Lindylee
post-grad
You had a lot done to your foot though whereas my foot was so painful before the surgery that it would take my breath away then. I’m sorry the shower didn’t work out but better safe than sorry.
Ankle Ankle surgery 12/21/2023
- Thread starter MissFanny
- Start date
OP
OP
MissFanny
senior
Yesterday was a day of emotional ups and downs. Instead of being stoic and/or Pollyanna, I am letting myself feel the emotions and sensations as they sweep over me. I’m acknowledging my pain, fatigue, sadness, frustration, anger, boredom, and loneliness. I’m not wallowing in self pity but accepting that it’s normal to feel these things after an accident. It feels good to give in to crying sometimes. I rarely cry, so this is new for me, but what an awesome release.
On the bright side, I have been talking to friends on the phone this weekend. I was really withdrawn the first two weeks. I am eating more. I’m finding small, simple ways to fill time during these endless days. A friend is coming over with a meal for us today. I declined an earlier offer. I am glad she offered again. I bet my husband is especially pleased since he plans, shops for, prepares, and cleans up every meal now. I think I get a knee scooter on my next visit on Wednesday, and hope it helps me to be a little more independent.
On the bright side, I have been talking to friends on the phone this weekend. I was really withdrawn the first two weeks. I am eating more. I’m finding small, simple ways to fill time during these endless days. A friend is coming over with a meal for us today. I declined an earlier offer. I am glad she offered again. I bet my husband is especially pleased since he plans, shops for, prepares, and cleans up every meal now. I think I get a knee scooter on my next visit on Wednesday, and hope it helps me to be a little more independent.
@MissFanny So sorry you are experiencing post op blues. Unfortunately they are all a part of recovery - especially recovery from a traumatic incident. Here's an article that you might want to read again. Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
It's great you are starting to call friends and share a meal with others. All about getting back to "normal".
It's great you are starting to call friends and share a meal with others. All about getting back to "normal".
Baby steps! This applies both mentally and physically. So glad to hear that the pain is lessening. That's a big baby step.
You sound like you are beginning to adjust to your healing situation and I'm glad. A sudden injury with a subsequent surgery is such a shock for us, mentally and physically.
Enjoy the meal that is coming over by a friend. That is fun! Loved the meals coming in.
You sound like you are beginning to adjust to your healing situation and I'm glad. A sudden injury with a subsequent surgery is such a shock for us, mentally and physically.
Enjoy the meal that is coming over by a friend. That is fun! Loved the meals coming in.
Enjoy your friend's visit!
Sending hugs
Sending hugs
OP
OP
MissFanny
senior
My friend brought two meals and her good natured cheerfulness yesterday. It was nice.
Last night, I dreamed about getting a massage and then being submerged in warm water. Man, what I would give for a bubble bath rn.
My body aches from lying on my back so much. This morning, I put my hospital bed flat and tried to stretch as best I could without aggravating my injury. I told hubby I might start standing one legged using my walker for a few minutes a day just to get my body in a different position. My next checkup is Wednesday and my friend who has the same injury was given a little more freedom in how she sits at her first post-op checkup. Still no weight bearing, but she doesn’t have to elevate as high. Idk if I will have the same good fortune. I’m a sweller. I have a feeling I will have to continue keeping my ankle elevated higher than my heart most of the time.
Last night, I dreamed about getting a massage and then being submerged in warm water. Man, what I would give for a bubble bath rn.
My body aches from lying on my back so much. This morning, I put my hospital bed flat and tried to stretch as best I could without aggravating my injury. I told hubby I might start standing one legged using my walker for a few minutes a day just to get my body in a different position. My next checkup is Wednesday and my friend who has the same injury was given a little more freedom in how she sits at her first post-op checkup. Still no weight bearing, but she doesn’t have to elevate as high. Idk if I will have the same good fortune. I’m a sweller. I have a feeling I will have to continue keeping my ankle elevated higher than my heart most of the time.
