Good Evening! Several friends have asked me to specifically explain my foot problem. There are really two issues and the first one listed below is much more significant. The "toe issue" is not a new issue and it existed prior to the latest surgery. The idea of getting to the foot to lay flat was the goal of the last surgery and it doesn't look like the foot responded successfully.
What is wrong with the foot? .... basically two problems:
1. The foot will not lay flat to the ground. The entire foot tips to the right, so there is about a
1 1/2" gap between my big toe and the ground. (This gap could easily increase with time, as it has in the past.) I put weight only on the back half of the foot and cannot get the foot to lay flat & make contact w/the ground. The foot is also very rigid and no matter what we do, the foot naturally wants to lay on the side. When the foot tips to the outside, this is called "supination." Therefore, this make walking very hard, can't wear a shoe, painful, etc. It is not normal to continually walk on the side of your foot. Imagine your foot staying tipped to the outside the entire time - this is me!
2. Little Toe issue - The big toe will never move again, because it is "fixed" with hardware inside in one position. All 4 of the "little toes," normally work in conjunction w/the big toe. Since the big toe doesn't work, then my the four little toes decided to quit working also. They are all very "droopy" and just hang lower than they should be & serve no purpose at the moment. Your toes normally aid significantly in walking, but since none of mine are working it is a big problem. They hurt constantly because they are so stiff and there is no movement. We need to do surgery to bring them all upward and place them in the correct position .... they likely will still not move, but at least they'd be in the correct spot.
I'm sure this is more information than you wanted to know, but hopefully it gives you a better picture of the current issues. I am thankful to be working with a doctor that is willing to continue with a complex medical case. I also have a former physical therapist that is now a great friend and it has helped a lot to be able to discuss things with her throughout the process of making medical decisions.
Prayer Requests:
- wise decision making when I meet w/the surgeon on January 10th.
- my walking will improve and become easier each day.
- patience .... to not let my mind get ahead of the healing.
- we'll be able to make an appropriate decision about when to begin physical therapy.
- that I might be able to return to my house for a few weeks, before we operate again.
- that my current surgeon and I will be able to come up with a "workable" solution very soon.
- work .... that my employer will continue to be gracious and understand my situation.
- if additional appointments need to be made, that this will happen in a timely fashion.
Wishing you a great New Year!
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Patience Needed!
I am starting to walk with the foot in the "boot shoe" and am using a cane. The first several days of this were very rough and I struggled to even put any weight on the foot. Gradually, the foot does get a little stronger each day and I am able to walk a little more. I have soaked and creamed the foot time and time again, and it is looking better. The swelling continues with walking, but then does go down over night.
I am still very concerned about the positon of the foot and where we are headed in the future. It is becoming increasingly difficult to be patient, when I know more surgery definitely is ahead. Pray for patience. Pray that I will be content and thankful for the blessings of each day .... it is easy to let my mind get "four weeks ahead" of the foot, on this deal. I have this week off work, but it is hard to be content with not being "out and about" doing fun things.
I e-mailed my surgeon yesterday about my concerns about the foot positioning. My surgeon
e-mailed me back this morning - which has never has happened before (always normally go through an assistant). I am going to take digital pictures of the foot positioning at home over the next two weeks & will continue to try to walk. There is not a lot we can do differently at this point, other than work on increasing mobility. I return to the surgeon the second week in January, so we'll make some decisions about how to proceed at that point.
Hope you are having a great holiday week!
I am still very concerned about the positon of the foot and where we are headed in the future. It is becoming increasingly difficult to be patient, when I know more surgery definitely is ahead. Pray for patience. Pray that I will be content and thankful for the blessings of each day .... it is easy to let my mind get "four weeks ahead" of the foot, on this deal. I have this week off work, but it is hard to be content with not being "out and about" doing fun things.
I e-mailed my surgeon yesterday about my concerns about the foot positioning. My surgeon
e-mailed me back this morning - which has never has happened before (always normally go through an assistant). I am going to take digital pictures of the foot positioning at home over the next two weeks & will continue to try to walk. There is not a lot we can do differently at this point, other than work on increasing mobility. I return to the surgeon the second week in January, so we'll make some decisions about how to proceed at that point.
Hope you are having a great holiday week!
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Cast off, but keep praying!
