http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ Discussions about syndactyly (webbed toes and fingers) en-US Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:36:02 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/search.php http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/post-op-9-days/page/2#post-226 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:12:21 +0000 Linz 226@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>Hey everyone. I have my date for my operation to get my toes seperated (next Tuesday) and I'm petrified. Could you let me know what I should expect from the day? I've never had an operation before.<br /> I am also getting both feet done at the same time. How long will it be before I am able to go to work and be able to move (even if its not all that fast)?<br /> The surgeon told me that a week would be fine and I shouldn't have alot of pain, but by reading everyones comments, that doesn't look all that likely.<br /> Any advise would be fantastic. </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/post-op-9-days/page/2#post-225 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 04:22:48 +0000 Meilin1728 225@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>Hey Paranoid--- how you doing girl long time no talk?? My toes are good now lol how are yours doing?? W.b xoxoxo, Meilin. </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/post-op-9-days/page/2#post-224 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 04:09:05 +0000 Meilin1728 224@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>Hi AMANDA1988, I had surgery over a year ago under local because it was cheaper too, the surgery cost me like 2,500 with local. It sucked cuz i was awake though the whole thing, but since i didn't want to see the doctor put something infront of me to cover so i wont see anything. It wasn't bad the doctor had music on and i was relaxing, if i felt a bit uncomfortable i would tell him it hurt and he would put a bit more anesthesia lol. Well it really wasn't bad if your a brave person and its way cheaper (: Hope my experience helps xoxo, many blessings. </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/how-much-time-off-your-feet-is-needed#post-223 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:00:13 +0000 dozamarie 223@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>Oh yeah I forgot to mention that I can only fit in one pair of shoes that I have, actually only my right foot, the left one I have to fold the back part down of it, but it's still very tight from my feet swelling. Do you think that it's normal that it still very swollen after 16 days? What about, I read some people mentioning that after a couple months, their toes have a partially grown back to the way they were before. With the kind of pain I'm going through with this recovery, I would hope that it doesn't grow back.<br /> Marie </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/how-much-time-off-your-feet-is-needed#post-222 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:53:14 +0000 dozamarie 222@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>Hello DJ, I just had the surgery of both of my feet, 2nd and 3rd toes, and if you could answer a few questions to me since you've gone through the same surgery. It has been now exactly 16 days since my surgery, but I am still very much on pain, my left foot is worse for whatever reason, I still have very heavy feeling feet that seem to be burning hot all the time, with a little bit of tingling sometimes. Do you think it's normal? I<br /> I'm basically walking using the outside edge of my feet which is another thing I'm worrying about, I don't want to get use to walking like that.<br /> Thanks for taking the time to reply.<br /> Marie </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/my-son-and-i-have-webbed-toes#post-221 Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:59:31 +0000 dootybugs 221@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>Hey : ) Ok, growing up as a child I thought I was super-cool with my webbed toes (on right foot only). I am now almost 31 with 4 kids... My last baby was born with webbed toes.. on both feet. My son is just like mommy : ) Randi </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/how-much-time-off-your-feet-is-needed#post-220 Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:52:35 +0000 j_1312 220@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>Hi DJ, </p> <p>I'm very grateful of your news and feedback, its useful to hear this as I am planning when to have my surgery. I am very nervous though as havent told anybody about my toes, not even my boyfriend and my parents dont even know i am planning to have the surgery. Did you tell people? Also what are your scars like? Is there anyway you would post photos of your toes now? Or email them to me?<br /> Thanks so much for your information!</p> <p>Jen </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/becoming-a-surgeon-with-syndactyly-a-possibility#post-219 Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:51:55 +0000 ulrichDO 219@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>Hi guys,<br /> I wanted some advice from anyone who may have stronger ties to the surgeon who corrected their syndactyly because my surgeries were done at shriners in st.louis almost twenty years ago and I was only a baby. The main question is "does it sound possible for someone with syndactyly to get through med school and become a surgeon?" as stated I had surgery a long time ago to separate the fingers but they are half the size of normal fingers at their longest points. I recently decided to change majors and persue medical school and I want to become a surgeon but ive received a lot of negative feedback from classmates in regards to my hand. I want the opinion of others that have had similar challenges.