Bandages off tomorrow. What should i expect?

deni444 · 2014-07-14T08:35:05.38+00:00

Hi allI am having my bandages off tomorrow 13 days post op after bilateral bunion surgery. I am a little nervous about what my feet will look like and also am wondering if it hurts more to walk without the bandages. Another question I have is; what should I take to put on my feet? I know I will still be wearing the special shoes but what about socks? Do I need extra large ones? I tend to have the light cotton type of socks generally worn by ladies but can't imagine putting these on as they may be too tight or difficult to put on my feet.Any tips or advice on this?

karen94066 goanna57

Posted 10 years ago

Thongs ??? I had to read that 3 times to be sure what you said. In England - thongs are knickers that only have a strip up your bottom so this message Goanna made me laugh . Which is just what I needed thank you, x

Jinny2 karen94066

Posted 10 years ago

Ha ha! Yes, goanna must be Oz/NZ origin, as thongs are jandals and jandals are flip flops! Have I lost you?! I left NZ 40 odd years ago, that's how I know!

so how are you doing!? Most of my toe pain has subsided now but last night I had a sharp pain on the top of my foot, I wonder if they cut it there as was described in that video clip which someone put on this forum ( did you dare watch it?). Anyway, tomorrow is your big day so don't forget to get me know ALL about it! Good luck! X Jinny

karen94066 Jinny2

Posted 10 years ago

Iv just messaged you jinny on another discussion - glad you thought the same as me thongs! Flip flops - my goodness this forum not only gives us bunion information we are all been educated in one another's culture x

krinny karen94066

Posted 10 years ago

Well I am an Aussie girl. What's wrong with wearing thongs hahaha. Bit like the word 'Fanny' that's worse... in America that's your bottom....in Aust it's your ...ummm...you know what I mean lol

karen94066 krinny

Posted 10 years ago

LOL!! At least this abbreviation is universal I did use to think that everyone was sending me " lots of love" until I was out corrected - it meant "laugh out loud" . Your right krinny 'fanny' is much worse than 'thong' you've got me giggling here!! Il be thinking of this message later when I'm having my stitches out - OUCH!!! X

Jinny2 karen94066

Posted 10 years ago

Are you back yet? Xxx

Jinny2 karen94066

Posted 10 years ago

I still use LOL at the end of emails, surely that's still ok? X

karen94066 Jinny2

Posted 10 years ago

Yes Iv researched it with people younger than me & it can mean both. My appointment is at 2.40pm eeeek! Excited apprenhensive - LOL will message later x Iv been so good so hoping for s good outcome (fingers crossed)

krinny karen94066

Posted 10 years ago

I am off to bed but good luck and if your feet were like mine... You will be pleasantly surprised. If you been good with resting etc . All will be okay x

karen94066 Jinny2

Posted 10 years ago

I'm back after the unveiling. I'm not as happy as I thought I would be. I needed 4 lots of stitches out on my right foot, ouch! I even had stitches underneath the foot, a little stingy to get out, my left foot just had 2 lots of stitches but the 2nd toe is swollen & flopping downwards, it looks deformed, both feet have large gaps in between the toes & they are badly bruised. The scars look pretty bad at the moment & I have to wear the surgical shoes with no forefoot weight bearing for another 5 weeks! Gosh Iv gone from very positive to a little low & shed a little tear. But will pull myself together again I have no choice but to improve & I will - just a bit of a shock today it's gonna be a long journey x

Jinny2 karen94066

Posted 10 years ago

I also was v hopeful for you (we've both been v good!) but I think it is early days and there will be lots of improvement in time. Did you see the surgeon/specialist if so what did he say about your second toe? Did you have any plaster around your big toe (as I have, under these bandages)? And have they put a plaster cast on now? If not, what are you wearing under the surgical shoes? I suspected that we would be in those shoes for at least another 4 wks and in a way I'm glad as I certainly don't feel confident to weight bear on the front of my feet yet. Hey, we knew it was going to be a long journey didn't we? I had in my mind,12 wks min and maybe 14 wks actually! I know that seems one helluva long time but there are lots of books to be read etc so make sure you get a big glass of wine, put your feet up and be spoilt! X