Got the cast off .... yeah! The good news is that everything has healed inside the foot very well. The two pins on the outside edge of the foot were removed and one "leftover stitch." The foot is still extremely swollen, so this is going to take some time to come down. The big toe and foot appears to now be straight. No signs of infection, just puffy toes and a thick foot.
The bummer news is that more surgery is going to have to happen on the "droopy toes" sooner than I would have liked. The toe problem was another issue that I had prior to the last surgery, but I had hoped we'd need to correct them later and not sooner. The way the toes are now, they get in the way of trying to walk - hard to explain, but they do. There is no movement in any of the toes, so they all need to be pulled up and fixed in a permanent position.
The disappointing news is that at the moment, the foot doesn't lay flat or make contact to the ground .... as everyone had hoped. It is straight, but not flat. There continues to be a gap on the left side of the foot, and only time will tell whether or not this improves on its own, will stay the same or get worse. I need to put weight on it for several weeks & see how things progress. My experience in the past has been that if the foot doesn't make contact w/the ground after surgery, then it continues to remain too high (wrong position) & continues to creep up. The swelling needs to decrease and I need to put weight on it for a bit, before we decide how to proceed.
We'll likely begin physical therapy and/or discuss how to fix the toes in three weeks. The pain issue will be known w/more time, too. We took digital photos today to try and gage if the positon of the foot changes in the near future. I'm trying not to get discouraged about this yet .... the surgeon thinks that it is better than it was, but "not perfect." Myself and everyone else had pictured the foot laying flat on the ground today and that was not the case, so I'm trying to think optimistically. Improving the toe issue will aid in walking, but won't solve the foot positon issue (tipping to the right). Thankfully, God has all this under control.
All this to say ..... keep praying! We are not "out of the woods" on this one yet. The need to have the toes "fixed" was not a surprise today, but the idea that what we just did (surgery wise) might not have fully worked was something new. The foot needs to respond appropriately (e.g. stay in the correct positon) & the skill of the surgeon must happen together, in order for the foot problem to be solved. At the moment, I am still very confident in my surgeon, his staff and continue to enjoy working with them. Time and more prayer are definitely needed!
I did find out that my surgeon is a Christian and has three kids in Christian schools in St. Louis, which was neat to discuss with him. (He happens to go to attend an Evangelical Free Church also.)
Merry Christmas!
Jenny
The bummer news is that more surgery is going to have to happen on the "droopy toes" sooner than I would have liked. The toe problem was another issue that I had prior to the last surgery, but I had hoped we'd need to correct them later and not sooner. The way the toes are now, they get in the way of trying to walk - hard to explain, but they do. There is no movement in any of the toes, so they all need to be pulled up and fixed in a permanent position.
The disappointing news is that at the moment, the foot doesn't lay flat or make contact to the ground .... as everyone had hoped. It is straight, but not flat. There continues to be a gap on the left side of the foot, and only time will tell whether or not this improves on its own, will stay the same or get worse. I need to put weight on it for several weeks & see how things progress. My experience in the past has been that if the foot doesn't make contact w/the ground after surgery, then it continues to remain too high (wrong position) & continues to creep up. The swelling needs to decrease and I need to put weight on it for a bit, before we decide how to proceed.
We'll likely begin physical therapy and/or discuss how to fix the toes in three weeks. The pain issue will be known w/more time, too. We took digital photos today to try and gage if the positon of the foot changes in the near future. I'm trying not to get discouraged about this yet .... the surgeon thinks that it is better than it was, but "not perfect." Myself and everyone else had pictured the foot laying flat on the ground today and that was not the case, so I'm trying to think optimistically. Improving the toe issue will aid in walking, but won't solve the foot positon issue (tipping to the right). Thankfully, God has all this under control.
All this to say ..... keep praying! We are not "out of the woods" on this one yet. The need to have the toes "fixed" was not a surprise today, but the idea that what we just did (surgery wise) might not have fully worked was something new. The foot needs to respond appropriately (e.g. stay in the correct positon) & the skill of the surgeon must happen together, in order for the foot problem to be solved. At the moment, I am still very confident in my surgeon, his staff and continue to enjoy working with them. Time and more prayer are definitely needed!
I did find out that my surgeon is a Christian and has three kids in Christian schools in St. Louis, which was neat to discuss with him. (He happens to go to attend an Evangelical Free Church also.)
Merry Christmas!
Jenny
Monday, December 18, 2006
First Steps on Friday ....