<br /> Thank you so much<br /> UlrichDO. </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/try-dr-jennifer-levine-famous-plastic-surgeon-nominal-prices#post-216 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:51:39 +0000 rizzchams 216@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>Well if you are around LA i could recommend the best Doctor i know. He is one of the few plastic surgeons trained in the trans-umbilical breast augmentation (TUBA) procedure.</p> <p>Just visit he's office @:<br /> Dr. Steve Kim<br /> 239 S. La Cienega Blvd . Suite 102<br /> Beverly Hills . California 90211 </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/luv-em-webbed/page/2#post-215 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:23:58 +0000 hecticmum 215@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>Hi there, I'm new - wow! I am so glad I found you all!!!</p> <p>I have the "regular" two toes on each foot webbed, one is a lot worse (fully webbed) than the other which is only webbed until just above the knuckle joint.</p> <p>I love my toes and would never consider having them separated.....when I was younger I didn't draw attention to my toes, but didn't hide them away either, perhaps I was lucky because I didn't get any name calling or problems at school.</p> <p>Something interesting : I'm an only child and have them, my Mum has them (she was one of six and the only one to have them) and her Dad (my Grandfather) had them, exactly the same as mine, my mums aren't as bad as mine, if you can call it "bad". But, my two children don't have them at all, I was really disappointed when they were born - the first question I asked the midwife!! I wonder if my grandchildren will have them? </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/luv-em-webbed/page/2#post-210 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:03:20 +0000 Man from Atlantis 210@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>The Man from Atlantis is what my childhood friends called me.</p> <p> I have both feet 2nd and 3rd toes all the way to the nail.</p> <p> My right hand still has webbing on the ring and index finger up to my knuckle’s and is not visible unless I were open my finger's and to point it out.</p> <p> My left hand was the same as both feet It was operated on in 1971 and it's fine but there are 181 Frankin Stein stitches in between my index and ring finger not to mention they also did a skin graph and boy some of you will love this whoever planned the surgery did not take puberty into account so the skin graph started to grow hair when I was about 12 ewwwww I know funny huh? Yes that is hair growing in between my finger's.</p> <p> Being teased never really affected me growing up I was always telling people I only have 4 toes want to see my 2 headed toe ? </p> <p>Out of 9 kids I was the only one with webbing and none of my 6 children have it.</p> <p> I guess I was lucky it was not as bad as some of the other's but with today’s Plastic Surgeons chances are you won’t end up with pubic hair in between you fingers or toes.</p> <p>The older you get the less you will care about what other people think about you.</p> <p>:Mike... </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/toe-socks-for-webbed-toes#post-209 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:58:19 +0000 Man from Atlantis 209@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>Because of partial webbing on my right hand Gloves don't fit me I have to put 2 fingers in 1 finger on the glove and its hard to give the bird on my left hand since those fingers were seperated I can do it it just dosent look right :-)..... </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/im-the-only-one-in-my-family-with-webbed-toes#post-208 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:52:22 +0000 Man from Atlantis 208@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <br /> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/im-the-only-one-in-my-family-with-webbed-toes#post-207 Sat, 19 Sep 2009 02:40:29 +0000 donaldduck 207@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>Seems you are all young ladies. I'm old enough to be your grandpa and I understand the embarrassment as I have on my left foot full webbing between toes 2 and 3. If I stand barefoot, I still habitually hide that foot. In elementary school boys from a block away called me "duck". One of them called me "freak" and I had to go home and ask my Mom what that meant. In 5th grade there was a pool party and someone noticed my toes and the whole class gathered round to examine.