1 Week Post-Op

I have successfully made it through my first week of recovery, though it has not been the easiest!

I am completely off of all pain meds, only taking 1 asprin every morning. My right leg is doing a lot better than my left at this point! I have some numbness in between my incisions on my right leg, but very mild pain, just some stiffness. My left leg is very painful right now. The entire outside of my leg is bruised. Above the outer incision, I have severe pain that I don't really know how to describe. It is most likely because of all the bruising. I also did not have my legs drained after surgery, so I have so much blood under the skin that is also building up causing pain. I am still on my crutches, though I can get some places without them but it is painful. My nausea has finally gone away, which is especially great considering that was the most uncomfortable part for me.

I am currently heating my left leg to see if that will relief some of the pain. My first post-op appointment is next Monday (March 18), and there I will get a lot more answers about the rest of recovery. Slowly but surely I am getting there; step by step!

More pictures from days 4-7 post-op:

                                           Outer left leg - bruising (healing)                

                                           Outer right leg - blister healing on ankle

                                          Inner left leg - little bruising still (healing)

                                                   Inner right leg - just incision 

                                                              Before and after picture 

Day 2 and 3 Post-Op

I should've expected recovery wasn't going to be as nice as Day 1 appeared to be.

Day 2/3 were a lot more painful. I was not up and walking as much, and I am now reliant on my crutches to get around. I was on my pain meds every 4 hours on Day 2 and was changing my ice every 4 hours as well. It was pretty much in and out of sleep, with very little to eat the entire day. When I got up to eat dinner, I thought I was good enough to eat at the table with my family but 2 bites in I had to rush back to the couch and turned into a very sick, pale ghost. 

After I started to get my color back, my mom took off my ace bandages to reveal my incisions - a process that still seemed too much for my stomach to handle. It was cool to see, but my legs literally look like a truck ran them over. Both legs are all bruised up and down, and my feet are swollen, making my legs extremely painful. Aside from that pain, like I said, I have been extremely nauseous the past 2 days, and get very light-headed when I sit or stand up - all from the pain meds I had taken like candy on Day 2. So I have been relishing in my sleep, as that is the only time I actually feel okay. Since I am now off of oxycodone, I am just taking tylenol for my pain - although it doesn't do too much. I also take a baby asprin every morning, per doctors orders. I just feel a lot of pressure in my legs, right one is worse than my left, but they look like they are healing really well.

As of now, the only thing I can't stand is the nausea, because that feeling is just altogether uncomfortable, but it should wear off sooner than later because I have stopped the pain meds, so now  my body is just getting adjusted to healing without them. Ice, powerade, water, tylenol, and sleep continue to be my best friends!
                                              
                                  Starting to remove the ace bandages - right leg

  

Right leg after removing ace bandage

                                                            Outer left leg - all bruised

                                                   Inner right leg - just bruising by ankle

                                      Outer right leg - ankle completely bruised and swollen

                                      Both legs with incisions showing - close to 2 1/2 inches

          Compression stockings put back on over incisions (covered in band aids)

Day 1 Post-Op

Well... it's officially all over!! I went into surgery with a smile on my face, and came out with one on too! We arrived at the hospital around 9:30AM, and there was barely anyone there. They took me back and got me all settled into my gown, and I just relaxed and met with some of the nurses. Around 11AM, they started my IV and before I knew it they were wheeling me away to the OR around 11:25AM. Surgery lasted about an hour and was a complete success! Everything went great!

I woke up in recovery... VERY loopy! Thanks to my little sister, I have some pretty funny footage of me repeatedly asking the same questions and laughing. I was in very minimal pain, probably thanks to the ice packs on my legs and pain killers. It was probably 45 min in recovery and I was up, dressed, and walking to the bathroom all by myself with the help of crutches. I was walking without any pain. I got in my wheelchair and in the car I went. Home sweet home to start my recovery!

I got home around 3PM, and was very comfortable and surprisingly not that tired. I actually stayed awake until midnight the first night before crashing. I was still taking my pain meds, and had my legs elevated on the couch. I got up for the first time during dinner, around 6PM. As I got up, I was feeling good and went to go and make my own dinner, standing all alone, no crutches. 5 min later I was lying back on the couch with a cold washcloth on my head and a throw up bag next to me... VERY nauseous! So it was a reminder that even though I felt good, I needed to rest. It wore off probably 20 min later and I just rested for the rest of the night!

