Surgery Day, June 11

     We were told to be at the hospital at 7AM which meant leaving home at 5:30. Joe and I woke up at 4:30 so we could shower. I needed to clean my leg with yellow Dial soap. That's a little too early for me.

     We arrived at the hospital about 6:45 and waited a few minutes to check in. Right around 7:00 I was taken back to my cubicle. Questions - when was the last time to have something to drink, what medicines do you take (none), what is Dr. Lillich doing today, which leg, etc. Now to put on that fashionable gown. IV put in for antibiotic and saline.

     Dr. Lillich came in and talked. We asked all the questions we had forgotten to ask at the last visit. He is a very nice doctor and never seems to be in a rush.

     Surgery lasted about an hour or a little bit more. I remember the nurse saying my name so I opened my eyes. My first thought was that I didn't want to wake up because I was resting so comfortably.

     Dr. Lillich's PA said that I would be in a hard splint wrapped with an Ace bandage. I was thinking that I would be in a cast coming out of the OR.

     I didn't feel well at all. I kept feeling like I was going to get sick. The nurse brought me ice chips which really didn't help. She said that women have more trouble with nausea than men. I would close my eyes and start feeling better, but when I opened my eyes I would start feeling terrible again. That went on for an hour or maybe two. At one point, we sent Joe to get the car ready, but I couldn't get up so the nurse had to call him and tell him to just come back to the room. Finally, I had to go to the bathroom so the nurse got me into a wheelchair. I had to have her stop because I started having the dry heaves. That seemed to help because I felt so much better after that. So, after the bathroom, she wheeled me downstairs and helped me get into the car. 

     We took some pillows for the ride home so I would have one behind me against the door and one under my leg. I did fine until we got to Ruston. By the time Joe pulled into the driveway, I was feeling horrible! I wasn't sure I could get into the house. I had to stop four or five times to put my head on Geoffrey's handlebars. It was hot outside, and I was nauseous again. Miserable!

     Finally got to the back door and had to stop again. Joe took this picture.

     Got in bed for a nap.

     The tear was more than 50% of the tendon so Dr. Lillich had to do debridement of the tendon (cleaning out the scar tissue) and a tendon transfer. The tendon going to my big toe which allows the big toe go down was pulled back to use to strengthen my Achilles. That is also called tendon augmentation.

     I mostly need patience to get through this.