I know this post is long overdue, so I'm sorry. Maren, and everyone else that is curious, here is what happened to my foot. Also, I'm sorry these pics aren't the best, but this is what you get when you hold x-rays up to light at your back door and try to take pictures! Enjoy!
The drama all started on March 30 (Friday night - why do all accidents happen when doctor's offices are closed? Is it because that's the only time we are at home?) I was sewing the crib bumper for the nursery bedding that I am making (pics will follow in a later post) and when I stood up from my sewing table, I felt something sharp hit my foot. I of course immediately jerked away, and upon further inspection of the carpet, found part of a broken needle. This of course sent up a red flag since I didn't know where the other half of it was. After inspecting my foot though, I found absolutely no wound, simply a tiny pinprick where the needle had hit me. I dug around a bit just to make sure that there wasn't anything in there, and was finally convinced. My foot was hurting a little where I had dug around, but that was normal - right?
So I went about my weekend and watched it. It was actually a little better on Saturday and we went to Home Depot (although I did take it easy and didn't walk around TOO much) and on Sunday it was mostly the same. Sunday night it actually started sending shooting pains into my little toe, so I decided to call my doctor.
Monday it was more than a little painful, so I got the doctor appointment and went in. They sent me down to radiology (someone remind me to thank whatever forces made our general care practitioner be in a medical complex so everything was within walking (or in my case riding in a wheelchair) distance. After shooting a few x-rays of my foot, here's what they found:
There it is plain as day! The needle had gone in my foot. So we went back to my doctor who told me that we could try to get it out there (although he warned me that things like this were usually fishing trips) or I could go to a podiatrist. I asked him to try since I didn't want to go to another doctor or make this any bigger of a deal than it already was. So he gave me a local anesthetic (OW!!!!!), made a small incision, and went to work. After about 10 minutes or so, he finally gave up. He couldn't get it out. So he sent me down to the podiatrist (also mercifully enough in the same complex).
We got there at 11:45 and were actually asked by the nurse/helper person to wait until 1:00. We declined since I was cut open, bleeding, and the anesthetic was wearing off, so she unhappily took us back. The doctor came, gave me some more local anesthetic (OWW OWW!!!!), made the incision bigger, and went on his own fishing trip. Too bad. He was no more successful than the first doctor, and couldn't even find the needle.
He took us down to the day surgery area and put my foot under this cool real time x-ray so that he could see my foot, the needle, and his instruments at the same time so he knew how close he was. He started in again and dug and dug. This was probably the most painful part since I could feel him pulling stuff out (and see it since I was awake) but could also tell it wasn't the needle. Just muscle. Yeah, knew that would hurt later. - I was right. Plus the anesthetic was starting to wear off (I apparently go through it fast) so he gave me another shot (OWW OWW OWWWW!!) Here is a picture of what we could see on the real time x-ray machine (I think it was called a C-ARM or something) because we were watching the whole time.
The doctor finally gave up and told us he couldn't get it out. I was starting to panic a little with the thought of having that in there for the rest of my life, when he told me I could come back the next day and we would do a full surgery where they put me under and everything! I went home about 30 minutes later, wrapped up and on Vicadin which was doing nothing yet for the pain.
On Tuesday (April 3) we went in early and had the whole procedure done. This time I only had to endure the IV pokes and such. Everything else was done while I was asleep. Yay. :) They finally got it out, although the incision ended up being 1 1/2 inches long and the needle was just over an inch long! (P.S. I can't show a picture of the incision because I know some of you have weak stomachs and anyway, my foot is still all wrapped up). I have been resting at home ever since, although I did have to take myself off the Vicadin on Friday since it was giving me terrible headaches. That means I'm back to OTC Tylenol, which doesn't give me the headaches, but leaves some pain going on in the foot. Sadness. At least I can function though!
There is my long novel of what has happened lately. I am very glad the needle is out, and the stitches should be out on Thursday, as long as all continues to go well. The doctor said I am healing well and that things should be fine. The scar shouldn't even be there much soon. Plus we had really fantastic medical people (except the wenchy nurse at the podiatrist who continued to be wenchy) and our ward was awesome. They brought us lots of yummy meals and took care of us. Thanks to everyone!
Our Lovely Daffodils and Tulips this morning as the rain turned to snow.
The land of the tulips (now covered with plastic and snow)
Do you guys remember Scholastic Book Orders? Remember getting them in class and being sssooooooo excited to take them home to your mom and beg to get the books? Then remember the great day when your teacher would finally bring the books to class and send them home with you? Ahh, it was like, the best day ever. :)
