Ugh. You may recall from last year that I injured my ankle when a cup fell out of my cupboard, broke, and hit my ankle right at the Achilles Tendon. The broken cup shaved my tendon like a potato peeler, leaving a small ball of tendon and scar tissue that will not dissolve and causes daily discomfort. Whine. Anyway, I am having surgery tomorrow to debride the damaged tissue and repair the tendon. Sounds simple enough…not. Well, the surgery is probably routine, but the recovery phase is ridiculous!
Two weeks with my foot above my heart for 23 hours a day, with hourly ice packing, and hourly leg pumping to prevent blood clots. Four more weeks without weight bearing. Four more weeks with a walking boot. I am all about putting my feet up and relaxing, but this is just crazy 🙁 .
I have been spending the last few days getting ready for my convalescence — mostly winding balls of yarn!! Thousands of yards of yarn! One must be prepared! 😉
I also started a smallish project that should keep me knitting the first few days: Taygete by Romi Hill (Tay-EE-jet-ay). I purchased some lovely Madeline Tosh Light in Wood Violet and Magenta at Yarnover (from StevenBe). It was supposed to be for gifts for other people. 
I looked at the yarns together and fell in love — they were much more eye popping than the combo I bought specifically for Taygete. So, I said to myself, “Self. This is YOUR yarn. You can use it for whatever you want.” The colors positively G-L-O-W in the sunlight! The other yarn has less yardage so I will be hunting for cute shawlette patterns that take < 400 yds., but I have until Christmas to get those done.
I figure that the first couple of days I will be flat on my back and kind of out of it. I will have my laptop stationed next to me, as well as my instant stream Netflix and a few easy-read novels.
Sally will need to bear the brunt of blogging for a while, so be kind to her while I get back on my feet foot. See ya on the other side!!
Heard yesterday: “They’re making jokes about The Rapture like there’s no tomorrow!”
Susan, I wish you the best outcome for your surgery. Going through the recovery may seem interminable, but when you look back on it, it will seem like the time just flew by. Can’t wait to see what you knit up during your convalescence. I love my Taygete – yours look like it’ll be a real beauty (wouldn’t expect anything else coming off of your needles).
Comment by Nancy — May 22, 2011 @ 10:11 am
The best of luck to you. It will be an opportunity to get lots of knitting done.
Comment by Penny — May 22, 2011 @ 11:57 am
That is a long time for recovery! In the nice weather too…I hope it is easier than you think. Best wishes for speediness in recovery and look forward to seeing your knitting projects. It will be so great when it doesn’t hurt anymore! You will be glad you went through it all!
Comment by delores — May 22, 2011 @ 12:34 pm
Wow! That’s a long time….hope things go well and that you recover on schedule. Happy knitting!
Comment by Tina — May 22, 2011 @ 1:03 pm
best of luck with the surgery!!
and for god sake! DO WHAT THEY TELL YOU!!
A friend had foot surgery over 2months ago and she thought she knew better than the doctor…..her foot is still swelling, so now she has to take time to elevate it, etc
It’ll be rough for sure throwing you foot over your head 23hr a day……………think of it as working off some bad karma!! LOL
and don’t forget to milk it for all it’s worth w/the family!!!
Comment by Sue J — May 22, 2011 @ 1:12 pm
Wishing you a quick and “on track” recovery and the patience to get through it(although it sounds like you have a good plan). Once the discomfort wears off, I hope you can enjoy the “forced relaxation”-please keep us posted on your progress:)
Comment by Mary Jane — May 22, 2011 @ 1:19 pm
Wishing you a speedy recovery, no complications and an abundance of finished objects.
Comment by rudee — May 22, 2011 @ 1:33 pm
Yikes! I hope you recover quickly from your surgery. As for the shawl, I loved knitting Taygete from beginning to end…I also used very different shades (but of green) and loved how it turned out. Good luck!
Comment by Grace — May 22, 2011 @ 2:39 pm
Two weeks with your foot above your heart! My goodness. It will even be hard to knit in that position. wishing you well.
Comment by Brenda — May 22, 2011 @ 3:21 pm
That’s horrible! I assume your family will be being good servants and nurses. Be sure to waggle your feet as instructed. Blood clots are the worst!
Comment by Joanna — May 22, 2011 @ 4:28 pm
Good luck! Don’t forget the shower chair. (You don’t want to be standing like a flamingo on a slippery surface.) A backpack comes in hand for toting everything except liquids and gooeys. Pillows pre-set in your lounge area of choice if you go between bed and other area.
