We Have A Surgery Date!

I couldn’t believe it in January when I got the call to see the Orthosurgeon, partly because I totally forget about that referral from last January 2018. I’ve adapted my life so much that I don’t really do much of anything to aggravate my feet and sometimes I forget they hurt like a mother when I walk for more than 20 minutes.

Naively, I thought the hospital would call right away to book my surgery. Probably, because when my son had his tubes done, the hospital called before we walked in the door at home.

Needless, they didn’t call. A Month past and I decided I should check in with the doctors office to see what the wait is. I was anxious. I wanted to know what kind of plans I could make. Could we go to Drumheller in the summer? Could we plan to visit Spain at Christmas?

She said the hospital was booking 6 months out. I had been referred in January, so probably sometime in June or July. The receptionist reassured me that the hospital would be cooperative in finding a date that would work around plans. So go ahead, make a plan and the foot thing will happen around it.

I decided to dream of an early summer camping trip and maybe getting away to Drumheller in June. Expecting that my surgery would be around mid July to August.

Then, on February 25, I miss a call from the Hospital. Calling back she asked if I was available for April 10 for a bunion surgery. Heck yes, I was! But then I had mild panic anxiety had felt like hurling my entire lunch. I asked if I could talk to my husband first, and got back to her to confirm the appointment.

I don’t know much else than my vague recollection of the doctors office appointment in January. I know that sometime in the next 6 weeks the hospital will call with a time and further instructions. I know I’ll be off my feet for about 2 weeks, and then a slow recovery afterwards. Everyones bones heal a little different so it’s hard to say. Lucky for me, this is just bunionette surgery and I’m not having any operation done on my big toe. So maybe easier time?

12 months to see the orthosurgeon. 

6 weeks for UHNBC to call me to book an appointment (originally quoted 6 months)

6 weeks to get a surgery date. 

=15 months since my first doctors appointment – not bad for Canadian Health System in Northern BC.

In the meanwhile, I’m panicking because there’s so much to do to get ready – food to stock, shelves to organize, children to coax into independence and more.

Foot surgery isn’t easy.

They break your bones and put them back together and healing bone can take time, especially bone that you put your entire weight on.

I’m excited to be able to return to normal life in 2020. I’m optimistic that the foot surgery will mean I can now wear shoes and boots and maybe learn to ski.  I dream of days when my feet are constantly sore and cold. Maybe I’ll be able to make dinner and do the dishes without regretting the choice because pain is sneaking through the top of my foot starting at my bunionette and bothering all the little toes in the process?

I’m also kinda of looking forward to two weeks of bedrest. I fully expect to go a little crazy because I’m not the type of person to hang around by myself for any duration fo time, but maybe I’ll get the website for the podcast revamped and dream up some big ideas for my youtube channel and maybe take up knitting? Also, my husband is taking 2-3 weeks off work and he’ll be the Parent on duty and I’ll be mom napping.

How am I prepping?

I’m cleaning out closets, labeling baskets and trying to teach my husband how to prepare a meal. I’m doubling/tripling the meals I do cook and stocking the freezer. I even de-iced the freezer this week. I’m tidying up the rooms I’m embarrassed for people to go into, and trying to figure out how I can make my home feel like a place strangers feel at home in.

I hope, and know, that many of my friends and family will stop by to help and assist. I just want to have everything it its place so they can help, and they can sweet the floor or turn on the oven, or find the casserole dish.

Have you ever had a major surgery and recovery? What did you do to prepare.

Also taking healthy recipes I can meal prep ahead of time – Bonus if you have a link because telling me to make burritos is overwhelming pit on Pinterest

I feel more anxious about this than childbirth because I could walk to the bathroom after childbirth and that’s not going to be the easiest task after bunionette surgery.