Surgery: 4 days left

In order to best document my upcoming surgery and the results, I've taken some pictures of my poor feet prior to the big day.

You can still see the pen where the doc marked my foot. Scarring should be less noticeable because this doc puts the incision as low as possible and uses a "running subcuticular stitch" to close with tape on the outside. This is a plastic surgery technique which should help to minimize the scarring.


More pen. I'm actually glad to have a perfectionist doctor.

My foot problems are genetic (my mother had this surgery on her right foot about five years ago) and have progressed to the point where I can't stand or walk for longer than 20 minutes and my 4E men's New Balance shoes are no longer wide enough. My feet swell daily (sometimes my shoes are off by 10:30 am) and the outside of my right foot goes numb due to a nerve being compressed. So, I am having a double bunion/double bunionette surgery. In other words, I'm having bunions repaired on both feet on my big and little toes. When I first consulted with Dr. A, we discussed my lifestyle and schedule and tentatively decided that doing one foot at a time, back to back, would probably be the best option. On further consideration and discussion with my family, friends, and employer, I made the decision to have both feet done at the same time. There are a couple of reasons for this. The first is simply time. In the end, my recovery time and time lost at work will be less if I do everything at once. The second reason is a lot less noble. While I deal with chronic pain and my pain threshold is pretty high, I'm really something a chicken when it comes to doctors. I don't trust that I would go back after six weeks and have another surgery done. The third reason is support network. My support net only has so much vacation time to help me.

I opted to have this done now, while I am still young and the problem is easily corrected, rather than wait until my first and last toes had finally drifted under or over their neighboring toes. I also have the support base to get me through the minimum of two weeks that I will not be getting out of bed except to use the bathroom. My mother is flying in for two weeks and my best friend and roomie will of course be helping out. Honestly, I think my mother is a saint to use her vacation time to come and nurse me and my friend is--well also a saint. She's gone through a serious injury with me before. She knows what she's getting into. I'm either a complete bitch when I'm in pain or sick or I whine/whimper. Sometimes both at the same time. But both of them have some experience with this kind of thing and know how hard it is.

I'm nervous. It's a fear of the unknown and a fear of pain. I think this is normal, but my desire to be rid of my chronic foot pain and the fact that so many people have adjusted their lives and schedules around me will keep me from backing out at the last minute. I have plenty of activities to keep my occupied-- TV, knitting, books, cross-stitch, Xbox, and the laptop.

I'll try to post something the night before surgery. Perhaps if I can talk my doctor into it, he'll take some pictures of my foot after the surgery and before the bandages and casts go on. I'm sure he'll think this is an unusual request, but I do it in the name of honest and accurate blogging! Who knows? Maybe this bunion surgery series will be helpful to someone considering surgery.

Here's my To-Do list:
1. Rent a walker to help get around.
2. Get alternate garage door opener to avoid the banned stairs into the apartment complex.
3. Buy suitable, cast-friendly clothing. My air-casts will be unwieldy. I think pants are off the menu for the next 4 weeks and since it's illegal to go naked in public, can you say, "Sundresses"?
4. Buy a shower chair and plastic bags. I refuse to go without showering and washing my hair.
5. Get pain medications and all other presciptions filled.
6. Inventory the liquor cabinet. Shocking to hear from a doctor, but he actually recommended that if the pain medication is working at the highest dosage, have a drink (one drink only). At least he's realistic. I'd be pouring a shot of Jamisons or a glass of cabernet anyway to help the pain medication.