</p> <p>At my 10 year high school reunion one fellow came up to me and said he will always remember me for my toes. But I never had anything done. Most people say nothing when they see it. They don't seem to think worse of me for it and if they did, who needs them? But when you're young, you don't want to be different. My own wife of 30 years never remarked about it (I'd rather that she had) and I still wonder if she finds them a bit disgusting. But when I was in my 20s, a couple things happened that made me put my worries mostly away about it. I had a girlfriend with whom I went swimming on our second date. She saw my toes and perhaps she saw my horrified expression that my hiding that foot hadn't worked. She said "let me see!". So I showed her. She lifted up my foot to her face and kissed my web toes and said she was doing that because my web toes made me special. She said an angel had kissed me there. I laughed and thought it was sort of corny but it set me at ease about it. In fact, there is something about how she handled it that shows me that she accepted me just as I was and showed me so, in a way that I've never felt from my wife. I thank God I have nothing else wrong with me (well, some people may disagree :) ). Think about how you aren't wearing your "birthmark" on your face as someone does with cleft palette. You aren't a burn victim. It is nothing. But then I have to say it has made me more sensitive to people who have something a little bit unusual. Far be it from me that I ever make fun, even privately to myself, of someone who is different. And if you are a young lady who thinks some potential boyfriend is going to love you less because of it, be glad you have that little test you can give him... or to your friends also -- same thing goes. If someone has a problem with it be glad they let you know right up front that they are shallow and insensitive. Your toes are like a sign that says "if you are mean or stupid or judgemental... just go away -- I don't need you." It builds character so start showing your toes when you go to the lake and wear your sandals. Quit hiding them. Oh...almost forgot...the other thing that happened in my twenties was that I went on a ski trip with the president of the company I worked for. We were changing into our ski clothes and we both happened to be barefoot and here I was hiding my foot when I noticed he had web toes on his left foot, just like mine! I said "we must be related" and we chuckled about it. I really looked up to this fellow who was just a couple years older and when I said something about how I hide my toes he just told me it was ridiculous and to forget about it. Very good advice. So my advice is don't go through the expense and pain of surgery when your toes might be one of the best things going to help you realize who is petty and who is genuine. </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/how-much-time-off-your-feet-is-needed#post-206 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:43:49 +0000 DJ 206@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>Hello, I had the surgery on both feet at one time. Started walking on day 6, but very minimally. I am just shy of one month since the surgery and the healing is going remarkably well, and the pain is finally starting to subside. My personal recommendation is not to walk much if you can help it for at least 2-3 weeks because of the pain. All in all, couldn't be happier I finally did this!! </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/im-the-only-one-in-my-family-with-webbed-toes#post-205 Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:06:55 +0000 amanda1988 205@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>How do I show a picture on here?? </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/im-the-only-one-in-my-family-with-webbed-toes#post-204 Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:05:33 +0000 amanda1988 204@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>Hi guys, </p> <p>Luna I have no doubt that you will find someone who loves you for who you are! You are still only young =) Good luck with everything, maybe in a few years time when you are older you can make your own appointment with a surgeon. If it is something you really want to do then don't give up xx</p> <p>Ok so it will be two weeks tomorrow since surgery and I am so happy I got it done, just got back from having my bandages taken off and now I just have small plasters that I change daily myself. Can't wait to have a proper shower tonight! No more bandages, yay.</p> <p>Toes are looking awesome, the grafts are still quite red and the stitches still haven't fully dissolved yet but the nurse said they should dissappear in a week or so, otherwise I can go back and they can take them out (no thanks!). Graft site is healing fantastically, had the stitches taken out today and that was uncomfortable. I can also change the dressing myself for that too, every 3 days or so. It is nothing more than a thin line now.</p> <p>Jen - I only had webbing up to the first joint so it wasn't alot really maybe that is why the recovery has been quick and painless, there were no bones involved or anything either.</p> <p>Leanne - Sounds like a nasty bunch of girls picking on that poor girl in your class, people like that make me so angry they have no right to judge and are probably putting her down to make themselves feel better. How nice of you to stick up for that girl. There is pain involved of course, but the worst part was injecting the local anesthetic into the toes, but even that was bareable. After that you can't feel a thing and if you are as lucky as I am you will have an almost painless recovery. It only really hurt when I walked to the loo and back. Now after two weeks I am walking around the house just fine, still not applying too much pressure on the balls of my feet yet though. </p> <p>I have a challenge to walk my son to Kindy tomorrow which is about 300m up the road, not far but we have to go up quite a steep hill. I should be ok!