krinny karen94066

Posted 10 years ago

Oh Karen you poor thing....feel for you. Before I went to have my stitches out I looked at pictures of other peoples feet and I was expecting the worse. It's common to have feet swell up and all pretty bruises all over the feet. I had little bruising and no swollen feet....so I was happy but I do have some very pretty scares that is going to take time to heal. But they are on the top of my toes. Did you know that you had some underneath your foot? Also the bigger the op the longer it takes to recover. Mine was a very 'simple' and 'straightforward' one. Did you have the hammertoe as well? Also my big toes flopped forward but I had tendons removed from there, so that's why. Also common after the bandages, it can take awhile for toes to move. All I can say is, don't be disheartened and what I have read....you reaction is quite common. Don't be scared to ask questions and write them down too helps.

you be okay....just write to us and we will give you encouragement because we need it....gets to us mentally and physically as we have more time to think.....not doing nothing lol rest up and yes have a glass of wine xxx

goanna57 karen94066

Posted 10 years ago

That made me laugh too because the same type of knickers are also called thongs here in Australia too but rubber thongs are what people wear on thier feet. Indians call them slippers. If you Google rubber thongs, it will show you what I mean.

Please let me know what you think.

karen94066 Jinny2

Posted 10 years ago

Hi all!!! sorry for negative post yesterday think I had built myself up - with high expectations & then felt deflated. I focused too much on the first 2 weeks & the bandages off. I did think I would need the shoes for another 4 weeks but thought I might have been able to put some weight on the feet but surgeon says no, so that means after 7 weeks I then have to begin walking. I struggling a little with the lack of independence. I'm so use to bobbing around & being busy - it's like Iv had my wings clipped.

The surgeon just came in the room when I was having the stitches out - I asked him whether he did needlework at school but he didn't respond - the 2nd toe on the left looks like a dead sausage he said that he stretched the ligament & he didn't seem to be worried however he did say he could fuse it but that would mean more surgery eeeek!! The nurse put a dressing over the scars at my request - as I didn't want the shoes to rub against them especially as they were bleeding. I've not had a plaster cast before or now.

Just sat back in my den looking at my feet & there are no ugly bunions & the big toes are straight it's just these hammer toes that still look ugly but nor pain except where the shoes seem to rub, but your right girls Iv got to be patient & it is a long journey that we will all travel & reach a successful end. Funny how you've picked on my bad habit wine!! Haha I did have a couple last night beats any pain killer. Thank you so much Jinny & Krinny for your support & the pep talk that I needed to pull myself together - nearly time for homes under the hammer x x

krinny karen94066

Posted 10 years ago

Yes hang in there. I am also taking some supplements to get my bones on the mend. Trying to eat healthy so I am back to good health soon. As my job relies on my feet. That's the bit I stress about the most. Plus I don't have enough sick leave. I told hubby not to get stuff that I will start eating out of the pantry. I mean cause we sit there most of the day....why am I thinking of food? Lol. Cause of my casts...I can cook tea now. Hang washing but my son has to bring the washing up and down the stairs for me. Handy that my boy works at night and hubby during the day. But it's all a slow process and take my time. My friends are shocked that I am walking....well...shuffling...around. I would not be getting around like this if I did not have casts. My ankles hurt but my toes don't lol.

how many days since your op Karen? Was it a basic bunion op?

i am having a wine now btw...you take care xx

karen94066 krinny

Posted 10 years ago

Hi krinny! Iv had both bunions & hammer toes straightened 15 days ago, doctor said it took him along time to do the operation as not straight forward. I'm the same with my job as a radiographer where Im on my feet all day with lots of walking. I'm also concerned about esting too much as I had a holiday the week before my op & then Iv been sat around for another 2 weeks with a husband that likes to feed me. I do eat healthy apart from people bringing me chocolates. I think I will get some bone mending supplements as you suggest. Sounds like you are doing really well getting around, hope you still manage to after a wine! Hehe!! Cheers! X

