Day 9 (Saturday 27th June 2009)

I had a shower this morning, my legs were quite sore. My friend wheeled me to the elevator then left me there while he returned the chair to the room. Finally we walked slowly to the car, and another girl got into the front seat. She spoke English well and told us she is from LA. When we got to the clinic, she also helped me to walk. We waited around for an hour then Amy made me move to the recovery room for the IV. I got bruised up from yesterday’s IV so she injected me in the area where blood is drawn from. My left leg was really sore. It took a while for the medicine to work. I had yummy prawn rice flour rolls. Dr Park walked in while we ate so he left us and said enjoy your lunch. A while later I really needed to go to the toilet, I tried to put my legs down but the pressure hurt too much so I lay back down. After a while I tried again, and Amy walked in this time. She helped me walk to the toilet but this time I used the male ones because it’s closer. I only realised after when I was walking out and looked at the door. I have been looking down when I try to walk, Dr Park tells me to look up!

When we got back to the room, Dr Park got me to stand up and try to straighten my back. He says my back is straining a lot. He pulled my left arm up into the air to stretch my back out. Then he pushed my knee straight. I fell forward and my hand landed on his head. Oh the horror. I cried because it was too sudden, he didn’t let me warm up first. It hurt when he touched behind my left leg, its sensitive to touch, very bruised. My assignment is to practise standing up over the weekend. Dr Park said I am the worst patient he ever had- I think in terms of both recovery and my cry babying. I need to come back again on Monday.

After the stretching, I was able to walk a lot better. Even the driver noticed and commented. When I got back into the room, I kept my knee straight by laying on my tummy and then turning over to my back and bending my knee once I a while. I got up on my flat thongs and was able to straighten both legs, but the left only for a couple of seconds. I don’t want to aggravate it too much. I fell asleep while on my tummy and awoke when my calf contracted. I have been getting up every so often to practise standing up. Kok79 said she walked with her legs wide apart. Maybe that’s why I can’t walk, because I have been standing with my legs quite close together. The pain is better right now, its 10:52pm in Seoul. I can feel my heels are very sore, from all the pressure I put onto them. I hope things will improve tomorrow.

Day 8 (Friday 26th June 2009)

Once again I awoke in pain and to the news that MJ passed. My leg was hurting all over. I have to go to the clinic today at 11am because of the pain. I had another IV. I didn’t eat lunch today, didn’t feel like it. Amy got me to walk to the TV room and stretched me. She held my leg in the air and stretched me. I screamed and cried, my left leg was hurting so much. Dr Park came in later and told me not to stretch anymore. I have to come back tomorrow again. I walked from end to end to get to the toilet. It was hard work! Mr Noh picked us up and dropped us off onto the level 3 area. It was a long passageway to the elevators and so many people were looking at us. My friend and I switched slippers because my feet were so sweat,y I couldn’t wear my thongs it was far too dangerous. When we got onto the 8th floor, I sat beside the elevator until my friend brought the wheelie chair over to me. It was all too much today.

Day 7 (Thursday 25th June 2009)

Today started off miserably. I kept waking up during the night because my left calf kept contracting. It was painful but only for a second. I rang Dr Park this morning because the pain was so unbearable. He said to come into the clinic but I was like NO I can’t walk…. He said “Your friend can help you!” I had a shower and it took us a long time to get downstairs, step by step was burning. It feels like my legs are going to explode.

I can straighten my knee when laying down but when I stand it’s a different story. We arrived at the clinic; Dr Park told me that the muscles are just contracting. I think that means I have the dreaded spasm. Well if that’s the case, I should be getting an excellent result. He got me into the recovery room and I had another IV. It’s got painkillers, muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory agents in it. I had to stay there from 1pm til 6:30pm. I tried several times to get up to go to the toilet but when the weight of gravity pushed the blood down, it burned. SO I had to just hold it in. At the end, the nurses forced me to get up and tried to make me straighten my knee but I couldn’t so they left it as is. I finally got to the toilet…YAY! I have to come in again tomorrow. Dr Park said don’t stretch if it hurts too much. I can’t believe its day 7 today!

We had Thai for dinner again. But they made it hot even though we requested for mild. My legs are feeling so much better right now, its 9:43pm. Feeling 100% better compared to this morning. Hulk is on again, watching for the 3rd time.