OP
OP
MissFanny
senior
I just weighed myself and I am not down any weight at all. If anything, I am up a couple pounds. I had to “hop” onto the scale so Idk if that distorted the weight, but I kind of doubt it. Isn’t that weird? Why do I feel thinner and my clothes are looser? Another mind boggling injury phenomenon.
Be sure to ask your doctor whether/when it is okay for you to sleep on your side. When I had my ankle surgery, being able to do that -- with my leg and foot supported by soft pillows -- was a game changer.
The other thing that helps are simple "chair yoga" stretches for my back -- like seated cat-cow and gentle torso twists. I've been doing those this week after my latest surgery since I have no hope of getting down on my yoga mat for many weeks to come!
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2023
- Messages
- 7,071
- Age
- 71
- Gender
- Female
- Country
United States
It's not unusual to have some fluid retention as well as the localized swelling after surgery.
OP
OP
MissFanny
senior
Lindylee
post-grad
Focus on getting well first. You can worry about weight if you do gain any once you’re better. Won’t the plaster on your foot weigh heavier anyway? I can pu t weight on very easily and have had to forget about it for the time being. My clothes don’t feel any tighter but I’m expecting to have gone up. I’ll sort it out when I can.
Could you get a recliner chair? Mine has been a game changer for my back, as I have scoliosis, and with a wedge pillow I can sit with my foot above or level with my heart.
I’m glad your friend’s visit has cheered you up. I’m a great believer in accepting that some days it’s ok to have a weep and let the emotions out. Be kind to your self, it’s not an easy recovery especially on top of your other surgeries.
Could you get a recliner chair? Mine has been a game changer for my back, as I have scoliosis, and with a wedge pillow I can sit with my foot above or level with my heart.
I’m glad your friend’s visit has cheered you up. I’m a great believer in accepting that some days it’s ok to have a weep and let the emotions out. Be kind to your self, it’s not an easy recovery especially on top of your other surgeries.
Annie N
member
Sorry to hear this is hurting you but I'd say you need some variety of position by now, you will be getting past the worst of this in a week or two with any luck.
I was told one op I needed my ankle above the heart & I checked it again with the physio this time & she was less prescriptive. Ankle flat & not hanging down is what she actually advised. Get the swelling down (up) & then keep it down (level). That's worked for me. I only slept with my ankle up one night this time, after that I found level was fine. Ankle above the heart for long is too impossible in my opinion, maybe try playing with pillows?
I'm working the other way now it's been 5 weeks, had my foot resting on the floor until it got uncomfortable yesterday, I'm up to an hour down now before it starts to swell, I need to get my circulation working properly again now, so try to walk (hop) around to help the swelling with movement.
You will get there, in a few weeks it will be a great deal easier.
OP
OP
MissFanny
senior
@Lindylee I was going to say I am not worried about losing weight rn, but clearly I am. 
I tell myself I am not, but I was pretty disappointed when I saw I hadn’t. But I don’t want to do anything to set my recovery back; that’s my number one priority! I am eating the best I can while hubby cooks a lot of pasta and mashed potatoes, and I am avoiding sweets and junk food. At the least, I don’t want to gain weight and put more pressure when I can walk. I do have a recliner. Sitting in it is comfortable for 30-minute stretches, but my leg doesn’t go high enough to prevent or reduce swelling. I do use it a couple times a day to reposition and I ice while I am using it. I ice almost all day anymore. It feels so good!
@Annie N, yes, I am repositioning as much as possible but I swell so easily! I did a FaceTime call with my son and daughter-in-law yesterday and could feel my splint getting tighter and tighter. I had to excuse myself for a moment and get back in bed! Luckily, I have a hospital bed that can be adjusted, two different wedges, pillows, and a recliner. But the best place for me to be to prevent swelling is in that bed, leg up! The past two nights I’ve slept with the foot of the bed raised but no wedge. That’s helped a little since I use the wedge almost all day.
