Day 1 - Post Surgery (Ouch!)

Today was really hard. I'd been expecting it to be, but that didn't make it any easier.

I didn't sleep too well the night in hospital due to the snoring lady, managed to get a couple of hours in early morning but was woken at 8am for breakfast and to have my obs done (blood pressure, heart rate, temp etc.) Pain was still being managed by regular painkillers, I think it's fair to say that if they make a painkiller - I've had it whilst in hospital!!

I worry that I'm putting people off with talking so much about the pain. Let me explain that yes, it is painful, once the pain block wears off from your feet about 24 hours after surgery, your feet feel extremely sore - almost like a very intense version of the bunion pain you will have experienced before - however it really is manageable with pain medication and *fingers crossed* am hoping it will all be worth it - no pain, no gain etc...

So during the morning in hospital the physios arrived to teach me how to walk with these new sexy space boots they'd given me. "WALK???!!!" I thought, "How can I possibly walk?!" - I was really put off the idea. I think I'd read somewhere that if you put too much pressure on your feet too soon, you can crack all the bones and it could revert back to a bunion again. They assured me it would all be fine and my lovely sister who had visited was supporting me. The main point was that they wouldn't discharge me from the hospital until I could prove I was able to walk using the boots and crutches - so after a lot of tears and struggling - I finally managed to do it. It was uncomfortable to begin with, and you do feel as if you're putting pressure on your feet, not to mention having them dangling below you means the blood is rushing to them so they start to throb - but it was better knowing that I would at least be able to shuffle my way (very slowly) round the house if needs be, as I had no idea I would be able to walk at all for the next six weeks.

After learning to walk with the crutches, I was told I could go home. They gave me a tramadol (best pain medication EVER!) which knocked me out a bit, and everything was very hazy for the next few hours. My husband and sister helped me as they wheeled me out of the hospital and into the car and off we went...

Getting home was fine, I had pre-planned and set up the sofa with duvets and cushions, as had planned for this to be my base for the next few weeks. I managed to hobble to the toilet with my crutches before getting settled on the sofa. It was once I had got comfy on the sofa that once again that emotion hit me again and the tears started flooding. I'm not usually such an emotional person, I've never cried at the Lion King(!) but the past twenty four hours or so had been so up and down and it was really taking its toll!

The pain today was really intense and now that I was out of hospital, I had to manage the medication I was taking myself - as opposed to the lovely little routine of just asking for something and being given a little magic pill everytime!

I had a bit of a sleep on the sofa whilst hubby washed the cars and did the garden, keeping his phone on him in case I needed him. When I woke up that was when it hit me that I am going to be VERY bored over the next few weeks. I had only been awake for about ten minutes and was already desperate for some company - someone to come and take my mind off the pain. I am extremely lucky as my parents live only 6 doors away from us and are both home-based, and my sister is just a few streets away so including my husband, I have a very nice little network of happy helpers around me.

Everyone then came over, including my three year old nephew who found it a bit strange seeing Auntie hobbling around with some great metal sticks and it was nice to have a giggle and talk about other stuff for a while.

One thing I am finding strange is the weird twitching feeling in my feet, probably part of them coming back to life from the anaesthetic, but it's weird having your feet spasming from time to time.

Drifted off on the sofa and managed to sleep without pain medication from 8pm onwards - bonus. It was hurting, but not severe enough to be desperate so I thought I would try my best without. Sofa was comfy enough so off to bed we go. It had been a really tough day, learning to overcome the fear of walking and coming out of hospital, not to mention the added pain when walking/moving, and the general emotion of going through something pretty impactful on your daily life.

Glad to be home though...