</p> <p>I hope my story has helped some of you, I don't mind if you want to ask any more questions. I will post pics once the stitches dissolve - I didn't take a before pic but I think my surgeon did, to be honest I don't want to see it anyway! But I will definately send the after shots in a few weeks or so.</p> <p>Take care all xx </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/im-the-only-one-in-my-family-with-webbed-toes#post-203 Sat, 12 Sep 2009 18:44:02 +0000 luna94 203@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>I just want to thank you Amanda and to say how happy I am because of you.:) I tried to talk again with my Mum but it didn't go well,so now I've decided that I'm never again gonna talk about my feet.I'm just gonna ignore it.I've also decided that I don't want to have a boyfriend or any kind of a relationship,and still I'm just gonna keep it for myself.It's easier that way.I know I'll never fix this problem but that's how it is and I have to deal with it.The only thing that bothers me is that it's not our fault that we're like this and we shouludn't be ashamed.No one should laugh at us and think that we are different.It's not wright!But still we can have normal lives and for those who are brave enough and don't worry because of their feet life could actually be great!I just hope that one day I'll meet someone who will love me for who I am and not care about my feet...<br /> All the best<br /> Luna :) </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/im-the-only-one-in-my-family-with-webbed-toes#post-202 Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:24:12 +0000 j_1312 202@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>Hi Amanda, </p> <p>So glad to hear your surgery went well. I still haven't arranged a surgery time yet, this is probably because mine isn't private health like yours.<br /> Interesting to hear you had it done under local though. I definitely want both done at once, did you have full webbing? I'd be really interested to hear/see your healing progress, if you end up taking any pics can you post them? Or send them to me via email? Message me if you'd prefer to email them and i'll give you my email.<br /> Thanks! xx </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/im-the-only-one-in-my-family-with-webbed-toes#post-201 Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:09:13 +0000 leanne09 201@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>okay so im 16 i hate my feet. I live in socks. The only time i take them off is in the shower or changing them. I wont show my feet to even my mum. I wont tell my friends because they were making fun of a girl in our class who had corrective surgery and i stood up for her but they thought i was wierd for doing so. I wore socks in the sea because im so horrified at my own feet i hate looking at them my left foot is worse than my right one. I want surgery but im scared. Does it hurt? What happens! Please help. Its time i got this sorted. </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/im-the-only-one-in-my-family-with-webbed-toes#post-200 Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:30:27 +0000 amanda1988 200@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>Hi Luna, </p> <p>I had the operation 2 days ago, it went well and I opted for the local (so I was awake rather than being put to sleep). I am so glad I did it this way as it wasn't too bad at all, they gave me some light sedation which calmed the nerves and I was actually chatting and joking with the surgeons while they worked! It took 2 hours from start to finish but it only felt like 1/2 an hour. The worst part was them taking the skin graft, that felt very uncomfortable. At the end of the day it was bareable and saved me $2400. I am not sure where you are from but I think some of the others had their surgery for free so it obviously depends where you live, your age etc..</p> <p>I can sympathise with you, I had a tough time growing up with webbed toes, I would always decline offers of going on road trips in summer, going to the beach, even just visiting friends houses as I knew I had to take my shoes off at the door. I knew a few people at school who had the same thing as me and they were all confident, they never hid their feet, whereas I was always hiding. I hated it!! My first serious relationship was when I was 15, we were together 3 years and I hid it from my boyfriend the whole time, he knew about it but I never showed him. You can imagine how hard that would have been. I hid it from every boyfriend I had until I met my partner, he is great and has been totally supportive. My best friend never even knew, and we have been friends over 10 years. I guess I good good at hiding my feet! I have wanted to do something about it for a long time and finally got the courage to make an appointment with a plastic surgeon a few weeks ago. The process was really quick and I booked in for the following week!</p> <p>Day 2 of recovery and I am feeling fine, the toes are throbbing a bit and the skin graft is stinging slightly but I am comfortable. I have two small children to look after so I had my partner take some time off work to care for us. I have to admit that I don't mind laying in bed reading magazines, watching movies and being waited on hand and foot (hehe) all day so I am just making the most of it while it lasts!