It has been a busy few days at work and there is only one day left with kiddos. Yeah! I was concerned about having enough stamina to make it through, but it looks like I am going to make it! I have off the entire week after Christmas, so this will be time to hopefully move back home, get to "know" my house again and practice taking some beginning steps.
I am down to three days and two hours, before my cast comes off .... Friday at 10:30am. Can you tell I am excited? We will do x-rays and hopefully I will begin with a walking boot. Please continue to pray that everything is still healing properly and we are still "on track." The bones need to be healed thoroughly in order to allow me not to have to continue with the hard cast. My artificial hip has also been painful over the past few days (opposite side of the foot problem), so I am hoping this improves once I can begin to put weight on the foot.
On Sunday afternoon, I tried to ride around in a motorized scooter at the mall and do a little Christmas shopping. It didn't work out, as I had hoped. The motorized cart had a huge basket on the front that was much to large to get in and out of stores. Between things on the floor, clothing racks and people, it wasn't happening for me. Thankfully, I had a great surprise this morning when my partner and administrative assistant both offered to go pick up a few things for me. Both individuals went to two places for me and this helped significantly .... I was thrilled that they helped me in this way!
Many thanks for your continued prayers and cards! I'll write more after the appointment with my surgeon on Friday morning. Patiently waiting to try walking on Friday!
I am down to three days and two hours, before my cast comes off .... Friday at 10:30am. Can you tell I am excited? We will do x-rays and hopefully I will begin with a walking boot. Please continue to pray that everything is still healing properly and we are still "on track." The bones need to be healed thoroughly in order to allow me not to have to continue with the hard cast. My artificial hip has also been painful over the past few days (opposite side of the foot problem), so I am hoping this improves once I can begin to put weight on the foot.
On Sunday afternoon, I tried to ride around in a motorized scooter at the mall and do a little Christmas shopping. It didn't work out, as I had hoped. The motorized cart had a huge basket on the front that was much to large to get in and out of stores. Between things on the floor, clothing racks and people, it wasn't happening for me. Thankfully, I had a great surprise this morning when my partner and administrative assistant both offered to go pick up a few things for me. Both individuals went to two places for me and this helped significantly .... I was thrilled that they helped me in this way!
Many thanks for your continued prayers and cards! I'll write more after the appointment with my surgeon on Friday morning. Patiently waiting to try walking on Friday!
Wednesday, December 6, 2006
Red cast and holiday bow!
Just wanted to let you know that everything continues to go as planned. I was able to ride around West County mall on Sunday afternoon in a motorized scooter, so that was a nice outing and change of pace. I am back to work and see about 100-125 fifth graders everyday at the Village. I have about fifty kids each day ask me if I broke my foot. We have four visit days this week and next, so pray for stamina! I sit for the majority of the day, but it is still tiring for me (7:30-5:30 is a long day all of a sudden).
Everyone is getting a kick out of the red cast with holiday bow tied around it. One parent told me today, "I've seen a lot of things, but NEVER this!"
I am having a small issue with swelling, because my foot is down so much during the day. The foot really should be above my heart for small amounts of time during the day, but this is not possible at the moment. Therefore, the foot/toe area swells and eventually it swells above the knee with purple coloring. Swelling is normal, but it makes for a tight and uncomfortable cast. Thankfully, the itchy feeling continues to be minimal.
I cannot wait until the cast comes off in 15 days .... the end is finally in sight. Continue to pray for reasonable expectations, that the foot will remain in the correct positon long term, and that pain will be a thing of the past once weight on the foot happens. I have the week off between Christmas and New Years and will use that week to practice walking & will hopefully be able to return home. Although it won't happen for some time, a new pair of shoes is calling my name somewhere!
Everyone is getting a kick out of the red cast with holiday bow tied around it. One parent told me today, "I've seen a lot of things, but NEVER this!"
I am having a small issue with swelling, because my foot is down so much during the day. The foot really should be above my heart for small amounts of time during the day, but this is not possible at the moment. Therefore, the foot/toe area swells and eventually it swells above the knee with purple coloring. Swelling is normal, but it makes for a tight and uncomfortable cast. Thankfully, the itchy feeling continues to be minimal.
