Progress

I really cannot believe how quickly things are healing.  I am still very tired at the end of the day and typically my foot is swollen and throbbing if I've been up and around a lot that day.  However, I went through the entire day today with no painkillers!  I did take Advil (a lot of Advil) but my pain level did not require more than just Advil. 

I would really like to try to go to the gym tomorrow for a light workout.  It would be nothing more than a little bit of core and a little bit of strength training with the bands, but it would be something active.  I have missed being athletically active.  I am not a sit-on-the-couch type of girl.  However I am a little concerned that I will quickly get frustrated by all the things I can't do.

I am really looking forward to getting back in the pool.  Only 1 more week!

Yet Another Difference Between Men and Women

I had my post-surgery follow up appointment yesterday.  I was excited to see Dr. Doogie Howser and see how my recovery is going.

Stephen drove me to the appointment and came back into the exam room with me.  They x-rayed my foot to make sure the "stuff" they put in there is still in place and working properly (it was).  Then the nurse undid the bandages that were around my foot. 

When I saw my foot for the first time, I had several feelings: 
-First, my toe was very straight...straighter than I've ever seen a toe.  It made the rest of my toes look extremely curved to the right.  When Doogie came in later, he explained that as the toe relaxes into its final position, it will curve slightly to the right also.  So if a slight curve is ideal, we want to start the toe in a straight position.  That makes sense...I guess this guy DOES know what he's talking about!
-Second, my foot did not seem very swollen at all.  That made me happy because I knew swollen was bad.
-Finally, the incision was gross.  It wasn't bleeding or anything but the stitches made it look nasty and it was brownish yellowish from the disinfectant stuff they swab on it.  Looking at the incision immediately made my foot ache more intensely.  (I know, it was all in my head...but still it hurt when I looked at it!)

What happened next is why this post is named "Yet Another Difference Between Men and Women".  As soon as the bandages were off, Stephen stared intently at my foot.  I wasn't sure what he was thinking...his facial expression gave nothing away at first.  Then he got up out of the chair with his gaze never leaving my foot.  Like the trained photographer that he is, in one fluid movement, he pulled out his cell phone and started shooting pictures of my foot.  He got several angles of the incision before Doogie came into the room.  He announced that he would send them to me "for Facebook or your blog!!"  I scrunched up my face and said "no one wants to see that.  It's gross!"

So Doogie comes in and checks out my foot.  He immediately praises me for being a good patient.  He said that he could tell that I was diligent about keeping my foot elevated and keeping ice on it based on the fact that the swelling was so minimal.  YAY ME!  (You all know how much I love being told that I've done a good job!) 

I have been counting on the fact that I will be at the short end of the recovery timeframe ranges that he gave me.  Based on the minimal amount of swelling he saw at the appointment, I am definitely able to continue that expectation of the shorter recovery time.  So that means:

March 5th stitches out - can swim a day or 2 after that
first week of April - out of boot
mid April - can begin cycling again
first week of May - can begin running again

That also means that I will be able to sign up for a couple of triathlons this year!  I think I will be race ready (for a sprint) by late July or early August.  I am not going to sign up for anything until I see how the recovery goes once I'm able to start back into the actual training mode.  But I am very encouraged after the doctor visit that this recovery is off to the right start!!!

Foot Surgery DONE!

Yesterday was the surgery.  I had to be at the surgery center at noon and I wasn't allowed to eat anything after 5 am.  So since I wasn't willing to lose sleep to get up that early to eat, I decided to start my fasting when I went to bed.  In preparation for that, I basically ate everything in the house.  It was ridiculous.

I didn't sleep well...I tossed and turned all night.  In the morning we took the little ones for their annual doctor check ups.  By the time we got home, I only had about half an hour to get some work done before we had to head to the surgery center.  I was really getting nervous at this point.  I read the pre- and post-op instructions 4 times.

Stephen drove me to the surgery center and I think we were both pretty nervous.  I just didn't know what to expect.  Once we got there, everyone was so nice.  They really took time to make sure that we both felt comfortable.  Before long, I was my jovial self.

The procedure didn't take long and we were back on our way home by mid-afternoon.  My foot basically felt like it was asleep.  I was starving so when we got home, I ate some light food so that I didn't upset my stomach.

I kept my foot elevated and tried to keep ice on it.  When I got up to go to the bathroom for the first time, I got a reality check.  It was shockingly painful.  I had Stephen help me get in and out of the bathroom.  Putting weight on the foot was really not a good feeling.

Sleeping was awful.  I couldn't get comfortable and I probably didn't sleep more than 30 minutes at a time.  I kept the boot on all night so that the foot didn't get bumped.  Keeping it elevated and in the boot would have been fine if I could sleep on my back...but being a side sleeper made this very challenging.

I think I was a bit too optimistic about how much I would be able to do during these first few days.  It does feel the best to just lay on my back with it propped up on pillows.  Walking on the boot is going to take some practice.  It's a very weird feeling.

So the recovery has begun...

The Time Has Come

Tomorrow is the day...surgery day.  I am nervous.  I have no idea what to expect.

I have never broken a bone.  So the only bone that I will have ever broken will have been done on purpose by a doctor.  That seems a bit odd when you say it like that!

My training has been a disaster these last few months.  I have not been able to do anything on a regular basis except swim.  And even that has suffered.  So I'm excited about getting to a point in my recover where I can actively train again.  However, I know that there is a long, painful road between now and then.

I can't eat anything after 5 am tomorrow morning.  So to make up for it, I'm eating everything in sight.  I've had pasta bake, a hard boiled egg, a bowl of chocolate ice cream, popcorn and a glass of red wine.  I'm now contemplating having a slice of cheesecake.  This really is getting ridiculous. 

I will post tomorrow after surgery.  Disclaimer:  I will be on painkillers so I have no idea what will be said!

Doctor Update

I haven't had many entries lately because honestly I haven't had much to say.  I'm swimming regularly, doing some core work, but not really doing much else.  I have a training plan from Coach Sandra and I'm following it to the best of my ability...although there have been some days that I just didn't feel like going to the gym.

I had my pre-op appointment with my doctor earlier this week.  I got some good news - the recovery process is not going to be as bad as I had expected!  I will not have to use crutches or a scooter or anything - I will be able to walk on it right away!  Of course I have to wear the boot, but I can walk on it.  Also, I will be able to swim as soon as I get the stitches out. 

I was expecting a much more difficult recovery process.  Of course it's going to be painful...and I can't drive for 2 weeks...and the first 5 days are the most crucial to make sure I stay off it as much as possible.

After my doctor appointment, my foot has been hurting more than ever.  I think it's probably all just in my head, but I am so glad that the surgery is next week.  I really want to have the surgery and get started on the road to recovery.