Day 6 (Wednesday 24th June 2009)

Oh dear. I woke up this morning and I couldn’t move, it hurt a lot. I thought things were improving from yesterday but guess I was wrong. I haven’t done any standing stretches today but I have been able to lie down and straighten the knee. That’s as far as I got.. It was hard to go to the toilet. My left leg is very sore, different from yesterday because my right was really bad. I don’t know what is wrong???!!!! Maybe I’m not pushing hard enough? Haven’t done anything today, not because I don’t want to but because I can’t. It’s so boring being stuck in here, I wish I could get out to see the city. About 2 more weeks til we can go home. I hope its better by then.

Day 5 (Tuesday 23rd June 2009)

I just got home from the clinic again. Try the stretch for yourself: face the wall with your feet about 10cm from it...and lean forward with your back straight and touch your belly to the wall. It’s easy doing it but a totally different story after surgery. I thought I was really getting ok with it, but Dr Park made me move my feet further back about 20cm. Now that’s a whole new level! But I did it. I was at the clinic for about 2 hours altogether, every 30 minutes I got up to stretch. Then the nurse made me squat down and then my legs were burning coz not only are they swollen but they are stiff when u straighten and bend them! I think its getting better but the mornings are a bitch! It was so hard and painful, but once again as you slowly build up to the stretch it improves. I have not taken any painkillers because I was only given three tablets, and I thought maybe this isn't even the worst yet?? Who knows? So yeah, I'm keeping it in reserve.

I'm taking Arnica Montana tablets from GNC brand, Dr Park calls it Bromine tablets. They don't taste bad luckily coz I need to take five tablets, 3 times a day. They are a bit sweet. I feel safe here in Seoul, people are nice. Yes on the first day make sure you buy lots of water. I drink about 2 litres a day so the 6 pack my friend bought me won't last long, buy some snacks as well with sugar to keep you going. If you have to, take a few trips back and forth to the store if it’s too heavy. Trust me, you’ll b glad you stocked up. And also get a room service menu coz it’s so much easier to get the food delivered to your room rather than venturing out to buy some after the surgery.

It took so long to convince my friend. I think he realised that it affected my confidence so much when I started being really almost depressed about it. He has been a Godsend although he keeps saying relax, LOL not so easy!! But I need all the help and motivation I can get. I didn't tell those close to me because I feel so ashamed that I hate something about myself so much...what's worse is that we can't control it- it’s our genetics. We have been given what we have, luckily this can be changed.

Day 4 (Monday 22nd June 2009)

Wow it took ages to get downstairs. I’m still walking like a granny and it’s causing me back pain. I slept a bit better last night because I’m pretty tired from all the straining. We got to the clinic at 11am, Dr Park is very busy and we waited for ages. Amy cleaned my stitches again and changed the bandage. The alcohol stings. My friend said blood came out of the wound. Ewww! I couldn’t stand straight so Amy got me to lie down on the operating table and pushed my knee down until it went straight. It hurt like a bitch and I cried…again!

I finally straightened my legs and was able to stretch and touch the wall. It was not fun! Then I had to do some air kicks and walk around. At least I can walk around now. I had to rest in the TV room for ten minutes then get up to stretch again. It went well. Another ten minutes and one more stretch. Dr Park said I don’t walk well so I have to come back tomorrow at 11am. It’s like when I stretch it’s such a big improvement and then when I try again, its like square negative 500. Its not getting easier every time I stretch because it’s the same feeling except a very small improvement in flexibility. I was so hungry and McDonalds does delivery here so I had a McChicken Meal and my friend had a Big Mac meal. The receptionist had to call them up because they don’t speak English. It was yummy fries but I felt sick after.

By the afternoon I was tired so I fell asleep for a little bit. I have done a couple of stretches all day, it’s feeling less stiff. It’s an improvement so I can’t complain. Oh well, tomorrow should get better. I can straighten my knee okay now, then stretch and touch my belly to the wall. I feel sometimes that my kneecap is going to get bust because it’s overextended since I have no strength in my legs to control my weight.

Day 3 (Sunday 21st June 2009)

Today started off rough. I didn’t sleep well. It’s so hard to get comfy because I can barely move. I woke up at 9am today and had to wake my friend to take me to the toilet. He must be so tired of carrying me, I think I may be a little bit of a spoilt brat. It started off slow today, I could barely stand up. My left leg is really hurting, swollen on the medial side. It’s hard to put weight on my left but my right is strong. My legs are fat foot to knee. I took some pictures today.