I cannot wait until the cast comes off in 15 days .... the end is finally in sight. Continue to pray for reasonable expectations, that the foot will remain in the correct positon long term, and that pain will be a thing of the past once weight on the foot happens. I have the week off between Christmas and New Years and will use that week to practice walking & will hopefully be able to return home. Although it won't happen for some time, a new pair of shoes is calling my name somewhere!
Friday, December 1, 2006
Healing Well ... yahoo!
Quick update from my appointment today with the orthopedic foot surgeon . . . Thankfully, all continues to heal well! Since there were many "snow cancellations," I was able to go for an appointment early afternoon ... I was excited to be able to go earlier.
Awesome news ..... NO INFECTION! The fact that no infection has developed is a huge deal .... for our 8th surgery, this is a miracle in itself. The Chicago surgeons thought that it was nearly guaranteed that I'd develop an infection & then would need plastic surgery to correct the scarring that would develop.
The past few days have been rough with the cast being extremely uncomfortable inside. I initially thought it was just itchy, but as days have passed this has gotten worse. For some odd reason, the cast material about halfway up inside the cast had become "bunched up" and was too tight. This was causing pressure, increased swelling, purple coloration and appeared like it was beginning to cut off circulation somewhat. This was all relieved today, when we changed the cast and it already feels significantly better. I now have a red, candy-cane colored cast and bought fun green/red polka-dot ribbon to tie a bow around the toe area.
We removed the stitches today and the surgeon continues to feel that it is holding in the correct position. He showed us x-rays from surgery and we could see the new hardware that was placed inside. We took new x-rays today and everything continues to hold in the correct position. He was extremely careful today to hold the foot in the right spot, while removing the stitches, as to not let the tendon come out of place. The two pins that are now in place will also be removed in three weeks.
I have this cast for another three weeks and two hours and then I can begin to put weight on the foot in a walking boot. I will then wear a walking boot for 2-3 weeks and then will begin physical therapy. December 22nd is our final "cast off" day - yahoo! My surgeon is going to take digital camera pictures at the next appointment. If for some reason the foot would shift in the next few months, he wants to be able to visually show that it was once in the correct
positon. I think we need to send the picture to all those surgeons that said this couldn't be fixed! It is going to take some time to get back into a shoe and have it feel comfortable, although it will happen eventually.
The four small toes continue to be extremely stiff, "droopy" and have no movement on their own. They are all lower than the big toe, so the positioning on these toes will need to be corrected eventually. This is a minor surgical procedure - involves no cast and just a surgical shoe. Obviously, we won't do this immediately - likely early March sometime. The "droopy toes" is not a new problem and is something that will be more of an issue since the foot will be flat.
It is amazing how much better the new cast feels already. I'm very thankful for no infection, such a patient and intelligent surgeon and his caring office staff. The end is in sight .... yahoo!
Awesome news ..... NO INFECTION! The fact that no infection has developed is a huge deal .... for our 8th surgery, this is a miracle in itself. The Chicago surgeons thought that it was nearly guaranteed that I'd develop an infection & then would need plastic surgery to correct the scarring that would develop.
The past few days have been rough with the cast being extremely uncomfortable inside. I initially thought it was just itchy, but as days have passed this has gotten worse. For some odd reason, the cast material about halfway up inside the cast had become "bunched up" and was too tight. This was causing pressure, increased swelling, purple coloration and appeared like it was beginning to cut off circulation somewhat. This was all relieved today, when we changed the cast and it already feels significantly better. I now have a red, candy-cane colored cast and bought fun green/red polka-dot ribbon to tie a bow around the toe area.
We removed the stitches today and the surgeon continues to feel that it is holding in the correct position. He showed us x-rays from surgery and we could see the new hardware that was placed inside. We took new x-rays today and everything continues to hold in the correct position. He was extremely careful today to hold the foot in the right spot, while removing the stitches, as to not let the tendon come out of place. The two pins that are now in place will also be removed in three weeks.
I have this cast for another three weeks and two hours and then I can begin to put weight on the foot in a walking boot. I will then wear a walking boot for 2-3 weeks and then will begin physical therapy. December 22nd is our final "cast off" day - yahoo! My surgeon is going to take digital camera pictures at the next appointment. If for some reason the foot would shift in the next few months, he wants to be able to visually show that it was once in the correct
positon. I think we need to send the picture to all those surgeons that said this couldn't be fixed! It is going to take some time to get back into a shoe and have it feel comfortable, although it will happen eventually.
