Sunday, 8 November 2009

Plan for six weeks off work. Last day at work Friday 6th November, tidied up loose ends. Locum to commence tomorrow until 18th December. Emailed some project work to home and will work on over sick leave period.

Pre-cooked and froze several meals and shopped for extra pantry supplies.

Arranged cleaner and ironing person.

Daughter and son in law to stay with me until I am on my feet.

Borrowed a shower stool.

Supply of books and DVD's.

Past several weeks have begun majority of christmas presents and wrapping.

Compiled family Christmas annual newsletter and will write and send cards later.

Have made Christmas puddings and ordered ham etc.

Monday, 9 November 2009

7.30am - arrived at Mercy Private Hospital pre-admission. 1st on list for theatre (so pleased to be 1st on list). Ward nurse helped me to prepare.

8.00am - Anaesthetist Dr Christopher Hoy explained clearly about general anaesthetic and also about the nerve block. Talked about potential anaesthetic risks and also about pain management post procedure.

Met Mr Blackney in theatre - revised procedure with me.

9.45am - returned to ward feeling sleepy but fine. No pain. Right foot completely numb. Post op obs 15 minutely for 2/24. IV fluids. Didn't like having to use bed pan - but no problem.

10.00am - 2 x Digesic. Sandwiches and cup of tea very welcome.

2.20pm - 1 x Endone. Wound redressed, slight ooze.

Slept most of the afternoon. Several phone calls.

Pharmacist explained take home meds and advice re regular use and action of each. Explained clearly.  Had analgesia 2/24 regularly. IV fluids ceased. Given Clexane injection (because of history of DVT's in the past).

Nice wash in bed and bed linen tidied. Foot remains numb - no sensation or pain. Drowsy and slept all night until nurse woke me at 3am for obs and digesic.

Tuesday, 10 November 2009

3.00am - 2 x Digesic. Obs taken. Slight sensation right foot. No pain. 

6.00am - Obs, blood pressure a bit low. Normal foot sensation. No pain or discomfort.

8.15am - 1 x Endone, dressing change - some ooze. Mr Blackney visited - all OK to go home.

Dressing - no discomfort after shower.

Physio - demonstrated use of crutches. Felt a bit woozy when first got up.

Showered without a  problem.

10.30am -  change of dressing. Orderly arrived with wheelchair to take me to car. Discharge instructions from nurse and physio and advice re regular analgesia.

No problems with using crutches at home but ordered wheelchair delivery also to speed up getting about the house and perhaps getting outside next few days.

Kept foot elevated when sitting. Alternated Voltaren and Digesic as instructed. Up for toilet purposes only. No pain.

7.00pm - Dinner.

8.00pm - Digesic before bed, tired - slept well. (Thank goodness for air-conditioning - 34˚). 

Wednesday, 11 November 2009

Slept throughout the night. Kept foot elevated on pillows in bed.

8.00am - tea and toast in bed. Voltaren post breakfast.

9.00am - shower - took longer than usual. Glad to have shower stool and use of portable towel rail as frame.

10.00am - friends popped in for coffee.

11.00am - had frittata and salad for lunch with friends. Voltaren after lunch. Leg exercises as advised when resting.

1.00pm - made phone calls - read a little with feet up.

2.30pm - Digesic - no pain but following instructions.

3.00pm - Wheelchair delivered - ideal for whizzing up and down my very long hallway.

Aimed to keep foot elevated as much as possible. Managing crutches well. Drinking water to avoid constipation relating to regular analgesia and decreased activity.

7.00pm - Dinner at home.

Notes - Took Voltaren after meals and Digesic 3 times between - no pain - minor swelling when foot not elevated.

Thursday, 12 November 2009

Slept all night - no pain.

7.00am - tea and toast in bed. Voltaren.

8.00am - some blood visible through dressing.

9.00am - showered etc, kept foot dry.

10.00am - friends for coffee and muffins.

12.00pm - friends left, felt tired - went to bed for a sleep - took 2 Digesic.

1.30pm - some minor tidying up of house.

3.00pm - a friend came around with dressing pack and dressing, sterile saline etc. Sue is a registered nurse. Blood at site - needed soaking with saline to remove. Wound looks clean and dressed when dry. I felt very faint and dizzy during dressing change - no actual pain.

7.00pm - dinner. Voltaren. Watched some TV.

8.00pm - bed early. Took 2 Digesic before sleep. Foot elevated on pillows and light rug only as doona too heavy on foot.

Friday, 13 November 2009

Slept all night.

7.30am - tea and toast in bed. Voltaren.

8.00am - up at 8am. Made phone calls, paid bills, emails.

10.00am - shower etc, foot throbbing slightly and felt heavy. 2 Digesic.

12.00pm - friends for lunch - kept foot elevated. Voltaren after lunch.

3.00pm - friends left, tidied up a little. Used crutches and wheelchair to get about inside.

6.00pm - heated pre cooked pasta for dinner. Voltaren after dinner.

7.00pm - friends for coffee.

Notes - no actual pain today. Some tingling, throbbing when foot down only.

Saturday, 14 November 2009

Slight tingling in foot when I woke up - not exactly painful. Took last Digesic.

8.30am - breakfast in bed, read the newspaper. Voltaren a bit later.

10.00am - tidied up around the house and put some washing on, emptied dishwasher etc.

11.30am - longer shower today.

1.00pm - friends for lunch.

2.00pm - watched some pre recorded TV shows but hobbled about the house in between.

