1st visit back to the hospital!!

Posted on November 26th, 2010 by gazroscoe

I went back to the hospital on Monday, to have my cast removed and stitches removed. All went well, my wound has heeled 90% nicely with just one small part to go which I’ve now got paper stitches on, which I was told I could take off in a week.

The consultant took a glance at my leg and said “ok looking good see you in 6 weeks time” at which point I replied whats to happen next and that I’ve got my own Vacoped boot, he looked complexed and said he would be back shortly. About 30 mins later he came back and said you still here, (having a hard day I guessed). After answering some questions he came to the dicision I could put the boot on at 30 degrees and work my way to 15 when comfortable up to the physio appointment, book an appointment with the physio for 3 weeks time and back to the hospital on the 4th January.

So I’ve been spending a couple of hours a day, slowly but surly moving my foot towards 15 degrees, think I might get there over the weekend. I’m looking forward to seeing the physio though, as some professional care would be nice. At the moment I’m reading everyone else’s routines and trying not to get carried away.

As for this sitting at home all day, what a bore! What’s been worse is that my fiancee has been away most nights this week and having to cope on my own. God it takes so long to do anything!! 

Hope all is ok everyone ?

3 Comments »

First day home!!

Posted on November 5th, 2010 by gazroscoe

I made it home at last, it’s now friday morning I got home yesterday evening…..the final moments in hospital…..the pain had almost gone (thank god), I went to the plaster room and had my plaster replaced for a shiny new black one my food is now at an angle of about 30 - 45 degrees a little hard to tell without a pertractor. The physios’ came round and gave me a lesson on how to use them, which was helpful especially with the stairs. I then waited a couple of hours for the consultant, she came and said that I would have to keep my leg up for at least a week, and that I would be back in two weeks for a check on my wound and progress. I left with a goody bag of pills for pain and constipation.

I got home first thing BATH oh my god how good did that feel….My Vacoped Achill arrived this morning, quick since I only ordered and payed for it yesterday. It looks bloody awsome and cant wait to get into it. I had to pay for this myself as the Nhs in southampton only use the aircast systems due to budgeting, if you live in london you might have a better chance apparently. I am hoping to have this on when I go back in two weeks, which would then enable me to get in the bath, shower and go swimming without any issues of getting the plaster wet.

Well I will keep people updated with my progress and check in on others most days. Keep well and recover quickly.

5 Comments »

The Day Of/After Op!!!

Posted on November 3rd, 2010 by gazroscoe

Day Of Op.

Got to be honest I was feeling very nervous as I was getting changed, that feeling of:-  Is this the right choice ?, the worry of getting an infection, losing nerve feeling, the op it self not going as planned. Then the doctor came in to see if I had any last questions and the ones I had, got a reply of “there are so many varibles that we would have to wait and see how the surgery goes”. But the one thing he did say, was that after all is over I might not get my full ROM (Range of movement) back and it might effect my ability for running etc.

So down I went to theatre, where I was met by a nice lady that gave me some white stuff via IV and then I felt a tingling sensation and away with the angels I went that was at 1100hrs. I woke in recovery and it was 1303hrs and in pain, she gave me another injection of Morphine and I woke up at 1520hrs with some friends looking at me back in the normal bed at the ward. Which I must thank for the Burger King that they went and got for me mmmmmm. I spoke to the nurse and apparently everything went well. I then had a bad night with the pain, I was taking oral morph and that didn’t seem to be helping much, eventually they gave me morphine via IV and that knocked me out till the morning.

Day After (so far 1530hrs).

I have had to have my plaster split due to the pain of the pressure that its creating on my calf area, oh what a feeling!!!(bliss). I have got a constant thobbing around my lower calf area and the occasional stabbing pain just lower than that. I am still taking oral morph as well as the normal (2x paracetamol 1x codine 1x brufen) and this seems to be working. I am waiting for the doctors to come round and tell me exactly what they found and did yesterday and what sort of time plan they have for keeping me in. That’s it for now…….

……..Continued. Well a consultant finally turned up at 1730hrs to confirm that all went well with the operation, she didn’t have much to say since she didn’t do the op, but did answer some timeline questions that I had for her and what would happen next. It’s now thursday morning so she kept me in for another night since it was to late to have my plaster fixed, physio to come out and I hadn’t had any bowel movement and that I would have to do that before leaving, so started on the nasty tasting white magnesium, but still as yet fail to pass. I should be heading for the plaster room this morning, followed quickly by the physios’ who apparently are going to teach me how to use my crutches and explain the next couple of weeks.

3 Comments »

Hospital days

Posted on October 31st, 2010 by gazroscoe

Well its now sunday, i’ve been in hospital (Southampton General) since friday and still waiting for a space in the rota of surgery, they had my hopes up this morning when I was told it would be today and was therefore Nil By Mouth. Two hours later in came the doctor and cancelled it…so close yet so far….all being well it will be tomorrow he said.