The four small toes continue to be extremely stiff, "droopy" and have no movement on their own. They are all lower than the big toe, so the positioning on these toes will need to be corrected eventually. This is a minor surgical procedure - involves no cast and just a surgical shoe. Obviously, we won't do this immediately - likely early March sometime. The "droopy toes" is not a new problem and is something that will be more of an issue since the foot will be flat.
It is amazing how much better the new cast feels already. I'm very thankful for no infection, such a patient and intelligent surgeon and his caring office staff. The end is in sight .... yahoo!
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Two weeks yesterday ....
Just a quick note to let you know that all continues to go well for the "two week mark" . . . I return to the foot surgeon on Friday for a late afternoon appointment. We will take x-rays to make sure that the foot is still in the correct positon, remove stitches/staples and have a new hard cast put on. The skin under the cast has been extremely itchy, so pray for some relief from this! This is part of the healing process, but it is incredibly frustrating to not be able to itch your skin. Continue to pray that the tendon that we transferred heals & grows in the new position quickly .... if the tendon contracts and stays short prior to healing, then we are going to be back to our original problem. It has looked like it was healing correctly in the past only to discover otherwise, so we are being cautiously optimistic about this.
The pain continues to be minimal and I'm only taking one pain pill per day. The real "test" on pain will come when we walk on it. The two pins that are in the foot will come out in another four weeks. The final cast is supposed to come off two days after Christmas, although I'm going to check on removing it the Friday before Christmas (assuming all is healed). All four of the small toes are "droopy" and are not in the correct positon. This is something that will need to be corrected eventually, but for now they look strange although it is not a big issue. (I actually had this problem prior to the last surgery, so nothing new here.)
I am back to work at JA. My mom takes me to work & picks me up each day. We had kids in the Village today and again on Friday. The scooter is working out well and is a lifesaver in helping with mobility.
I will write more after my doctor appointment on Friday and will give you the latest update!
The pain continues to be minimal and I'm only taking one pain pill per day. The real "test" on pain will come when we walk on it. The two pins that are in the foot will come out in another four weeks. The final cast is supposed to come off two days after Christmas, although I'm going to check on removing it the Friday before Christmas (assuming all is healed). All four of the small toes are "droopy" and are not in the correct positon. This is something that will need to be corrected eventually, but for now they look strange although it is not a big issue. (I actually had this problem prior to the last surgery, so nothing new here.)
I am back to work at JA. My mom takes me to work & picks me up each day. We had kids in the Village today and again on Friday. The scooter is working out well and is a lifesaver in helping with mobility.
I will write more after my doctor appointment on Friday and will give you the latest update!
Friday, November 24, 2006
Tis the Season ....
I went back to work on Tuesday and Wednesday of this past week. We had 136 kids in the Village on Tuesday and really needed someone to stuff bears at Build-A-Bear Workshop, so I sat and stuffed/sewed bears. We had an office Thanksgiving celebration on Tuesday afternoon, so it was fun to be part of that also. I am still feeling well and no obvious signs of infection. I am getting around on crutches, although I can't be on them for a long time ... 20-30 minutes is about the limit at one time. The swelling in the foot has been manageable and does go down when the foot is elevated. The "itch-e-ness" inside the cast has been okay .... I have a talc spray in an aerosol can called "Cast Blast" that is cool and can be sprayed down inside the cast.
We had a quiet Thanksgiving here at home w/the four of us, but it was nice. It was nice to have a relaxing and quiet day. I slept in, had pumpkin pancakes for breakfast, watched the parade & sipped coffee. I had ordered this leg covering plastic sleeve off the Internet to use in the shower, so we tried it yesterday morning. To my surprise, it didn't leak and kept the cast totally dry. I sat in the shower for twenty minutes and it was wonderful!! It has been 1 1/2 weeks with no water on the skin, so it was good to get rehydrated & then piled on the moisturizer cream. I helped with some food preparations on Friday evening and then my mom finished cooking on Thursday morning. As you can imagine, everything was scrumptious!
I normally do shopping the day after Thanksgiving, but that was out of the picture this year. In and out of the car & stores with crutches, is a bit much today. My mom went alone this morning and I may try to go to Garden Ridge this afternoon with her. I know they have a motorized cart that I can ride. I purchased Christmas cards several weeks ago, so I am going to work on those this afternoon. My mom will do holiday decorating inside the house, so I will watch and help a little with that ..... although it is hard to decorate, while sitting. I have Christmas music turned on now and am ready for the festivities to begin!
