Our family had a Spring break vacation planned last Thursday to visit my daughter Claire (who is studying Animation in San Francisco). I had started playing tennis again at the indoor courts here in Acton, MA and life was good! However, as these things happen, God only knows why, my active and busy life suddenly came to a halt.
About half way through my tennis lesson on Tuesday, I ran back from the base line getting ready to hit an incredible forehand, when I felt a "POP" in the back of my right leg. My ankle rolled back and I fell to the ground.....
Unbelievably, I managed to hobble to my car and I drove straight to my Doctor's surgery. I was lucky to get an immediate appointment with the Nurse Practitioner, who diagnosed that perhaps my Achilles tendon was torn. UGH!!! How could this happen to me - 2 days before our vacation, what terrible bad luck. I wanted to fly to San Francisco, our flights were booked, our hotel and rental car was booked and Ashley was going to be devastated!
Diagnosis:
I have been very impressed with the Medical establishment since then. I was able to see the Orthopedic surgeon that afternoon, with my husband driving this time, where she (and X-rays) confirmed my worst fears - a complete rupture of my right Achilles tendon. By this time, I was in complete shock and was told that the operation would be scheduled for Friday. The next few days flew by with a slew of tests - an MRI, cardiogram and blood work. I was given a pair of crutches and would have to wait it out in a semi plaster cast until surgery day!
Here is a picture of the Achilles tendon, in case you have no idea what I'm describing.
So what happened with our vacation, I hear you ask? Well, obviously I was having my surgery on Friday and my husband would have to stay and look after me, so we decided that Ashley could take her trip solo. I forgot to mention that we had planned to meet my brother-in-law and his family in San Francisco on the tail end of their trip from London, England. So they were available to meet her at the airport and she would stay with Claire in her college dorms. The rest we would have to play by ear...
During my 2 days before surgery, I discovered the wonderful world of ATR (Achilles Tendon Rupture) blogging. I found great information and tips from people who've gone through the experience. So, I have decided to blog my recovery on my recipe site, (I guess I won't be doing any serious cooking for a while). I hope I can help anyone who has just discovered they have ATR.
Day 1 - Surgery:
I was not allowed to eat or drink for 12 hours before the surgery. My wonderful husband (my current slave) drove me to the hospital on Friday at 12pm, where I was prepped for the operation. I opted for a spinal anesthetic over general and woke up about one hour later with news that the surgery went well and a plaster cast on my leg. I would wait in the post-op ward for about 4 hours until the anesthetic wore off. No pain so far and looking forward to a restful overnight stay in an upstairs ward.
Day 2 - Hospital overnight
I was feeling pretty OK until I was asked if I wanted pain killers. My surgeon had told me earlier that it was best to take the painkillers before I needed it, this would keep me out of pain as much as possible. So I was given the choice between an intravenous drug called Dilaudid or Oxycodone tabs. Unfortunately, I chose the Dilaudid, which made me as sick as a dog and I guess this has been the lowest point of this experience so far. On the positive side, it did keep me pain free for about 12 hours, but the nausea it caused was not worth it!
Day 3, 4, 5 - Home
I have been so lucky to have my husband stay at home with me this week. He has served me all my meals, helped me shower, change clothes and has not complained about a thing. But, it has been hard to come to the realization that I am no longer in control of my life. Next week, my husband will go back to work, but Ashley will be back home. I'm hoping that I will become proficient at getting up and downstairs with my crutches, so I can cook again. I won't be able to drive for the next couple of months, so I will at home thinking of things to keep myself busy.
Yesterday, I was so bored that I dug out my knitting yarns and found a pattern for crochet dish/washcloths. The pattern is pretty easy, but I'll need to get some cotton yarn, so that they can be of any practical use. This is the link in case you're interested lion brand washcloth.If you have any tips or suggestions for me, I'd love to hear from you. So, please stay tuned, I'll be documenting my milestones on this blog and you might be lucky to get a few easy recipes for the cooking impaired :)
Comments