Have not been outside the house since Tuesday. It has been too hot, grateful for air-conditioned home.

5.00pm - no ooze through dressing - looks and feels good.

Notes - only took 1 Voltaren today and Panadol twice. No significant pain in foot -just more aware of throbbing when not elevated. Will take regular analgesia as advised until the appointment. 

Sunday, 15 November 2009

Slept all night.

7.00am - breakfast and read the paper. Voltaren after breakfast.

9.00am - Shower etc. Emails and phone calls. 

10.30am - moving about better. No pain - but foot throbs if not elevated. So rested with foot elevated periodically.

12.30pm - lunch at home. Voltaren post lunch.

2.00pm - had afternoon nap - slept for 2 hours.

Notes - Voltaren x 3 today and took 2 Panadol x 3. No pain in foot.

Monday, 16 November 2009

Slept well all night.

Not feeling 100% today - no pain but discomfort due to constipation! Thankfully relieved by mid morning prune juice. Consequently lack of motivation to do much.

Did some light chores around the house, arranged for cleaner to come on Wednesday and fortnightly until Christmas.

Couple of friends came during the day. Sat outside for a while - beautiful day - 22˚.

Took Voltaren after meals and Panadol twice today.

Walking short distances without crutches. Mild throbbing right foot - relieved by resting with foot elevated.

Increased uptake fo fluids today and moving about more freely. Foot elevated when not ambulant.

Tuesday, 17 November 2009

Slept well all night.

Feeling generally much better today. Eating and drinking well. Getting more efficient with showering and keeping dressing dry.

Took 2 Panadol with breakfast, lunch and dinner.

12.00pm - Friend for lunch.

1.00pm - did some washing and hung it out on clothesline. Minor tidying up.

2.30pm - emails with foot elevated on cushions

No pain.

4.00pm - aware of discomfort when foot is not elevated. Slight throbbing and tingling.

6.00pm - dinner.

Wednesday, 18 November 2009

Slept well all night.

8.00am - showered without use of shower stool - managed well. Dressing dry.

11.30am - cleaner came for 1.5 hours.  Sat outside for a couple of hours with neighbour - kept foot elevated.

2.00pm - did some washing - hung it outside. Folded and sorted when ready.

3.30pm - made a start on some stats for work.

5.00pm - made some muffins for morning tea tomorrow.

Notes - Panadol with breakfast, lunch and dinner. Also had Panadol before sleep as foot was throbbing a little.

Thursday, 19 November 2009

Slept all night.

Up early this morning, showered and dressed by 8.30am. Some discomfort when I first got up but subsided after breakfast and Panadol.

10.00am - coffee morning - Thursday group @ my home. Muffins pretty good.

1.00pm - friend for lunch - did some shopping for me. Made arrangements for dinner and birthday cake for friend tomorrow night at my house. Will have take away Vietnamese.

6.00pm - dinner at home.

Notes - Panadol with breakfast, lunch and dinner. Also before bed as foot was more uncomfortable. Have been walking about more.

Friday, 20 November 2009

Slept very well. No pain or discomfort on waking.

Some minimal throbbing in foot after shower. As usual, foot more comfortable when elevated.

12.00pm - lunch - prepared baguettes with ham and salad.

2.00pm - made some appointments for next week at home. Arranged to stay with friends on the peninsula from next sunday for a week.

5.30pm - ordered foot, set table, etc.

6.00pm - birthday dinner at my house for six. Late night but most enjoyable. Bed after midnight.

Notes - No pain or change to foot. Getting around ok and resting with foot up between times. Panadol post breakfast, lunch and before bed.

Saturday, 21 November 2009

Slept all night.

Shopping list prepared and helped put shopping away. Tidied up a little around the house, foot elevated periodically.

Panadol with breakfast, lunch and dinner. No change - discomfort, throbbing and slight stabbing sensation when foot is not elevated. Dressing is dry and intact.

6.00pm - friends picked me up and took me to their house for dinner.

Raining heavily tonight, took longer than usual to get to sleep.

Sunday, 22 November 2009

Slept well - woke a few times because of heavy rain.

Neighbour drove me to grocery store and picked up a few odds and ends - didn't walk far. Prepared some meals for freezer. Rested with foot up whilst cooking.

Daughter and son in law moved back to their house today. I am managing very well.

Panadol with breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Had a 2 hour nap this afternoon.

No pain in foot. Occasional stabbing sensation and tightness only if foot down for lengthy periods.

Monday, 23 November 2009

Have followed all instructions for post op care with excellent outcome.

Took analgesics as advised regularly with the exception of Day 5 when I forgot - woke aware of discomfort that day. Up to today had 2 Panadol at meal times.

Constipation an issue on Day 7 post op - increased fluid intake and had some prune juice - with effect. No further problem.

Did foot exercises as instructed when at rest post 7 days.

Found sleeping with foot elevated comfortable. Used a warm but very light rug to cover in bed as doona was too heavy.

1.30pm - Appointment with Mr Blackney for suture removal.

Only deviation from instructions was that I had a wound specialist nurse friend change dressing which was blood stained on day 3 post op. Dressed the same as that done in hospital - strict aseptic technique. No further problems.

I am amazed and pleasantly surprised that I have not experienced any pain either in the immediate post op period or in the last two weeks. Have heard some horror stories about other people's experience.

My advice - follow instructions and advice from surgeon and team. Prepare as much as possible for this period of limited mobility.