First ever operation

For a few years I have been having problems with my right ankle. It had been getting painful and kept clicking it didn't seem right. I first visited the doctor I described my symptoms and her response basically 'I don't know' she didn't even take the time to ask me further questions or examine me. That must have been the quickest doctor appointment ever.

Not happy I re arranged another appointment with a different doctor. She was a lot nicer and took the time to listen and find out what the problem was. I described my symptoms and she arranged me for a referral where I would get a letter through the post to choose where I would want to go next. 

I chose to see a man at Garstang clinic. It was the one with least waiting time. He was a mad of so little words. Again, describing the symptoms the next stage was Blackpool Vic. Where eventually I had a steroid injection. As he seemed to think this would help. It filled up my ankle and couldn't get my shoe back on I had one those boot thingies that people with broken legs wear. 

When that didn't work I returned back to the doctor I saw in the first place. She said that someone my age shouldn't have something like this and may cause problems in the near future like arthritis. She referred me to Writington which is a specialist hospital in orthopedic. You'd get your appointment through the post but when ever I visited I'd never see the consultant at the time it was on the letter, there was always a wait and sometimes delayed by a few hours which only happened once.

I visited 4 times or so and every time going over what was wrong with my ankle I was starting to sound like a parrot.

I had x rays done even though I had them before at Fleetwood and why they couldn't get them Fleetwood I do not know it would have saved them time and money. 

X ray funnily enough didn't show anything. Knowing it wasn't bone and maybe ligament like originally thought.

The next step was MRI I had one originally but a while ago before I sprained my ankle. I was out and in a club yes had been drinking but wasn't that drunk to fall over the floor in the club is slippery and slipped and went over on my ankle. The next day it was painful and couldn't put any weight on it my mum insisted we visited A&E I didn't really want to but had no choice thought it may be broken. 

Had been there a few hours, they x rayed it and said it was sprained and didn't strap it up or anything like they should have done. It took a while before I could put weight on it but I think spraining it made it worse. 

I saw 4 different people at Writington and whom the appointment was made with Mr Karski I saw him only once or twice. 

The MRI showed some wear and tear. Keyhole was suggested to look inside and see what's going on. I could have a bit of a poke around and be in a bandage or thorough surgery and be in a cast and boot but they weren't sure till they went in.


The original operation was scheduled a week before we were going to London for the Jubilee. Un-sure what was going to happen it wouldn't have been a good idea as we would be walking lots around London and it wouldn't have been easy. Re-scheduled the keyhole it didn't take too long just a few more weeks.


I had post op which they took a  urine sample and sample of your groin and inside your nasal passages and your BP. 


They said if you haven't heard anything you would have passed, the nurse wasn't English and was a bit difficult to understand. She saw I'd been biting my nails and said if they were open they could cancel surgery due to infection and gave me 2 options for anesthetic. 


Trying not to bite my nails as I'd come so far to have keyhole I tried to resist with the help of plasters and thought local anesthetic be best but really I wouldn't have minded the full knocked out one.


Surgery was on Tuesday 26/6. Had to there for 7am so got up just after 5. Got there in time. Mum waited with me for a bit while they admitted me asking the usual questions, allergies, medication...


Didn't remove my nail polish I was embarrassed with my horrible toe nails so had to remove it. Mum was able to stay a while and told her to go as she was taking my nan to the clinic around 10.  
It was a quiet ward a few others waiting for procedures. There was an old woman next to me and a larger lady opposite who seemed to have been on the ward a while as they weren't quite ready to leave yet. 


It was a bit boring and my phone wasn't hospital friendly. The internet was slow. The lady opposite brought a book and another lady had a kindle wish I had a book to pass the time. 

Part of Mr Karki's team came round to go through the procedure and ask more questions, I liked him. He doodled on me to make sure they opened the right leg. I was 4th on the list out of 6.


One of the nurses said to start getting ready 10ish. Putting on the lovely gown always attractive it ties at the back but not properly and a little see through.
As people were starting to go down for their procedure. I heard two guys ask for me to go down I was a little nervous. 
They wheeled me down on the bed which was a bit pointless. As I walked into the room before theatre. 
A girl probably my age or a bit older asked more questions and was talking to me while I was about to be anaesthetised it was just after 12. They gave me a breathing mask and that was it just remember waking up in recovery shivering. Coming round too. 


I looked at the clock it was just after 3. Felt warmer than before and heard the nurse say to someone else that I'd been there a while due to being cold. I wondered if I were in a cast or bandage I used my other foot to feel my other foot it was a bandage.

Went back to Ward D. I text my mum to say I was out. I still had a drip in and BP was taken. The nurse asked if I'd like a brew and something to eat of course I said yes. I drank my brew but was desperate for the loo I had to ask and the drip was taken out and a boot put on and hoppled to the toilet. Mum said the ward told her visiting was 6.30 so she be back then.

Coming back from the loo I sat in the chair and Mr Karski came round with the other guy. Said he removed some scar tissue that had been left from a previous injury news to me and that it should relieve some pain and discomfort and if that doesn't work repair the ligament. I should be having physio soon.

I had food there was a little like school dinners. I ate it all with fasting the night before was quite hungry. I kept checking the clock to see if mum was coming with no reading material or nothing to do it was quite boring, there was a tv but couldn't quite see or hear it. 

The lady next to me was sick and had a wee bag not a nice thing to look at. I probably dozed of a few times. The lady opposite came in at 8.30 and didn't leave for her procedure till about 4pm. She looked fed up, when she came back it was her hand that had lumps removed or something. 
She was only back literally 5 minutes when I heard her on the phone to someone asking them to pick her in half an hour.

As the others were getting ready to be discharged I was hoping mum would come soon. I was happy to see her and wanted to get home.

I got dressed and left my pj bottoms on as my foot was swollen and skinny jeans wasn't a good idea.  

The nurse gave me some medication for the pain and some info and dressings.

The stitches are staying in for 2 weeks but go to remove outer dressing 48 hours. I don't really want to look at it, its sore and very swollen and hard. I'll do it tomorrow.

Soon as I got home I got into pjs well I was already wearing bottoms and put a top on and bed. It was nice being back in my own bed. 

Its strange when you have anesthetic your completely wiped out. When asleep your kind of aware your alive by breathing, noises but anesthetic is like your dead or something. 

Still feeling tired and weary must be the affect of the anesthetic still and some of the meds say make you sleepy. 

Mum said you can have a lie in, wake up when you want well that didn't quite happen about 10 she asked me if I'd like a brew. 

I think it be best going back to work when the stitches come out as I'd still have to walk around and its quite difficult with having a procedure done on the side of your foot. 


Today I felt tireder than yesterday so turned my tele of and had a few hours sleep as Thursday is the day mum and dad look after Caleb. So had some peace and quiet slept for about 3 hours. 


Hopefully it'll get better :) but I'm glad its done. I just hope the procedure has helped and won't need the ligament repair.