We had a quiet Thanksgiving here at home w/the four of us, but it was nice. It was nice to have a relaxing and quiet day. I slept in, had pumpkin pancakes for breakfast, watched the parade & sipped coffee. I had ordered this leg covering plastic sleeve off the Internet to use in the shower, so we tried it yesterday morning. To my surprise, it didn't leak and kept the cast totally dry. I sat in the shower for twenty minutes and it was wonderful!! It has been 1 1/2 weeks with no water on the skin, so it was good to get rehydrated & then piled on the moisturizer cream. I helped with some food preparations on Friday evening and then my mom finished cooking on Thursday morning. As you can imagine, everything was scrumptious!
I normally do shopping the day after Thanksgiving, but that was out of the picture this year. In and out of the car & stores with crutches, is a bit much today. My mom went alone this morning and I may try to go to Garden Ridge this afternoon with her. I know they have a motorized cart that I can ride. I purchased Christmas cards several weeks ago, so I am going to work on those this afternoon. My mom will do holiday decorating inside the house, so I will watch and help a little with that ..... although it is hard to decorate, while sitting. I have Christmas music turned on now and am ready for the festivities to begin!
Monday, November 20, 2006
Stepping up to a new week ....
Well I'm not ready to dance yet, but I am feeling considerably better. Thankfully, the pain in the foot is very minimal, I am sleeping through the night without pain medicine and am feeling well during the day. Today has been my first day "home alone," so it has been filled with movies, reading, scrap booking and sending e-mails. I picked up a "cold" at the hospital, so I am hoping that I have caught it at the early stages.
I may return to my office on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week for a bit of time and just a "change of scenery." I am not going to "WORK" - don't panic! I have rented a motorized scooter that is being delivered to work early this week and it will stay there for the next five weeks. This will allow me to not need to use the crutches during the day and will help facilitate movement much easier, when working with students. We have students in Enterprise Village this week on Monday (today) & Tuesday and then there is a little break until November 29th.
I go back to the surgeon on Friday, December 1st to have staples removed, x-rays taken and a new cast put on at that time. We are thinking of going with a red cast and putting a green holiday bow around the cast .... What do you think? The purple cast now doesn't really go with the leopard crutches either, but you have to create a little fun in the midst of a "non-fun" situation. I figured out that 6 weeks with no weight on the foot falls on the day after Christmas .... start praying now that it heals fast and per chance I can get the final cast off on the Friday before Christmas. I can't think of a better Christmas gift!
I continue to be thankful for medical miracles & patient surgeons, being able to do the surgery locally, friends that pray faithfully, breakfasts in bed, and much more. The Eickhorst family has much to be thankful for this holiday season and I am sure you do, too. Wishing you a very blessed Thanksgiving!
I may return to my office on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week for a bit of time and just a "change of scenery." I am not going to "WORK" - don't panic! I have rented a motorized scooter that is being delivered to work early this week and it will stay there for the next five weeks. This will allow me to not need to use the crutches during the day and will help facilitate movement much easier, when working with students. We have students in Enterprise Village this week on Monday (today) & Tuesday and then there is a little break until November 29th.
I go back to the surgeon on Friday, December 1st to have staples removed, x-rays taken and a new cast put on at that time. We are thinking of going with a red cast and putting a green holiday bow around the cast .... What do you think? The purple cast now doesn't really go with the leopard crutches either, but you have to create a little fun in the midst of a "non-fun" situation. I figured out that 6 weeks with no weight on the foot falls on the day after Christmas .... start praying now that it heals fast and per chance I can get the final cast off on the Friday before Christmas. I can't think of a better Christmas gift!
I continue to be thankful for medical miracles & patient surgeons, being able to do the surgery locally, friends that pray faithfully, breakfasts in bed, and much more. The Eickhorst family has much to be thankful for this holiday season and I am sure you do, too. Wishing you a very blessed Thanksgiving!
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Saturday at the Eickhorst House ...
Today was a MUCH better day with the pain medication situation ... ya, hoo! We have found the combination and frequency that works and there has been no nausea today. I can also stay awake longer than ten minutes and no more double vision. My dad was concerned about "muscle atrophy," so I slowly ventured from the bedroom to the kitchen table for lunch. The "bed tray scene" doesn't last very long in his book. We had "Gretchen's Gourmet Leftovers" for lunch.