I woke up this morning, Day 1 Post-op, and was doing again great! Still in very minimal pain, and I am up and walking to the bathroom and kitchen by myself, without the help of crutches. My legs are still all wrapped up with ace bandages and I have cold packs covering them. I also put on my compression stockings today. The pain meds have definitely kicked in today though, haha! I am sleeping every other hour so I figured I would get in my first blog before I crash again! The only thing is that I have not been very hungry since I got out of surgery yesterday! I am eating fine, just not too hungry, but very thirsty!

So far, so good! I feel great and I am so happy that the worst is over! I can't seem to wipe this smile off of my face. I truly do believe that smiles, laughs, and positivity go a long way in recovery! If you are going through this surgery, or are going to go through it, the one thing I will say is that ice will be your best friend, pain meds are good too, keep your legs elevated on the couch, whether you want to or not you have to get up and walk around, and while you are lying on the couch make sure you do your ankle pumps to avoid blood clots! The surgery is not anything to fear! You wouldn't even be able to tell I just have major surgery on my legs!

Here are a few pictures of what my legs look like after surgery:

1. My legs as they were right after surgery, ace bandages under, and braces with ice packs inside on top.

2. The bandages under the ice braces - legs are not that swollen! Ice works wonders!!

3. Putting my compression stockings on over the ace bandages!

It's Real

I just filled out my pre-op information, and that certainly just made this all too real!

Countdown is on - 10 days until the big day! Can't even express how many mixed feelings I have. Right now it's more excitement and impatience, but I know as soon as the day rolls around I'm going to be nervous as ever!

Just can't wait for all of this to be over and done with, and I get to start my recovery - which will eventually lead to RUNNING!

Surgery is Scheduled... for real!

After 4 years of chronic leg pain, 7 months of going from doctor to doctor in search of a correct diagnosis, misdiagnosis after misdiagnosis, different opinions, seeing every prestigious doctor in the hospital, not being able to run for more than 2 min, I have finally scheduled surgery.

I will be having all 4 of my compartments released, both legs, on March 5th, 2013. I am confident that surgery will go great, but shaky on the recovery part. This surgery, as I have been repeatedly told, is not a guarantee. It may or may not work. I might go through all of this only to try running again and the pain returns. Of course I am dreading that moment, but that is a bridge that I will cross when the time comes.

Finally scheduling surgery was one of the biggest reliefs for me. I was smiling from ear to ear when I was signing the surgical consent form - unusual to hear, but those close to me know how excited I was. It was like I was signing my pain away. I still remember, 4 years ago, when the pain came on. In September it will also be 4 years after being diagnosed with Celiac Disease. It has certainly been a rough 4 years, to say the least. Years filled with pain, frustration, countless doctors appointments, blood tests, MRI's, endoscopies, etc. But I am relieved and excited that they weren't wasted years! The next 4 years will hopefully be filled with not as many tests and appointments, and replaced with healthy days.

I will blog pre- and post- op about the recovery. I know this journey is far from over, but there is actually an end in sight and it's bright!

Whirlwind

I have finally gotten in touch with both surgeons and things seem to be moving... forward and yet backwards all at the same time.

I definitely do not have any vascular problem with my legs, but my orthopedic surgeon got back to me and said that since the only test results we have are my elevated pressures, he thinks it is reasonable to do compartment releases for Compartment Syndrome. Though he cannot guarantee it will work, but at this point I am willing to take that risk.

All of my symptoms continue to point to Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome, and it was only originally ruled out because they believed I had a vascular issue. So we are back to the first diagnosis right now.

I am meeting tomorrow (Jan. 16) with a Sports Medicine doctor to get a second opinion on my symptoms, and whether or not surgery is the best possibility at this point.

So 2013 might just be the year of good results and health... I will know a lot more tomorrow!

I continue to be blessed for all of the amazing doctors who have taken me on and have stuck with me through the last 6 months, doing everything they can to try and figure this all out and get me back on the field and track! I am especially blessed that I have the best of the best, and most renowned doctors helping me. 

Happy New Year

It has definitely been an interesting year, and certainly a journey. Despite health issues, 2012 has been filled with amazing memories. End of my senior year, adopting my precious puppy (Stellie), and finishing my first semester of college! It is incredible to look back and think of how far one can come and how things can change in only a short year. Time certainly flies by! I don't have any regrets, and can't wait to see what 2013 has to bring.

Heading into the New Year still in search of a diagnosis, but with a positive attitude. Here's to hoping 2013 brings everyone health and happiness.

... And we all survived the "end of the world!"