I’ve been told that the operation will take approximatley 1 hour as long as there are no complications. That I would most probably be out for a couple of hours in total.

 I’ve spoken with the Physio person and mentioned about the chance of getting a “VacoPed” she seemed confused and I had to show her online (Oh My God) what have I got here!!!!! All of the nurses have been great to date, less said about the doctors that flitter past you with no care in the world, but I suppose there not here for the caring just the fixing and leave the caring to the nurses.
Awaiting Op
Awaiting Op1

9 Comments »

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  • ems72 | November 28th, 2010 | 4:44 pm

    Hi - sounds like you’re doing really well. I think I’d feel a bit scared about managing the vacoped on my own though.
    I spent one week at 30 degrees non weight bearing, then two weeks at 15 degrees with the large wedge on. I did partial weight bearing for the first 15 degree week and FWB for the second, and have just gone down to the smaller wedge this week (still at 15 deg.).
    I was also advised to remove the boot for 10-15 mins daily once I went to 15 degrees and practise just moving my foot up and down. I also rub cream in around either side of the wound site to keep it supple (we’ve actually been using sudocrem and the wound healed really well).
    Anyway - good luck and I hope it continues to goes as well for you :)

  • normofthenorth | November 27th, 2010 | 2:17 pm

    Congrats on bending your protocol towards one that’s way more convenient AND maybe also better for you (and certainly not worse, according to the evidence). My fave benchmark for what works well is the protocol laid out at bit.ly/UWOProtocol . There are others here and elsewhere too. “Mine” includes timing of all the big transitions and the progression of exercise types, and it produced very good results (post-op and without-op both) in the associated study.

    I usually spend much of my day at the computer when I’m fit, so there wasn’t that much “lifestyle shock” when I was ATR-immobilized! But hitching onto a fast schedule that gets you boot-walking etc. ASAP obviously minimizes that disruption.

    Good luck and good healing!

  • teresa1 | November 26th, 2010 | 11:50 am

    I suspect he went off to Google the Vacoped! Congratulations on your persistence, glad it paid off.
    Sudoku, online scrabble, daytime tv, books - all pall after a while. My husband was working very long hours as well as travelling to China and Norway- when he did appear I felt like screaming - TALK TO ME! Not to mention the fun of standing in the kitchen to eat because I couldn’t carry it through to the table. This stage doesn’t last , you will eventually rejoin the normal world

  • gazroscoe | November 18th, 2010 | 10:10 am

    Hi Birdieboy, thanks for the interest sorry not been on. I’be been away on holiday, which I spent with my leg up in the air drinking the amber nectar, what a joy!!!! Well all seems to be going well I’ve got my next visit to the hospital on Monday 22nd at which time I hoping to get into my Vacacast which I bought £125.00 which hopefully is going to get me back on my feet sooner, well into the pool anyway, not sure what the doctors are going to make of it but will keep everyone informed. Hope all is going well with yourself let us know….

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  • birdieboy | November 13th, 2010 | 6:59 am

    Hi Gazroscoe
    All has gone quiet? hope all is ok as I am following your progress with interest.
    Best wishes

    Birdieboy!!

  • GerryR | November 6th, 2010 | 3:08 pm

    I am really confused about how long you were in the hospital and even why, other than for the surgery. I went to the hospital about 90 minutes before my surgery was scheduled and was released a few hours later, after I was sufficiently recovered from the general anesthetic. My second surgery actually required I be in the hospital because I had a wound vac pump on but that was because of complications from the first surgery.

    Elevation means getting your foot above the level of your heart, which is really not difficult at all if you just think about it a little. I was actually able to get mine to just about the level of my heart at work. It took a while to find the right height for my chair but it worked just fine. At home it is dead simple and you want to keep it elevated even when you’re asleep. Pillows work really well for that.

    Going up stairs on crutches is relatively simple as long as you remember two things: lean very slightly forward and take one step at a time, not trying for the next step until you know you’re stable. With both crutches on the same step, lift your good foot to the next step and get the whole fo

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  • normofthenorth | November 6th, 2010 | 2:51 pm

    Good luck, Gazr and birdieboy both! Nobody’s born knowing how to walk in crutches; it’s a set of new skills, and you’re going to pick up a lot of those before you’re through! (Minimizing the hazards of crutch-walking is one of the major benefits of a faster protocol that gets you to PWB and FWB sooner)

    The key to elevation is controlling inflammation, period. Some people swear by the “above the heart” thing, while many of us get enough relief from sticking our leg up on a foot stool and/or a bolster , a table, whatever. A little elevation is a lot better than none, for sure, especially if you give it the needed time.

    This is one spot where your leg will give you the answer quickly and reliably — especially when you’re out of the cast and can actually check the swelling visually. If it’s puffy, elevate some more (and rest and ice, and maybe compress).