</p> <p>Anyways, I think it is important you sit down with your Mum and discuss surgery, once she knows how serious you are she might make you an appointment to see a surgeon. My Mum never really spoke to me about it either and I never brought it up, it was a very sensitive topic for me. But once I told her I was having the surgery she has been great and rings me twice a day to see how I am, she is also taking a week off work to come and help around the house which will be great.</p> <p>Good luck with everything, I hope you get the courage to talk to your Mum about it. Feel free to ask me any questions about the surgery I am happy to help =)</p> <p>Amanda. </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/im-the-only-one-in-my-family-with-webbed-toes#post-199 Sat, 29 Aug 2009 10:27:06 +0000 luna94 199@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>Hi,everyone.I'm going to be 15 in November and I have webbed toes on my right foot.It's really emberassing and I hate being different!!!I always make excuses why I don't go to swimming pools with my friends and wear shoes during the summer.And I really hate vacations because all my family members look at me like I'm a freak.I guess that's because they have never seen something like this and no one in my family has webbed toes.I don't realize how I got them.I don't want to everyone think that I'm a freak and not to mention that nobody would like to date me.I always try to convince myself that I'll go to a surgery but now my mom doesn't want to talk about it.I hate that.She's not the one with webbed toes and I don't realize why she doesn't want to let me to go to a surgery.The other problem is that I don't know any plastic surgeons and I'm really afraid of injections.And what if something goes wrong?I don't want to look even wearder.And 8000$ is too much for me...I'm just a kid,but I'd like for next summer to be able to wear flip flops and sandals.I like high heels and it's not fear that I can't wear them!So,Amanda I'd also like to now was the surgery painfull and do your toes look normal after it.Thank you all for listening to me.I'm glad that i finally have someone to talk with...<br /> All the best &lt;333 </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/syndactyle-and-bi-cornuate-uterus#post-198 Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:55:46 +0000 Danialla 198@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>YES! I have syndactyle, although I never knew the name, a bi-corunate uterus and clubbed thumbs. Add to that, a malformed thyroid and an Arnold Chiari Malformation of my brain stem and I would say that the ins and outs of me are rather strange. </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/post-op-9-days/page/2#post-197 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:49:24 +0000 amanda1988 197@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>Hi everyone.</p> <p>I have been given the option to either have a general or local while I get my operation done. I am not sure what to choose! I imagined I would have had it done under a general but now I have been given the option I am not sure what to do. The surgery will hopefully be under just 2 hours. If I have a local it is going to save me $1000 (NZD), so the surgery will only end up costing me around 7k rather than 8k. Not sure if it is worth it or not??? </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/im-the-only-one-in-my-family-with-webbed-toes#post-196 Sat, 22 Aug 2009 23:45:41 +0000 amanda1988 196@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>No worries =) I will definately keep you updated with my progress and eventually post before and after pictures.</p> <p>All the best! xx </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/post-op-9-days/page/2#post-195 Sat, 22 Aug 2009 20:02:16 +0000 paranoid 195@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>heya, no i only had the one foot done. I got that one done for free on the nhs but as my right foot isnt as bad i'll have to pay for that myself, it's only about 1/3 joint so i think im going to leave that, got too much going on at the mo and can't afford to be on crutches again.</p> <p>The recovery process is longer than a month i'd say, i would say i was walking normally and being able to do everything as before after about 2 1/2 - 3 months, but i did have the 2 problems i mentioned earlier. My consultant told me it was normally a 6 week recovery. Im still seeing changes in mine now, the scarring is fading alot! It feels so strange walking again afterwards and you'll prob find yourself walking on your heel or side of your foot without thinking about it just to avoid using your toes, i pretty much had to learn to walk normally all over again! Thats mostly all in your mind. I started driving again after about 5/6 weeks i think and it felt so weird at first and didnt hurt hardly as much as i thought it would. You will need someone to look after you for a few weeks after though, being on crutches stops you doing so much and you have to keep your foot elevated as much as possible for the first couple of weeks and only stand and move if necessary, basically you get to spend a fortnight sat on your bum lol. For some reason i got really emotional in the first few days and was wondering why on earth i had the op done! I wouldn't go back and change things now though, i'm so pleased with the result! Don't expect your feet to look perfect straight away either, for some reason i had the image in my head that they would look normal when i had the bandages changed first time, when i first saw them they looked horrible and i started crying on the nurse!! Takes a while for them to look normal again.