Comment by Laurie — May 22, 2011 @ 4:51 pm
My daughter is going through the same thing but with both ankles, and no insurance, so no surgery for her. She was told the recovery time was exactly what they told you but she’s a single parent with no one to help with the kids. I sure hope you get yours fixed and have a complete recovery! I’ll be watching for updates!
Sheri in GA
Comment by Sheri — May 22, 2011 @ 4:54 pm
Best of luck in your convalescence! Two bits of advice: 1. Be sure to follow all doctor’s orders to avoid re-doing surgery or prolonging agony. 2. Get a shower ‘boot’ once you can bear weight. It’s cute thingy you can find at the orthoped’s store that will keep all water out and I found worth its weight in gold.
Comment by Renay — May 22, 2011 @ 5:20 pm
Bummer! You’re in for a time . . . There was an ACL surgery at our house this winter (a tough recovery, but not quite as confining as yours sounds like). One important thing I learned: for a convalescence, Netflix streaming is your friend! So, you’re set. I have also had personal, regrettable experience with complicated knitting and medication. If you can’t drive, you can’t knit lace. Really. I hope all goes very well.
Comment by Pam — May 22, 2011 @ 6:56 pm
Oh Susan – what a crappy deal! In addition to Netflix streaming, there are free audiobook downloads from the all the local Libraries. Let me know if you need any emergency Yarnery yarn.
Comment by Mary Lou — May 22, 2011 @ 8:00 pm
Susan, I am sorry to hear about your upcoming foot unpleasantness. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Comment by jess — May 22, 2011 @ 8:46 pm
Here’s hoping the surgery is successful and recovery quick!
Comment by Kay - From the Back Yard — May 22, 2011 @ 8:51 pm
It is so hard being far away while she has the surgery, but Green Sweater Boy is coming home from college tomorrow so I have to be here!
Comment by Surly — May 22, 2011 @ 9:29 pm
Hi Susan, I’m wishing you a successful surgery and speedy recovery. I hope you at least get to do lots of knitting. And a viewing of pride and prejudice seems in order too.
Comment by Evie — May 22, 2011 @ 9:54 pm
Keep telling yourself: it could be worse. And best wishes for a full recovery.
Comment by Chloe — May 22, 2011 @ 11:50 pm
good luck with your recovery. orthopedics is never fun. will be thinking of you as i knit on my adult surprise jacket. i too would have woound a bazillion balls of yarn in advance. cv
Comment by catherine — May 23, 2011 @ 12:37 am
Ouch!!! I can’t imaging being off my foot (feet) for that long. Sending speedy recovery wishes your way Susan. And hey, at least it’s scheduled for the summer and after a couple of major fiber events.
Comment by Celestial — May 23, 2011 @ 1:00 am
Oh, I am very sorry to hear you will be off your feet, (FOOT) for so long. Wishing the best for your recovery!
If you need a small shawlette to knit while you heal, WendyKnits currently has a mystery shawlette you may like.
Good luck with your surgery and recovery!
Shirley (in GA)
Comment by Shirley — May 23, 2011 @ 6:55 am
Sending fast healing wishes your way, Susan. I hope you’re back on your feet — and pain free — soon! 🙂
Comment by Kym — May 23, 2011 @ 7:47 am
when I had my knee replaced what saved me was my iTouch!! Can’t sing the the praises high enough! light enough to hold and do with…games, read books, listen to books, surf the net.
My only advice is to get off the pain drugs as soon as you can. The narcotics sucked the joy out of life-I didn’t care about food, books or even yarn!!
good luck, and good knitting!
Comment by pattie — May 23, 2011 @ 7:51 am
Streaming video, a Kindle, a water boot (or at least a goodly supply of garbage bags & duct tape, & a length of pvc so you can soak in the tub), shower chair, and get off the narcotics asap or you’ll never poop again. I’ll spare you the graphic details of how I know that last! I can lol – now. Obey your doc, but only to a point; it’s *your* body. And get better soonest!
Comment by Suzan — May 23, 2011 @ 8:17 am
Susan, best of luck in your recovery – I’m hoping the time goes by quicker than you think! Also, I want to recommend Downton Abbey on Instant Watch; lots of intrigue, well-written and acted – and long!
Comment by Donna — May 23, 2011 @ 10:40 am
First of all, condolences and best wishes!
