Once again I can't believe it's already been 3 months since my 2nd surgery (and 8 months since my first). I have to say the last couple weeks have been a little challenging adjusting to work again but I think my foot is finally getting the memo. After last week's inching debacle, I started to take more care of my foot and he started to behave more. I am keeping it elevated 80% of my day at work, icing it at least three times at work, and also taking 2 ginger tablets a day (my surgeon's nurse said she has heard this is a homeopathic way of treating swelling). My foot's been a little swollen but sooo much better than it was. I'm even feeling brave enough to possibly wear sneakers to the office one day next week so see how it behaves.
I also can't believe this year is over. 2010's been fun (NOT!) but I am ready for 2011. This has been one of the most difficult years of my life but one that has taught me many lessons of strength, (a little) patience, learning to lean and depend on others, and most importantly, gratitude. But I am so excited for 2011...a new year ahead of me, with new feet, a new job, a fun trip in 2 months, I'll be 30 in March, hopefully a first time home buyer at some point, the possibilities are endless.
Just wanna wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
My foot kinda ballooned in size last night...I didn't really do much standing or walking, even used the old lady mobile chair at Wal-Mart. It also poured all day long and John seems to think that had an effect on it.
Today at work the balloon seemed to get a little bit bigger...check me out:
My foot has NEVER been this swollen
When I took my compression stocking off at lunch time to ice my foot, this kinda panicked me a bit. Not only was I having an extreme information overload morning and then to have to deal with this. So I called my surgeon's office and spoke to his nurse who said I should just continue to do what I'm doing: taking it easy, elevate and ice it. But she said to lose the compressing stocking. No problem! I don't like that thing anyway. If it doesn't get better, she wants me to come into the city on Thursday morning to see him. I hope I don't have to do that.
So when life gives you lemons, you improvise:
How I improvised to keep my foot elevated under my desk at all times
I also spoke to my boss and she was SOOO nice about it. She was actually adamant that I call my surgeon and said if I need to take any time off to go see my doctors or even if I need to take a week off just to sit at home that it's totally fine. I obviously don't wanna do that but let's see how it goes.
I just got home and the swelling is actually MUCH better. I hope it keeps going that way.
I have been trying to get some motivation to write an entry all week. I have just been so exhausted that I postponed it til today, so please forgive me if this isn't one of my best.
Going back to work was great and overwhelming and exciting and exhausting. It's been a week full of mixed emotions. I'm really excited to be back to work, to have my office, to start to do what I love again (and am quite good at!), to just be back to a normal life, and especially to have work benefits and an upcoming paycheck. But boy, was it hard on my body!!
Monday through Wednesday I was pretty much a vegetable when I got back home. And quite honestly, I wasn't really taking care of me during the day. I was just too excited to meet people and my boss was too excited to make me walk everywhere. So on Thursday, I nicely told her I had to take it easy because my foot's been pretty swollen. As a result, Thursday and Friday were pretty great. I still need a lot of training and it'll take a while for me to be fully aware of everything I need to do.
Just want to say a HUGE thank you to John who made dinner and served me every night this week and who didn't ask me to do one thing around the house so I could just rest at night. You're the bomb diggity!
Today's been a pretty lazy day, just resting up to be ready for tomorrow! My foot's been behaving pretty good, it just gets swollen because it definitely hasn't gotten this much action in a looooong time!
I can't believe it's finally the eve of my return to the workforce and I am all ready to go. Lunch is packed, outfit is picked, sleeping pill was taken (LOL! I have to make sure I sleep tonight!).
I just realized this past Friday was actually one year since the beginning of this journey. Thanks for all the positive thoughts and support during this long year. I am excited to be finishing off 2010 a whole lot better than I did 2009. Bring on 2011!!!
I got some amazing news this week. Someone I know from church, who truthfully I only met once but have worked together on a couple projects, bought me a power chair!!!! I am sooo excited to get it and to try it out. I've cut back on some activities over the past couple of years because they involved a lot of walking but I am so excited to go to a zoo, theme park, or the Big E (huge annual fair in MA) next year.
I am so thankful and grateful for this amazing gesture that was completely unexpected.
My new chair!!!!
PS: Thankfully my foot is healing and has been feeling so much better these last few days. I even drove myself to an appointment yesterday. Today, I pulled out my flip flops and finally ditched the walking boot for a couple of hours and I feel great. I am totally ready for work on Monday, but I am still being cautious and will wear my boot and bring the crutches. I've gone from nervous to excited! I'm ready to go!
I'm a girl with hopes and dreams who has Charcot-Marie-Tooth (I know! You've never heard of it!). In this blog, I talk about my journey with this invisible disease and 2 reconstructive foot surgeries (and a 3rd minor surgery) I've gone through in the last 18 months. And I try to do it all with a positive attitude and a smile on my face :)