    Gazr, it sounds like your professionals are already boot-friendly (which is a Very Good Thing), just more familiar with the AirCast than the VacoPed. As long as you’ve got the Vaco set up to be rigid (not hinge-ing), it should be functionally identical to an AirCast — or a c

    [...]
  • birdieboy | November 6th, 2010 | 1:31 pm

    Hi Gazroscoe
    Great to hear you are at home and trying to get some order back in your life.
    Be very careful with the crutches going up / down the stairs. In anticipation of the problems I anticipate post op,( tues) I tried early this week using them up the stairs - and fell back down really hurting myself - fortunately I didnt rupture the bit of tendon still holding my foot together but it really shook me up.
    I am interested to know how high above your body does the foot have to be? I have heard ir should be above the heart? but that is not easy.
    Hope you make good progress.
    Keep Blogging!

    Birdieboy

  • birdieboy | November 4th, 2010 | 7:36 am

    Hi Gazroscoe
    I am following with great interest your blog, to give me a foretaste of what I can expect.
    I do hope all goes well with the plaster the crutches and “the movements”!!
    Interested to know if the pain problems have subsided?

    Best wishes and “keep blogging”

    Birdieboy

  • teresa1 | November 3rd, 2010 | 6:12 pm

    Don’t worry about having a split cast. I wasn’t given a full cast until 2 weeks post op, instead I had a cast on the front , and the back was left heavily bandaged. This allowed for the inevitable postoperative swelling.
    If you’re still on oromorph, make sure you drink lots and eat plenty of fibre as it ‘ll give you awful constipation

  • birdieboy | November 3rd, 2010 | 10:35 am

    Hi Gazroscoe
    Pleased that you eventually got your op, but disappointed you have had pain problems resulting in the caste being removed. Hope the pain killers work and that all settles down quickly. I will be interested to know if they keep you in a second night or let you go home.
    Keep smiling and good luck

    Birdieboy

  • PHIL | November 1st, 2010 | 1:05 pm

    I am 33 going on 63

    know the feeling mate ,

    welcome.

  • birdieboy | November 1st, 2010 | 4:12 am

    Hi Again

    I havent quite got the hang of blogging so this might be the second one!
    I am having my op in Barnett on the 9th Nov??, and I believe the consultant recommends 6 weeks in plaster followed by 6 weeks in a “boot”.
    I did consider going private but was told they only covered for one overnight stay so it didnt sem worth it.
    You seem to be having a tough time of it so far so I hope all goes well.
    Best wishes from cloudy London

  • gazroscoe | November 1st, 2010 | 3:32 am

    Hi all, I don’t believe keeping you in hospital is normal, but for some reason they had a concern about me having a clot in my calf, something about damaging my calf at the same time as snapping my achilles, not entirely sure…..but they mentioned that i would be in over the weekend but due to an unusual amount of incoming over the weekend I’m still waiting, have been told this morning that I’m on the list again today, but will have to wait and see. Bronny sounds very much like here with the waiting about, it did take them 10 days to actually get round to doing an ultrasound to confirm the amount of damage…hope all is well with everyone else on this dull but dry day in southampton..

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  • bronny | November 1st, 2010 | 2:50 am

    thankfully its not how socialised medicine works in NZ either. But then they don’t do surgery or even ultrasound the injury here (unless they suspect a DVT in which case they think about it for 4 hours while you wait, then put you in a 3 hour queue…)

  • normofthenorth | November 1st, 2010 | 2:15 am

    FWIW, that’s NOT how Canada’s version of socialized medicine works (at least not here in Ontario)!

    I’ll just bite my lip about everything else, unless somebody wants some help or advice.

  • teresa1 | November 1st, 2010 | 2:07 am

    Gerry, in the NHS possession is nine tenths of the law. While you’re in the hospital bed they can’t give it to anyone else, so your chances of getting onto the day’s list is that much greater. Strange but true.

  • GerryR | November 1st, 2010 | 12:08 am

    Let me understand this. Are you saying you actually stay in the hospital until your surgery happens?

  • gazroscoe | October 31st, 2010 | 1:22 pm

    Cheers Birdie,
    It does seem like it’s going to take a good while from all the others that I have read. Where are you having your op done? Are you staying NHS or are you going private? Are you planning on staying in plaster as the doctors will most probably want, or get into a “Vacoped” as soon as poss?

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  • birdieboy | October 31st, 2010 | 11:48 am

    Hi There
    Interesting to read about your delays in NHS- hope all goes forward / well tomorrow.I am expecting to have my op on the 9th Nov so we will be going thro recovery together.It seems a long haul!!

    Good luck

  • teresa1 | October 31st, 2010 | 9:30 am

    Hi
    Like you I was bumped off the list, though I had to wait until the end of the day to be told by which time I was very wobbly from dehydration. It happens, particularly if they have an urgent trauma case or a previous op doesn’t go to plan.
    Hang on in there, the op’s not so bad.
    Hope it happens soon for you