krinny karen94066

Posted 10 years ago

Ahh yes well if it makes you feel 'a little bit better' my surgeon said if I had a hammer toes it get more complicated. This is why I got my surgery done when I did (thanks to a workmate that told me to see a surgeon) as my bunions only hurt when I went for a long walk and blisters would form....especially when it's hot weather. Plus it's Winter...I am inside in this cold weather makes it easier to handle. So your surgery will take awhile to recover my sweet. Yes hopefully I don't fall and break my arms after my wine lol

krinny karen94066

Posted 10 years ago

Oh my whole operation took less then half an hr. My surgeon says he is quick and particular on time and when he does his job....he does not muck around. Bit like when he was getting the stitches out. Did not realise and he was on the second foot. Never seen anything like it lol

Jinny2 karen94066

Posted 10 years ago

So how has your day been? I am envious of the breeze getting to your feet! I am still bundled up in the plaster and bandages which are very hot in this weather. They ache like mad when I have been on them for more than about 15 mins. So here I am lying on my bed with the windows open! I am really worried about when the bandages come off, will my wounds be stuck to the bandages and will the wounds have started to heal over the stitches ( after 18 days)?! Aaahhhh, the thought! Did you have an x-ray to see if the bones were starting to knit together? Has your swelling gone down today? I'm sure the gaps will close in time! A glass of wine time I think! Xx

krinny Jinny2

Posted 10 years ago

Good luck Jinny.....is it tomorrow your big day?

Jinny2 krinny

Posted 10 years ago

Sadly no it's Saturday! But if you are in Hobart then yes, I guess it is tomorrow for you!! X

krinny Jinny2

Posted 10 years ago

Yes it's nearly 11pm your time? You go on Sat isn't? Well good luck with it all xx

karen94066 Jinny2

Posted 10 years ago

Hi Jinny! Your big day is near!! It is nice having some air to these trotters especially in this heat. I hope I havn't worried you with my unveiling. I think my problem is the hammer toes - bit I'm sure with patience & time I'll be ok. You might be a lucky one that has devolving stitches. My bunion stitches are ugly & long but I have no bunions & lovely straight toes . It's the hammer toes that seem to have caused the problem - on the right foot I have stitches on the 2nd toe next to it behind it as well as on the forefoot below it so it looks a bit sad. The bandage was ok coming off so don't worry. The surgeon said he would X-ray it on the 27th august & no weight bearing/driving before that. Nightmare!!! I felt a little weak yesterday but rested most of the day with my daughter & granddaughter - I had my feet up but after I put them down under the table to est dinner they swelled immediately - so put some ice on them to reduce the swelling. At least the westher if fab & Im having lots of visitors & using the time to catch up with people Iv not seen for ages. Have a nice restful day in preparation for tomorrow x

Jinny2 karen94066

Posted 10 years ago

Thanks for that. Good to set off tomorrow with some idea of what lies ahead! Sadly I don't think I have dissolvable stitches as when I voiced my concern about leaving them in for 18 days (maybe the skin growing over!!!) the surgeon didn't say it won't matter as they are dissolvable! So I am resting with feet up with our daughter and granddaughter here, full on for anyone who isn't sitting with their feet up!-ha ha! I am on at 9am tomorrow up in Carlisle and that's a 45 min run from here so an early start! X

karen94066 Jinny2

Posted 10 years ago

Not sure if you'll get this message jinny but if you get chance take some pain killers before you go to have your stitches out it just takes the edge of any discomfort -good luck! Crazy thinking about you at 6.30 am x ley me know how yiu go on

krinny karen94066

Posted 10 years ago

Yes that's what I did took some panadol and only one stitch hurt with me. Yes good luck Ginny...thinking of you on the otherside of the world. Guess the day is here for you...xx

