Ok Im back!
After repeated swelling of the Taylor dome part of my ankle. 1 cortisone shot and 2 courses of antiinflamitories.
And frankly my deciding that this whole ankle stabilization thing was a big mistake on my part. Might be good for some folks but for me
it has removed any barefoot activity. Where before surgery I was 90% barefoot (or wearing vibrum 5 fingers) now I can only do 2 or 3 hours per week of Tae Kwon Do.
Complete loss on my part. 9 months post surgery and including some aggressive PT. (1/2 hour to 1hour per day)
Next try when I told my fine Dr my tale of woe (he really is a great Doc, just does not look good for me). He proposes removing the 3 screws added in my december surgery. 2 of which are showing some signs of irritation. One just outside the Taylor dome (sp?).
1 to 2 week recovery.
Ok lets go for it, not much to lose now.
Registration person from the hospital calls. Tells me all the stuff I have already read insists I need an appt at the hospital. My Dr says I dont, registration lady is snippy and rude. Also reg lady (not a nurse, always ask) tells me not to take my synthroid the day of surgery.
Surgical nurse calls. Obviously this lady is having a bad hair day. I correct a few things she tells me (from memory of last surgery. She leaves out a few things but does tell me to take my synthroid. Seemed polite but Im glad it was my second time around.
11:40 surgery, arrive at 9:40am. Used a local taxi service since my wife is going through a relapse from her traffic accident a year ago. More vertigo. (shuttle express, very nice, prompt and polite)
Turn in cash credit card insurance card and drivers liscence. Filled out paper work all that good stuff.
Ekg, poked and prodded. Waited an hour, took a nap. Bp very high.
Moved to preop.
2 residents come to speak with me (practicing how to handle patients and marking the leg). One was really funny, I dont think he meant to be. He acted all official and Dr ish while pretending to ask questions and write down the info on the back of a piece of medical packing material. The pen was not clicked out, hey if you want to fool an engineer you need to work harder! I was polite and did not laugh at him or call him on it. He while I was out he might give me a tatoo or something. He also forgot to ask about a few bits of medical info, but I knew the nurse had it and the other resident covered it.
Same Anesthesiologist as before. Great guy! If I find where I wrote his name down Ill put it in later.
I discussed not being put out as I did not like the drunk feeling I had last time. (nurse said I had an uneducated liver). Hey Ive been drunk once when waking up from surgery, I can check that box off, I dont see why people like it, more for you guys! Also recovery from the anesthesia was longer than the rest of the surgery!
Since locals dont work well on the bones he will be working on and a block would leave me without sensation I agreed to be put down again. But the great anesthesiologist says he will change some things and it should not last as long.
They wheel me in, this time I get to see all the cool equipment.
Give me a mask turn on the drugs in the drip and away I go.
Wake up they are wheeling me out of surgery.
Post op I wake right up. Moving big muscles to burn off any drugs I can. Quickly moved to the holding area and given ice an crackers. Use the bathroom drink water, repeat.
Ask about drugs (last time big problem, this time no trouble, the pharmacy did not mess up). Drugs arrive and I took 1/2 a vicadan.
Ask about after care, told "No Weight bearing", This was not correct I ask the nurse she talks to the doc and they change it to "stop when it hurts" They give me this wooden plank to put on my foot, nearly trips me twice then I move to one of my old walking casts. They are the really cheap bits.
Wife is called and she lets them know she has to wait until the boys are done at piano before she can pick me up. I could have left around 12:30pm! No problem they let me lay around and even feed me a bit. Wife calls to say she has arrived. (really nice nurse by the way Mary I think)
Fellow asks if I want a wheel chair. Remembering the long walk in I accept. He takes me on a short cut (I could have walked this easy). I point out my car (3 car lengths away). He pulls up in the middle of the road and waves for my wife to roll up. I ask to be taken to the car, repeat.... Finally I get up and head to my wife with my stuff. He says "you cant do that!" Grabs my shirt and nearly pulls me down to the concrete. I tell him to back off and continue to the car.
We went to a quick dinner and head home. During dinner I take 3 advil liquigels. Last pain med I need. Bit sore in a few places but not near where the screws were removed, Ill ask about that at follow up. Not enough pain to keep me awake. This Anesthesia also did not mess with bowel movements sorry if TMI.
Hope this solves the problem. More later.