I tried to stretch but it didn’t go too well. I could barely touch my belly to the wall. I was so tired and sweaty from it, I had to rest after. I fell asleep for a bit. Then it was time to get up and stretch again. I didn’t stretch every 30 minutes today because it was really hurting. But as the day went on, it gets less painful to stretch and I’m slowly getting closer to the wall. It’s my new friend.

I finally got to shower, its nice to get into some clean clothes! I took the bandages off. My legs throbbed. I found it hard to stand so I had to use the footrest in the shower and sit on it. It took so long to get dressed. I put the bandages back on as tightly as I could. Finally I am sitting down and resting. I did some more stretching and its getting better. I can’t straighten my leg that well. Its nice to speak to the other ladies on Purse Forum because it helps to be reassured about the experience. Good news, my jaw is good now.

DAY 2 (Saturday 20th June 2009)

It was an uncomfortable night's sleep. I had to sleep on my back all night, I couldn't move because my legs were so heavy. I have my checkup today at 11am. It took sooooo long to get downstairs and into the car! What's worse is that my room is on the end of the floor. Way too much walking for my liking. I had to climb onto the operating table, face down. I couldn’t get onto the table and was just kinda half on it. My jogging pants were tight and it hurt trying to lift it up (so I suggest to bring super flared pants or a long skirt is better). Amy cleaned up the dried blood on my legs and cleaned up around the stitches too. It was painful because my legs were so sensitive. Dr Park removed the foam splint and I had steri strips placed on top of the stitches and then a bandaid thing over that. My legs were wrapped in bandages. I turned onto my back and had to do some stretches. My friend said that my legs are big and bruised in different colours- black and blue and purple. I had to lie on my back to bend my knees, the first one hurt a lot but then after a few stretches it was ok. Dr Park said my left is stronger but then I noticed when I got home that my left leg clicked behind the knee and hurt for a minute or so. Then I had to get up, very slowly and stand against the wall. Dr Park made me do the calf stretch, I thought after 5 minutes we could stop. But actually he wanted me to touch my belly to the wall! OMG. I could barely stand last night let alone stretch. I could go for 3 minutes but then I get real sweaty and quite light headed. My friend encouraged me to push harder. I finally got my belly to the wall, then Dr Park pushed a bit harder. He is really strong. It felt like a very good calf stretch, not like when you stretch after a workout, but a 'real' stretch. Then we had to wait 30 minutes inside the resting room. 30 minutes passed and then it took me ages to get downstairs to the car. Young Dong is very helpful, they take us to Oz Clinic and pick us up if they can otherwise a taxi ride is only about 2400 WON. Some other stupid car was blocking the way so I had to walk around it! We got back to the hotel room, and it was time again for stretching. My friend is such a Nazi, he is making me stretch…But I need that.

As the day progresses my walking worsens and my left leg is really starting to sting a lot. Its really hard to walk. It was a really long night, I couldn’t sleep well at all. I don’t want to drink anymore because I don’t want to get up and walk to the bathroom but I’m so thirsty. My jaw is aching too because I think I clenched it in my sleep from the entire struggle. Next checkup on Monday 11am again.

DAY 1 (Friday 19th June 2009)

I arrived at Oz Clinic at 10am for my consult. Dr Park takes photographs of my calves and they measure 37.5cm on the left and 37cm on the right. He then informs me of the complications. Dr Park tells me that my legs are thick and bulky, and that 4cm off is expected. The nurse's English name is Amy- she is wonderful. I am not a fan of needles and Amy gave me the IV needle, she had to stick me twice because my vein swelled up. She then washed my legs in Iodine solution to sterilise the area. I lay down on the operating table then breathed in some gas and was out. Next thing I knew, it was over and I awoke as someone carried me to my recovery room (I later found out Dr Park carried me- he is strong!!). I was shivering for about 30 minutes due to the effects of the general anaesthesia. But there was a heated blanket under me and a warm blanket over me. I couldn't feel anything at this stage except some confusion as I fell in and out of sleep. Amy reassured me that I was fine and comforted me as I cried. I was overwhelmed with emotions- happiness and relief that I had actually done it. My left foot got numb, Dr Park said that’s not normal. At 7pm I tried to get up but felt so dizzy. At 10pm I tried to get up again and was able to go to the toilet. Amy got me doing my first stretch but after 3 minutes I felt light headed so I got back into bed. I was finally allowed back at the hotel around 10:45pm, I think because I had a friend with me to assist. If I was on my own, I think they would have got me to stay overnight. I wasn't in pain but my legs felt heavy as I walked. I rang front desk to request for some extra pillows to elevate my legs. I have my first follow up tomorrow at 11am.