the wheels, and can I get it in a custom color like some dude
had at the movies? All as valid as the next, but I know I am forgetting
things to ask at my pre-op appointment on the 7th---anyone care to help me
out with more questions to bombard the good doctor with? Better yet, anyone
been through this before and care to help a sister out? I've never had any
medical procedures done like this, so Im a bit nervous...

Title

OOOHHH!  I was wondering.  So will you take a photo of you with your new pimp mobile?

that scooter is friggin' awesome

Were it not for the surgery that necessitates such a device, I would be totally jealous.  Maybe you can get custom rims, a flame paint job, and a bell for it.!

My suggested answer to some of those questions about how to get clean and get around is--DH?  Or maybe another family member?  I got my (retired) father to fly to NY and do pretty much everything for me for ten days during and after my sinus surgery.  Can't say it was a blast for either of us (I was especially whiny) but it worked.

My main additional questions would be about the day of surgery--will you need someone to be there?  What kind of anesthesia and will you be lucid during/after?  Should you eat/not eat so as to help the anesthesia work without making you nauseous?  I'll report back with anythign else I think of.

Jeepers

I can't believe you have to go through all that for a sore toe! Well, at least you have a solution, even if it does involve a scooter. Once when I had a broken ankle I maneuvered around on a wheeled ottoman. The scooter sounds better.

Sweet

Scooter!! DF had surgery on his second toe in April. They thought he had a tumor on the bone of his toe. He too, had outpatient surgery that lasted about 20 minutes. He was loopy and I took him home. He was not allowed to walk on his foot for 1 week. He didn't really listen, and used the cane that he so happily bought himself!!

I gave him baths the first 2 days. After that, he gave himself a bath by wrapping his foot in a plastic bag and hanging it over the side of the tub. In NY, you need a doctors' note and a trip to the DMV to get a temp or perm handicap permit, not sure if it's the same in WA. Good luck with everything! Thanks for the history, on your foot- I was wondering what had happened!! Hope you are feeling better soon!

Surgery

Think about how you'll feel when your toe is done being fixed and you're all healed.   All will be good, and in the mean time things may be a pain in the arse.  I'm sure they will have good answers to your questions, though.  I'm glad you are getting it taken care of.

Leanne

You'll be happy when it is done

and you can get back to working out again.

And you must take your snazzy new scooter to Wal-Fart and make C take pictures of you buzzing up and down the aisles with it...please?! LOL!

My husband had the same thing

and he went to a oprtopedica dr.  The DR did a scan of his entire sole of his foot and created these insole things that he wore in his shoes.  For the first couple of weeks he siad it hurt like hell, but I havnt heard him compail in years!  I am not sure what they are called, but they are basically insoles he wears in his shoes.  I think they cost nearly $500, but he said it was definately worth it.