Post Cast

     Went to Dr Lillich for my third post-op visit on July 8. Joe and I were expecting a new cast. I had decided to go from green to purple.
     While we were in the waiting room a woman came in using a wheelchair and had a cast on. We spoke and found out that we were seeing the same doctor. She said that she uses a knee scooter too. She was about 8 weeks post-op after having her ankle fused.
     The nurse came in and cut the cast off. I was nervous about that - wondering if there was any way she could cut me. Leg was skinny, foot was fat. She took the stitches out. Some really stung and hurt coming out.
     Dr Lillich came in and said that I could go into a boot or go back in a cast. I told him that I wanted to do what is best for healing. He said that most people want to go to the boot because it can be taken off to sleep and bathe. That sounded great to me!
     Doctor wants to see me in 3 weeks. He said that I could begin walking in the boot around July 19-20.
    PA came in to put me in the boot. I got a new one because I had broken the one I had earlier. I tripped in the yard and broke the front piece. PA put a couple of pieces of hard felt looking material in the heel to be a heel lift because my foot is not at a 90 degree angle yet. That will come with therapy. When she put my foot in the boot, it hurt too much and really wouldn't go. She said to keep it off 2-3 days and flex my foot so it would go into the boot.
     Well, it took almost a week for my foot to go into the boot. By then it was almost time to begin walking.

Cast

     On Monday, June 23 I went for my first post-op visit with Dr. Lillich. I thought that I would get my stitches out and have a cast put on. Stitches didn't come out but cast went on. I have 18 stitches on the outside. Dr. Lillich said that I had lots on the inside. I will spare everyone the picture of the stitches which really look very good. I had a choice of the color of cast - yellow, red, blue, green, purple, camo, soccer balls, smiley faces. Decided on green because liturgically we are in ordinary time which is green. 

     Geoffrey continues to be a good friend. He takes me everywhere, and since our one fall we have had no other issues. 
     The cast is fiberglass which is much lighter than the old plaster casts, but fabric sort of attaches to it. Sleeping has been the biggest problem for me as it is very difficult to move in bed with the cast. I have used 2 pillows under my foot, one pillow at an angle from the bed to the top pillow, and one pillow between my legs. I don't like to sleep on my back so it is hard to get comfortable on my left side and stay there all night.
     I have been drinking lots of water thinking that is good for my healing process. That means that I have to get up during the night for a potty break. I have to sit on the side of the bed for a minute to make sure that I am awake enough to get my knee on Geoffrey. Then off to the bathroom which means pulling forward into our closet and backing into the bathroom.
     I go to work every day but only work a half day as I am tired after that. Afternoons are spent on the couch or bed resting or taking a nap. I had great plans to do constructive things in the afternoons but I never seem to get around to it.
     Each day my upper body get stronger. I can tell because it is not as difficult to move myself around like it was at first. I have told people that I should have had physical therapy before the surgery to work on my upper body.
     I continue to be thankful for Joe and everything he has been doing for me. After helping him after his surgeries, I know that it is very hard to be a caregiver.