28 February, 2009
26 February, 2009
Foot Operation No.2
I was quite excited on the day of the operation. I was doing last minute cleaning, and it was all nearly done. The gardener came and unfortunately, he was getting a delivery of gravel, to take through to the back from the front. He also got the trellis fence panels and a set of massive fence posts. As I was still able, I decided to help get this stuff out the back, but I didn't have time to help with the gravel, and thus I didn't have time to do any hoovering before leaving for the hospital. The gardener did some while I was in hospital, but not as much as I'd have liked.
Anyway, before:
You can see that my big toe is angled towards the second toe, and there is bone jutting out to the side. The jutting out bone rubs and after a day of walking can look a bit pink. It is a curious pain, maddening, but almost pleasurable when massaged. But obviously you are not massaging your foot when wearing shoes, and I have never worn tight, pointed or high-heeled shoes. Apart from wearing out my shoes prematurely, it hurt a lot, not just when walking but for hours and hours after taking my shoes off and the next morning too! It says on my discharge form that I had elected for surgery. I sure did!
I walked to the hospital through Mountsfield Park. It is on a Lewisham Hill, and I could see the Hospital clearly in the distance, and all the way to Canary Wharf and beyond. On the other side of the park, I followed the cycle route to the hospital, and indeed it took me to just across the road. I reported to the reception and was sent down a corridor to a waiting room. Eventually I saw a nurse come out and call someone. So I waited to be called. I was called in the middle of helping a porter take some huge boxes out of the room. Oh well, I had to leave him at it.
I was taken to see a nurse who took my blood pressure (good) and pulse (47). Then I was taken to the Anesthetist, who asked me some questions. We had already met before in October, when I had a little heart test to check for irregularity, but she, like I, was a cyclist, so she wasn't worried my my heart rate. Back out to the waiting room, and soon I was called back and told to change. I was told not to bring valuables, but to bring a dressing gown and slippers. So I went with nothing but my house keys, my old gown and my older slippers. I changed into the operating gown and the gown/slippers and went to see the physiotherapist, to re-learn how to use crutches. My crutches are an improvement over the ones I had last year. The main change is the hand-grip which is triangular and much nicer to hold onto.
Back out to the waiting room again, in my gown and slippers (I wasn't the only one so attired), and a few minutes later I was called back again. This time it was it. Down the corridor to a bright room, when I deposited by slippers and gown into a green plastic bag. The anesthetist and nurse asked what I did, and I talked about my work and the NHS and the next thing I knew I was waking up looking at this:
My immediate thought was, ah, my bunion is hurting again, and I asked "Am I post-op?" I think those were my exact words. The nurse replied in the affirmative. So I had another look. and gosh, my toe was pointing straight and had hardly any bump. It kind of looked like a normal foot. It wasn't until an hour or so later, fully woken up, that I thought...where's the plastercast? I had got one last time, but this time all I had were some tight bandages. Eventually it was explained to me that I wasn't getting a plaster-cast, and I was booked in for a week on Thursday for an x-ray and cast. I wasn't happy about this, but google tells me that this is not at all unusual. So fine. I was fed with a egg mayonnaise sandwich, which was welcome, as I had not eaten since the night before.
My uncle came for me at 6pm on the dot as requested and I got taken home. I can't wail till next Thursday and a proper cast, I feel the bandage is peeling off and because I toss and turn in my sleep, I feel I need something stiffer to hold everything together. Ho hum, I'm keeping my feet up and hoping for the best.
22 February, 2009
21 February, 2009
Tooth and Foot
The week before last, I went to the endodontist for the third time. This time he used a longer file to clear out my root canals. Apparently my roots were a bit longer than he thought. This time, rather than falling asleep in the chair, as I did the last two times, I feel asleep and suddenly woke up. I felt something. Ah elation! For us both I think. He had reached something and flushed it out. I am now to wait till late-march when if the pus and bleeding has stopped, he'll fill the roots ready for a crown. Late march because Foot Operation number 2 (left bunion removal) is on Monday!
I am booked into the Riverside Centre at Lewisham Hospital for 12pm. Strange to think that the drill or whatever the surgeon is going to use to break my foot might be eco-powered. I'll take a 'before' picture tomorrow, for reference later. I'm going to walk to the hospital, through Mountsfield Park with it's great views over Lewisham towards Canary Wharf, and then its just a few streets to the Hospital. Obviously, I'm getting a lift home (from my uncle).
I did a big shop today in East Dulwich. Apart from some fancy handwash from Roullier White, which was why I went there, I bought a load of fruit and veg from Sainsburys, which should help with healing, and for the first time in a long time, I got some fish and chips for dinner. I'd been intrigued by Sea Cow for a while, and when I looked, I saw I could get some non-endangered Coley and Chips for £5. It's a really modern place. At the front is a display of fish, like a fishmonger and a waiting area. Round the side and back is canteen seating in that modern all-wood way. I was told it would take 5 minutes and I took a seat to wait for my takeaway. The Sea Cow is right next to the bus stop, and I saw two of my buses go by. Just after the second one left I was called over to pick up my box of fish and chips. It was given to me in a paper bag, so all recyclable, and it smelled great. I snuck a little chip and it was perfect and crunchy. It would have stayed that way if I had got the order 30 seconds earlier. Instead I had a fairly lengthy wait for the bus, and then we got stuck in heavy traffic approaching Catford. So much traffic! Back home, it was all luke warm, and a minute in the microwave made it hot, but moist. Drat. Still tasty though.
Wish me luck!
15 February, 2009
Missing chainring bolts...
I cycled to work through all the snow the past 2 weeks. It's all melted now, so I decided to clean the salt and dirt off the lower half of the bike. I did the chain last.
I was hearing a curious creaking noise from the past week, and I couldn't tell where it was coming from. It turns out (at least this is what it appears to be) that the squeak was from a loose chainring.
There are 2 missing bolts. I hope it isn't damaged. I'll have to take it to the bike shop next week.
I was hearing a curious creaking noise from the past week, and I couldn't tell where it was coming from. It turns out (at least this is what it appears to be) that the squeak was from a loose chainring.
There are 2 missing bolts. I hope it isn't damaged. I'll have to take it to the bike shop next week.
02 February, 2009
01 February, 2009
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