ellen_datlow

So yes, after months of foot pain and a few doctor visits (with conflicting diagnoses) I'm having surgery on my left foot done by a different doc than the one I went to initially--and not for Morton's Neuroma (which the first foot doc & MRI said I have) but to have my second toe realigned with a pin so that it stays where it's supposed to and doesn't veer to the right, into my big toe. I've currently got three toes bandaged with gauze to place them where they should be temporarily plus a pad stuck to the bottom of my foot to relieve some of the pressure on the painful area.

The foot's been much better since 1) I was in a boot for three weeks and 2) got a steroid shot before leaving for Australia. It began to hurt again two days before I got home but hasn't hurt anything like it did before I initially went to a foot doc.

Long story short. The doc I went to for second opinion (and who I'd gone to about 20 years ago for hammertoe surgery) convinced me that I do not have MN despite what the MRI shows--because the pain isn't where the neuroma is...duh but just under my second toe.

It's minor surgery and I won't be under general anesthesia but likely be given that lovely valium drip that puts me into the best twilight sleep ever! Scheduled for June 3rd if the insurance co. approves (and there's a $750 co-pay--whoopie!)

I'm hoping to be getting back into high heels in time for the Stokers-we shall see.

This morning we called before we went over and were told he ate breakfast and that he talked in full sentences (he doesn't do this all the time pre-surgery,  because of his June stroke), so it's really good when he does.

When we got there he was looking  better--he's totally off the pain meds--ate a very wee bit of lunch. Verbalized a lot, although mostly we think to complain about being uncomfortable.

His wrists have been tied with restraints so that he doesn't pull out his catheter, which he'll  be until his urine no longer has  blood in it (a former problem that needs to be resolved). The nurse untied one arm totally and he seemed to be more comfortable like that but we had to watch him constantly.

He got some physical therapy (moving of his legs) and the therapist retied him because he was pulling a the tubes again.   But he apparently was cooperating with the therapist, which means he's understanding what the therapist was telling him to do. I took a break in the waiting room, so I wasn't watching.

He definitely made it clear when he did not want something. As my friend, the former physical therapist suggested, I've been repeating to him why he needs to leave the tubes alone and what's going on. And trying to communicate that once the catheter is out, he'll be more comfortable. He's a terrible patient. He hates hospitals and hadn't stayed in one for decades till last March when he was in for three days of observation of his atrial fibrillation.

We left at 5pm.

We think some of the family is visiting tomorrow.  My dad's sister and brother in law and one of his nephews (who has to drive them from Miami) and his brother's son, who lives a little north of them but who's in town for an antique show. Usually he's more communicative with my cousin Peter so this will be great, if he makes it to the hospital.

I will be posting only intermittently because of a very slow dial-up connection from my parent's place for 6 days.
So my flight was an hour late yesterday because of bad weather in NYC. On the way home my parents tell me that my dad went for his regular checkup at the VA hospital Monday by himself and that he had an irregular heartbeat. They wanted him to stay overnight to be monitored and he said no way --his wife was home alone, his daughter was coming the next day, and forget it. So...he checked himself out.....

My mother and I dragooned him back to the hospital today (we warned them we were coming back and he said he should go straight to the ER to be checked in, no problem. We brought some stuff for him to have while in overnight. The ER room was pretty empty and they took him in right away. After about half an hour my mom and I were able to go in and sit with him while doctors came and examined him and questioned him (it was good that my mom and I could fill in some gaps about his recent health) and got him ready to be registered for an overnight stay. He was hooked up to the monitors and getting meds to slow down his heartbeat and thin his blood (for now). He most likely will not remain on the blood thinners once he gets out because he has bad balance and if he falls on blood thinners it would be very bad.

We didn't know when he'd actually get a bed so we bought him some lunch at the canteen which he ate like he was starving (my dad gets extremely grumpy when he's hungry). He was charming with the docs and nurses--a resident saw him and then an intern and he'll be seeing a cardiologist either tonight or tomorrow. We left around 3:30 and soon after we got home he called and gave us his phone # in the room he was taken to. They're hoping to find out why his heartbesat is irregular but warned us that often they never find out what the problem is.
Hopefully everything will be ok and he'll be checked out tomorrow. We shall see.

I'm not worried (yet) but I'm really glad this happened while I'm down here because I know it totally freaks out my mom.

Meanwhile, the weather is balmy and the moon is a gorgeous hug disc in the sky.

Sunday update: We picked my dad up today and he's home, napping. He slept terribly all three nights in the hospital. He's off some meds and on some others (he doesn't need many, considering his age). No more caffeine for him.
Thanks for everyone's kind concern over the past few days.