Jinny2 karen94066

Posted 10 years ago

Yes thanks Karen, I got your message and did have a couple of pain killers before I left. All went well and I am now at home with my feet up - recovering! The stitch removal was no 'walk in the park' - I wish! Ha ha! My surgeon is renown for his v thorough and neat stitching, so I am sure the scars will look neat (in time) but it did mean quite a bit of digging out which was v painful and did mean that I almost fainted and held the sick bowl at the ready, but didn't have to use it! Now I am feeling v glad that all the pain side of things is over and all I need now is to be patient and to rest up quite a bit! After the stitches were removed the surgeon came to inspect his handy work and was v pleased. I have a 3" scar running down the side of each foot going from the middle of the big toe to below the joint where the bunions were, straight toes!-yeh! Hardly any swelling and no bruising. I think your surgery must have been a lot more invasive Karen. I had a foot plaster put on, not quite as large as the bandages, it stops before the ankle and my toes are poking out the top. This cast is bright red (I was allowed to choose the colour!) and will make sure I don't move the bones while they are healing. I had an x-ray after this and was able to see, on the screen, where the pins were and where the bunion had been removed. So a good outcome, if a rather painful one! Isn't it strange how different areas do things differently? You haven't had any plaster on and I will have had it on for 6 wks. Hope you have had a nice restful day, watching the Commonwealth games? Xx

Jinny2 krinny

Posted 10 years ago

Thanks for your thoughts Krinny (now the middle of the night for you) I have given Karen the gory details - so see below!! All peaceful now as I rest up on my bed with a good book! Xx

krinny Jinny2

Posted 10 years ago

Thanks Jinny been waiting on how you went. Sounds like fun with the stitches... Great eh?!. How many can I ask on each foot- stitches. I have five on each foot. Also you have a cast exactly like mine. I have lovely looking shoes to wear with my cast too. Will feel weird at first but you will be more independent now and can move around more. I have mine on for another 4wks...then I am free!! Btw yes 12:30am here... Caught you in time. Off to sleep I go. Glad all is well Jinny xx

Jinny2 krinny

Posted 10 years ago

I counted 8 stitches on each foot but it felt more like 20!!! X

karen94066 Jinny2

Posted 10 years ago

Glad you've got that over with. It is a bit of an ordeal eeek! But sounds like you got a good result. Do you have to keep the bandage on all the time? At least people will see you coming with red feet. Can you weight bear? I didn't have an X-ray as I had one in theatre & will have another on the 27th august. I also had hammer toes straightened on both feet that's why I have more scarring. I have to say that I am falling in love with my new feet especially the right one - the left still has this funny fat sausage (calling itself a 2nd toe) that is still flopping over but I'm hoping with time it will fit nicely in place. Iv soaked my feet in Epsom Salts & they look nice & clean & I'm much happier. I had an outing yesterday in the sunshine to our village beer festival. My husband has bought me a mobility scooter & I was adamant that I would not go on it but hey everyone was going so off I went. It was a funny experience but after a few beers I was ok. My driving gave everybody a laugh. Back in my den now with feet up. You keep being good happy resting. x

Jinny2 karen94066

Posted 10 years ago

Yes I have plaster on so can't take it off, my toes poke out the top and then the plaster encases my foot right up to the ankle. I can weight bear when I am in the sexy sandals. I don't have any movement so it makes walking more difficult than when I was in the bandages! I certainly won't be going anywhere- boo! So soaking my feet in Epsom salts is 4 weeks away! Boredom is setting in big time! Your mobility scooter sounds just the job, have fun on that!

Jinny2 karen94066

Posted 10 years ago

Hi Karen! How's it going in your den? I have to admit boredom is creeping in and I have another 31/2 wks before the plaster comes off! All I can say is thank goodness I had both feet done at the same time! So no pain whatsoever now but clumping around in these plasters is cumbersome, how is it for you with nothing on your feet? Are you still wearing the sexy sandals? How are your wounds now and what about your one fat toe? If I could get at my wounds I would be rubbing Vitamin E oil into the scars to help them heal, I hope it will still help them when I can get to them. I have an appointment for plaster removal on the 26th Aug, that will be 7 wks to the day since the op. So not ideal but I just have to hope good healing is going on under these plasters! Let me know how you are going! X Jinny

krinny Jinny2

Posted 10 years ago

I get my plaster off on the 26th too

celebrate together except cause of the time delay....