The cast that I had put on yesterday seems to be okay. We thought it might be overly tight in one spot, as it was very painful last night, but this has subsided. I made it through the entire night last night without having to get up myself (or anyone else in the house) for pain medicine. The "four hour pain medicine feeding," wasn't the most fun for anyone.
I took a long nap this afternoon and talked with my former physical therapist on the phone (now a great friend), which was nice. She sent me a fun Thanksgiving card via the computer with turkeys dancing and singing .... delightful! Better scoot for now ... my leopard crutches need to make their way to the table for dinner.
The cast that I had put on yesterday seems to be okay. We thought it might be overly tight in one spot, as it was very painful last night, but this has subsided. I made it through the entire night last night without having to get up myself (or anyone else in the house) for pain medicine. The "four hour pain medicine feeding," wasn't the most fun for anyone.
I took a long nap this afternoon and talked with my former physical therapist on the phone (now a great friend), which was nice. She sent me a fun Thanksgiving card via the computer with turkeys dancing and singing .... delightful! Better scoot for now ... my leopard crutches need to make their way to the table for dinner.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Great News! Praise God! (from Gretchen)
The prayers of many have been answered! We just returned from the "casting" appointment and our first opportunity to see Jenny's foot when the bandages came off. Tears of joy were flowing as we witnessed a new flat and straight foot! Needless to say, mom was ecstatic! Jenny could hardly believe it and was suffering from some nausea, so she has yet to realize the full impact of what has been accomplished. Today she will change pain meds to hopefully allow her to be more alert.
Going into the appointment, I was anxious to see if it looked different from last spring when her foot was slightly tilted immediately after the surgery. Today it definitely looked different...what encouragement!
Please continue to pray that her recovery goes well with no infection (the main concern). She will have stitches removed in 2 weeks and a "holiday cast" put on. If all is healed in 6 weeks (December 27), she will go to a walking cast then.
We are rejoicing in this good news and giving God all the praise for this wonderful Thanksgiving gift! Thank you for your prayers and loving support. It has meant so much to Jenny and our family!
Going into the appointment, I was anxious to see if it looked different from last spring when her foot was slightly tilted immediately after the surgery. Today it definitely looked different...what encouragement!
Please continue to pray that her recovery goes well with no infection (the main concern). She will have stitches removed in 2 weeks and a "holiday cast" put on. If all is healed in 6 weeks (December 27), she will go to a walking cast then.
We are rejoicing in this good news and giving God all the praise for this wonderful Thanksgiving gift! Thank you for your prayers and loving support. It has meant so much to Jenny and our family!
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Sleeping lots!
I am resting at home and the pain seems to be more manageable today. I've been napping lots and eating solid foods. I return to the surgeon tomorrow at 1:00 to have a hard cast put on and the current bulky bandage will come off. It is good to be at home and away from all the "hospital hustle." Thanks for your continued prayers!
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Wednesday Update - My First Steps
Just a note to let everyone know that I am no longer in the hospital but will be recuperating at my parents' home through Thanksgiving. I have had some difficulty with the pain control, but hopefully that will improve soon. So now it's lots of naps, charting the meds, and enjoying the meals on a bed tray (while it lasts! :)
THANK YOU again for your continued prayers and loving support! I am very blessed to know all of you!
THANK YOU again for your continued prayers and loving support! I am very blessed to know all of you!
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Moving Ahead One Step at a Time
My Tuesday foot surgery was approximately 2 1/2 hours, and it went very well. Dr. Krause indicated that I now have a flat foot, although it is in a large splint (to allow for swelling) and outer bandage. I won't see it until Friday afternoon when I receive a hard cast.
The good news is the doctors did somewhat less than anticipated, not requiring bone from the hip, so the recovery will be "easier". They were able to use the previous incision spots. The top foot bones were rotated down, held with a plate and screws; the bone by the arch was extended; and the main tendon was moved to allow the foot to lay flat. I will be in Missouri Baptist Hospital overnight and hopefully return back to my parents' home sometime on Wednesday.