Secondly, I had a very similar surgery just a few years ago: repair of a different ankle tendon. Most annoying was the fact that I couldn’t go anywhere carrying anything during that no-weight-bearing phase (ruling out getting a drink, getting food, getting the remote); my mother, when she had a bone graft in her foot, got a walker with a pocket, which at least let her transport some things, so that might be an option for you. My husband is a good nurse, but would go off to do work (he’s self-employed) and forget a bit how limited I really was….
Tips: Believe them when they say to keep it elevated! It makes SUCH a difference. Pain and swelling was so minimal when I kept it up! I had essentially no pain for the first couple days of staying in the recliner/bed, truly; it wasn’t until I was getting around on crutches that it started to hurt. Also, at night, lots of pillows to cradle the foot, as keeping it elevated and keeping yourself from tossing and turning is A Good Thing. I wished for my old body pillow (long since gone) at that point.
Too late to strengthen your arms….I couldn’t believe how wimpy I felt on the crutches. Gets better, though.
It will probably be too warm to need a cast sock most of the time, but you never know; you might want to whip one up. Since you’re not moving, those toes get cold. I made my mother one out of 2×2 ribbing in fingering weight with a spiral hat-type decrease (so it didn’t matter how it was put on, since getting anything on is not easy). Worked great. (Of course I didn’t bother to make one for myself, but could have used it for a bit.)
One day at a time; this too shall pass, and totally worth it! Rehab takes a while, but is not too bad. Lots of range of motion and balancing exercises, for ankles, besides what you’d expect.
Comment by Cathy-Cate — May 23, 2011 @ 11:14 am
So sorry to hear this! Wishing you an unprecedented rapid recovery!
Comment by Ann — May 23, 2011 @ 11:20 am
I wish you the best with the surgery and I hope the weather is lousy so you won’t be tempted to ignore the doc’s orders. I hope all goes okay and you will be in my thoughts and prayers!
Comment by Debbie B — May 23, 2011 @ 1:22 pm
Wow. So sorry to hear about the surgery and the long recovery time. I have been considering surgery on a bunion that hurts when I walk, and I walk a LOT. But the recovery time keeps scaring me off. Good luck and a speedy recovery. And I can’t wait to see the knitting projects that come out of this.
Comment by Astrid — May 23, 2011 @ 1:53 pm
Well, we always want what we want until we get it, then not so much! Good luck lying on your back and recovering. Try to remember all those times you wished you could just lie down. Hope you have lots of things to keep you occupied while recovering. We will miss you.
Comment by Becky — May 23, 2011 @ 2:16 pm
Well, as another convalescent, having just had surgery for a broken ankle, I can report that you’ve covered all of the therapeutic bases — Netflix instant, knitting, reading, and a laptop. All are saving me from gnawing my fingers off from boredom. Oh, and Trader Joe’s chocolate-covered cherries, for when you need a little pick-me-up.(‘Cause you will.) Good luck with your recovery… at least we’ll have most of the summer left to us after we can become vertical bipeds again!
Comment by Jessica — May 23, 2011 @ 4:57 pm
best wishes to you!
Comment by elise/knitinsage — May 23, 2011 @ 6:41 pm
not a fun way to start your summer. While sleeping try putting a laundry basket under your blanket on its side. that way you can put your foot in the basket and the weight of the blanket won’t be on your ankle. Books on tape are good for when you are knitting too. Good Luck with the surgery.
Comment by Robin F. — May 23, 2011 @ 8:42 pm
Ouch! Having had achilles surgery lately (I ripped the whole thing), it does quite suck). I had surgery at the beginning of March, and my physical therapy is through July. :-/
And I STILL have to keep my foot elevated a good portion of the time, although not as badly before & after the surgery.
My utmost sympathies.
On the FLIP side, spinning is a valid form of physical therapy 🙂
Comment by jade — May 23, 2011 @ 8:44 pm
Oh, so sorry to hear this. By now (I’ve been out of town for a bit) I think you are done with surgery and the healing has already started. I hope it was 100% successful and you amaze the docs with your healing.
Comment by twinsetellen — May 23, 2011 @ 9:58 pm
Oh… sorry to hear you are having surgery.. Good thing it wasn’t your wrist so you won’t be able to knit it. Can’t wait to see your finished Taygete. It looks like a better combo than the colors you picked that were like mine.
Comment by Christine — May 23, 2011 @ 10:11 pm