karen94066 Jinny2

Posted 10 years ago

Hi jinny! Still in the den I feel like Iv been here forever but 3 weeks is not so long, just another 4 to go!!!! I have had lots of visitors to keep me going. I am also glad I had both done together it's not so bad I havn't had any pain since the first week. They do swell a lot & the scars tend to split slightly, Iv still got the droopy fat sausage like 2nd toe, been soaking them in Epsom salts & rubbing bio oil on them, Iv also been exercising my feet. I'm back at the hospital 27/8 & hoping I can ditch the shoes. I can actually walk on them well , Iv hardly used the crutches as they seem to hinder me, although I got a taxi to the hairdressers yesterday & thought I better take them with me when I realised they had been adjusted to a midget size as my granddaughter loves playing on them haha! It must be hard still having plaster on your feet in this weather, your scars should be completely healed by the 26/8. Your right about the boredom, my main struggle is the lack of independance, I could just do with one day where I could give the house a good clean, go out & some shopping & catch up on a few things, & then the next day I would get back in my den for another few weeks. My husband has been great but he now thinks he is boss of the house especially the kitchen, Iv had to bite my tongue, can't fault him really it's got to be tough for him. Happy resting we getting there phew!!!

karen94066 krinny

Posted 10 years ago

Hi krinny! Keep going - the 26th will be here soon, it's just a bit if a hike for us all but we are crawling to success - take care! X

Jinny2 karen94066

Posted 10 years ago

Hi Karen! Hope your trip to the hospital for the post op check up goes well tomorrow! I was a day ahead of you and went in and had my plaster casts off today. My feet looked ghastly! Well they have been encased in plaster for 7 wks so I guess it's not surprising! They were a strange red colour, the skin was all peeling and I couldn't even see the scar line as it was covered in yellowy whiteish peeling mass! I had taken some trainers to wear but soon ditched that idea and just put on some socks and my clumpy sandals to go and do the supermarket shop! I was glad to get home to soak them in Epsom salts and to give them a scrub to get rid of the peeling skin. Then they had a massage with bio oil and I rubbed vit E oil into the scars. You are lucky to have never had the plaster casts on and to be able to get at your big toe to exercise it, mine is stiff and I can't move it at all, not up or down, there is a lot of work to be done there. When I was told that recovery would be 6 wks doing nothing followed by 6 wks of taking it easy I thought I'd be on the mend a lot quicker.......wrong! Looking on the bright side, my big toes are straight and I have no bunions!!! Let me know how you get on! X Jinny

karen94066 Jinny2

Posted 10 years ago

Morning Jinny! My X-Ray was fine & I have ditched the sexy shoes. Doctor didn't give any set advice & no physio needed. Think he is just leaving it up to me. My feet are still not the prettiness but I have no pain & straight big toes, the left sausage like 2nd toe remains but hoping it will flatten out with time. I am just going to take things steady and gain strength back, I might even have a drive this weekend - excited for independance. I sympathise with your reaction to when your cast was removed - you had it on for such along time, I'm sure even now you've seen a difference after soaking them & moisturising - I have been excercising my feet for a while- rolling them over rolling pin & over a ball as well as stretching them as much as possible. I'm so glad I had both done together as wouldn't want to be sitting around again for all this time. Iv gained 10lbs & I'm going to Majorca next Friday - no food for a week!! Take care & you will see a great improvement every day. Xx

krinny karen94066

Posted 10 years ago

Good stuff Karen....am thinking of you and yes keep those exercises up. Does take awhile xx

Jinny2 karen94066

Posted 10 years ago

Hi Karen! How was Marjorca? Were your feet ok in the heat or did they swell in the evenings? We are both week 8 now and I'm surprised that I still hobble a bit ( like an old lady!) as my feet hurt after I have been on them for a while. When do you go back to work? My feet are still swollen and I can't fit into my own shoes ( wore my husbands last week - not out of course!!) yet. Did you read the bit where I reported having to pull out two long running stitches from my right foot last week? It was a bit of a nightmare as one was 4cm long! The scar is now healing well but maybe that's why that foot is still swollen! Hope you are doing your ROM exercises? I'm only one week into them so progress is slow, but I'll get there. I'm glad that I don't have to go back to work! Good mending x Jinny

Bandages off tomorrow. What should i expect?

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