Mom had a long day of waiting from 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., but a little humor in the midst of it all late afternoon on Tuesday. The surgical waiting room has senior volunteers answering the phones from the operating rooms and recovery areas. However, the volunteers leave at 4:00 p.m., and there were many families left waiting for surgery results, including Mom. When she asked how everyone would know what's happening, the volunteer who was leaving said she needed to get a family "volunteer" to answer phones when she left. So guess who answered the phone lines from 4:00-5:30 p.m. - Gretchen! So those former receptionist skills came in handy! :) It provided a lively ending to the waiting before she was able to come to my room.
We realize the test comes with time, whether the foot remains flat, but we will continue to pray for this result. Thank you to everyone who has supported us through prayer and calls! I have my JA "Build-a-Bear" teddy by my side in the hospital room.
Please check back on Wednesday or Thursday for further updates. Thanks and keep praying!
The good news is the doctors did somewhat less than anticipated, not requiring bone from the hip, so the recovery will be "easier". They were able to use the previous incision spots. The top foot bones were rotated down, held with a plate and screws; the bone by the arch was extended; and the main tendon was moved to allow the foot to lay flat. I will be in Missouri Baptist Hospital overnight and hopefully return back to my parents' home sometime on Wednesday.
Mom had a long day of waiting from 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., but a little humor in the midst of it all late afternoon on Tuesday. The surgical waiting room has senior volunteers answering the phones from the operating rooms and recovery areas. However, the volunteers leave at 4:00 p.m., and there were many families left waiting for surgery results, including Mom. When she asked how everyone would know what's happening, the volunteer who was leaving said she needed to get a family "volunteer" to answer phones when she left. So guess who answered the phone lines from 4:00-5:30 p.m. - Gretchen! So those former receptionist skills came in handy! :) It provided a lively ending to the waiting before she was able to come to my room.
We realize the test comes with time, whether the foot remains flat, but we will continue to pray for this result. Thank you to everyone who has supported us through prayer and calls! I have my JA "Build-a-Bear" teddy by my side in the hospital room.
Please check back on Wednesday or Thursday for further updates. Thanks and keep praying!
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Stepping forward on Tuesday!
My foot surgery will occur at noon on Tuesday, November 14th at Missouri Baptist Hospital. Many of you know that I met with two orthopedic foot surgeons in the Chicago area at the end of October and we are using their recommendations for one final attempt at correcting a very challenging medical situation. The overall goal is to get the foot to remain flat and make contact with the ground. We are going to do bone grafting from the pelvis area and will transfer bone to the foot to lengthen the large tendon in the foot that aids in foot position.
I will likely spend one night at the hospital and will come home on Wednesday. My surgeon is partnering with another surgeon and they have the operating room scheduled for the entire afternoon on Tuesday. As surgery goes, they are going to be pretty aggressive in attempting to solve the current problem. I will come home with the foot in a splint and then will return to the surgeon's office for a hard cast on Friday, November 17th. I will need to be in a hard cast for a minimum of six weeks and possibly longer.
I moved things to my parents' house this weekend, have my house decorated for Christmas and am ready to get on with feeling better. I have fun leopard print crutches . . . you have to do something to get through a tough situation. Thankfully, I have been very fortunate in the past with no infections from surgery (either in the foot or hip), so pray that this continues. I am relaxed about the situation and realize that God will orchestrate all the details in upcoming days. Keep praying for the skill of my surgeons (Dr. Krause and Dr. Noonan) on Tuesday, that I don't get sick from the anesthetic, patience, and that the foot will respond like it should. Thanks for your prayers!
I will likely spend one night at the hospital and will come home on Wednesday. My surgeon is partnering with another surgeon and they have the operating room scheduled for the entire afternoon on Tuesday. As surgery goes, they are going to be pretty aggressive in attempting to solve the current problem. I will come home with the foot in a splint and then will return to the surgeon's office for a hard cast on Friday, November 17th. I will need to be in a hard cast for a minimum of six weeks and possibly longer.
I moved things to my parents' house this weekend, have my house decorated for Christmas and am ready to get on with feeling better. I have fun leopard print crutches . . . you have to do something to get through a tough situation. Thankfully, I have been very fortunate in the past with no infections from surgery (either in the foot or hip), so pray that this continues. I am relaxed about the situation and realize that God will orchestrate all the details in upcoming days. Keep praying for the skill of my surgeons (Dr. Krause and Dr. Noonan) on Tuesday, that I don't get sick from the anesthetic, patience, and that the foot will respond like it should. Thanks for your prayers!
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