Post-Op

I had open reduction with internal fixation of my right ankle on April 4th. 

When I came out of surgery, the nurse woke me up and asked me about pain. I couldn't feel most of  my foot--the doctor had performed a nerve block during surgery. I could, however, feel a sharp stabbing pain to the inside of my foot. The nurse said this was normal and gave me pain medicine. Every time she would stop talking to me, I would fall asleep. She kept asking me my pain level. I would answer and then fall asleep immediately. She gave me several doses of one pain med and then switched to another. After she had given me the second type of med, I told her I didn't want anymore. I couldn't tell much of a difference in my foot, but the rest of me could feel the effects.

My nurse had to go check on another post-op patient and had to leave my bedside for a few minutes. I remember her telling another staff member, "You won't have to worry about her, she'll be fine". I fell asleep shortly after this.

I woke up to an alarm going off. I looked around and didn't see anything. I then looked up and saw my vitals machine flashing. My respiration level read 5--and this was after I had moved around and been awake for 30 seconds or so (normal is 12-20 breaths per minute). I fell asleep and again the alarm went off.

Respiration alarms aren't always accurate, but it only went off when I fell asleep, I had just come off anesthesia and had been given quite a bit of pain medicine--I figured it was accurate. I ended up staring up at the vitals machine (that was behind my head) to remind myself to breathe until my nurse came back.

After PACU, I went back to my room. I had to drink water and eat crackers before I could leave. I sat up in bed for this and I immediately got dizzy. I just sat back for a few minutes and then the nausea hit. I was able to get Zofran (anti-nausea med) and just rested until I started feeling better. I was able to eat the crackers and the nurse thought I was ready for discharge. I asked if I could sit there for a little bit longer. I was going to have to be in a car for 2 hours... I had no interest in being dizzy and nauseous the whole drive. 

About 20 minutes later, I felt like I was ready to go. She gave me an oral pain medicine and she wheeled me to the bathroom. As soon as I stood up, I got extremely light headed and had to sit back down. I called the nurse back. After I had been cooled down and no longer felt like I was going to pass out or vomit, we went to meet Patrick who had gone to get the car. 

I can't say it was the best car ride I've ever had, but we made it back--my foot propped up with pillows on the dash.

When I tried to get into the house, I wasn't sure I was going to make it. I felt so weak and my foot felt so heavy. I had Patrick walk behind me in case I fell over. 

It was all a little bit embarrassing.

The nerve block lasted about 48 hours. It's a strange sensation to not be able to feel your foot. Without sensation in my foot, the worst part of the first 2 days was the nausea. It lasted almost a full 24 hours. 

Luckily there was zofran--a true mvp.