I am a daily walker and hiker, and I stretch a couple times a day. I don’t think I will feel tons better until I can get back to that. I expect I will get a knee scooter tomorrow and hope that will help, too.
I tell myself I am not, but I was pretty disappointed when I saw I hadn’t. But I don’t want to do anything to set my recovery back; that’s my number one priority! I am eating the best I can while hubby cooks a lot of pasta and mashed potatoes, and I am avoiding sweets and junk food. At the least, I don’t want to gain weight and put more pressure when I can walk. I do have a recliner. Sitting in it is comfortable for 30-minute stretches, but my leg doesn’t go high enough to prevent or reduce swelling. I do use it a couple times a day to reposition and I ice while I am using it. I ice almost all day anymore. It feels so good!@Annie N, yes, I am repositioning as much as possible but I swell so easily! I did a FaceTime call with my son and daughter-in-law yesterday and could feel my splint getting tighter and tighter. I had to excuse myself for a moment and get back in bed! Luckily, I have a hospital bed that can be adjusted, two different wedges, pillows, and a recliner. But the best place for me to be to prevent swelling is in that bed, leg up! The past two nights I’ve slept with the foot of the bed raised but no wedge. That’s helped a little since I use the wedge almost all day.
I am a daily walker and hiker, and I stretch a couple times a day. I don’t think I will feel tons better until I can get back to that. I expect I will get a knee scooter tomorrow and hope that will help, too.
OP
OP
MissFanny
senior
I had an idea this morning that I may put into action in the next couple weeks if I am getting around well enough. If the Hyatt near our house has walk-in showers (if I remember from a stay we did there when we lost power, they do), I may rent a room for a weekend. I can shower and sleep in a real bed in the same room as my husband. Hubs can get a break from cooking and housework. My daughter can bring my grandson and he can swim. It will be a change of scenery. Anyway, idk if this is pie-in-the-sky and I will not feel up to it in the coming weeks, but the I got the idea this morning. I would probably drag my butt out for the shower alone.
Annie N
member
The swelling is reflecting the damage done, mostly as a result of the orif I'm afraid. It will heal, takes a lot of time to go completely but healing is already underway. I had an orif in 2003, swelling came back whenever I was sore or tired for some months, but each time a little less.
That hotel stay is an excellent idea for when you have a bit more mobility, won't be long I promise you. Do make sure you get a disabled room with a wet room or shower seat for comfort, they should have a few options & they will be more spacious. Take care on slippery hotel room floors please.
Something to look forward to, it might be a great little late Christmas holiday for both of you. Maybe worth phoning around to find out more to cheer yourself up.
I've been lucky to be able to manage in my own bed this time, but he's not always appreciated me knocking him with my cast when I move.....
That hotel stay is an excellent idea for when you have a bit more mobility, won't be long I promise you. Do make sure you get a disabled room with a wet room or shower seat for comfort, they should have a few options & they will be more spacious. Take care on slippery hotel room floors please.
Something to look forward to, it might be a great little late Christmas holiday for both of you. Maybe worth phoning around to find out more to cheer yourself up.
I've been lucky to be able to manage in my own bed this time, but he's not always appreciated me knocking him with my cast when I move.....
Last edited:
That sounds like a wonderful physical and emotional break! And you don't have to travel far so it won't exhaust you completely just getting there.
OP
OP
MissFanny
senior
They have roll-in showers and accessible rooms! I am a Hyatt member and have a free night award plus enough points to get a discount the second night. My daughter said her family would love to come swimming. I think i will book this for the weekend of January 12 after I confirm the dates with my husband!
Lindylee
post-grad
That’s a brilliant idea. Enjoy. We booked an accessible room last week but despite them confirming it on the day, when we got there we’d been allocated a standard room……. We weren’t impressed but the didn’t charge us for it so can’t really grumble and I did manage.