</p> <p>How far webbed are your toes? If you feel you need both feet done, go for it, but i can imagine that the recovery and walking again will bit alot more difficult, i don't know of anyone who has had 2 done at the same time. It's all worth it in the end, even after just having the one foot done it has boosted my confidence so much and i dont feel the need to hide my feet any more! Even managed to go on holiday in april and bare my feet to all!! Not one person noticed =) Where as when i went on holiday before the op, i tried to hide my feet all the time and i still had people asking me about it!</p> <p>Hope i've helped, not trying to put you off with the horrible bit, just don't want you to go what i went through, expecting them to turn out perfect straight away! Wish you the best of luck with the op, im sure you'll love them afterwards and want to show the world!!! I've even started painting my toe nails and wear sandals/flip flops as much as possible :D Love it! I know exactly how you're feeling and can't sympathise with you enough! </p> <p>Best of luck xxx </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/post-op-9-days/page/2#post-194 Sat, 22 Aug 2009 19:18:06 +0000 j_1312 194@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>Hi Paranoid, </p> <p>Thanks so much, hearing your story and everyone else's too, especially merlin and hopeandstrength has helped so much, it has worried me a lot but i think i was being a bit unrealistic before, thinking i'd be in and out of hospital and walking in a few days! </p> <p>I was wondering whether you had both of your feet done at the same time? I don't really like the idea of having just one done, recovering and then going through the same pain on the other foot! So i guess the recovery time was a month approx? Is that right? </p> <p>God, it makes me feel sick at the thought of carrying on life having to hide my feet. All i want to do is go away with my friends when they suggest it...instead of making excuses again and again. its so frustrating! </p> <p>Jen xx </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/im-the-only-one-in-my-family-with-webbed-toes#post-193 Sat, 22 Aug 2009 19:04:41 +0000 j_1312 193@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>Hi Amanda, </p> <p>Thanks..that is really helpful! I feel a tad more positive about it now..especially hearing your story. No, i don't know when i'm going to get it done yet, I have to go see a psychiatrist before the op to check i am mentally fit for it/to see if i really need it! And its done through the english health system so will take a while. I hope it will be january though. </p> <p>Let me know how its going before &amp; after the op! I really hope its ok! This website has helped me express my anxiety and stress over my issues so much and i'm so thankful! </p> <p>Jen xx </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/im-the-only-one-in-my-family-with-webbed-toes#post-192 Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:44:13 +0000 amanda1988 192@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>Hi J</p> <p>The appointment went really well!! I was so nervous, but the surgeon I saw was great, he said he has done many of these operations (mostly on children) and he said the results are always great. He showed me before and after pics and they looked fabulous!</p> <p>It is going to cost me $8000(NZD) which is alot of money but totally worth it. I know I wont regret it, there will be no looking back for me!</p> <p>And yes, he said he would rather do them both at once, as it is just inconvenient to do them one at a time. I will be in bed a bit longer possibly because I wont have a foot to walk on even with crutches, but it saves me more time in the long run.</p> <p>Oh I know how you feel, the only people who will know about it is my partner, parents and sister, because these are the people who are going to help me with the recovery. I may tell my two best friends (who knows I have the webbing) closer to the time. I would rather just have my partner know but he can only take two weeks off work, so hopefully my Mum will help me for a week after my partner goes back and then my sister after that.</p> <p>I have two small children so it will be extremely dificult and I know I will need all the help I can get! I am going to try my hardest to keep it to myself, I don't want anyone to know. My plan is to try and see everyone the week before my surgery, so I can just hide away during recovery and if people ask where I have been I will just say I have been really busy with the kids, or I have been really sick or something! Hopefully I can get away with it!</p> <p>I think you should tell your parents, and anyone else you are particularly close with. Maybe tell the rest you are going on holiday or something? And go stay in a hotel while you recover if possible??</p> <p>When are you hoping to get this done? I am going to book mine for early-mid September. </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/post-op-9-days/page/2#post-191 Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:09:38 +0000 paranoid 191@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>Heya, its been so long since i've been on here. Hopeandstrength, Meilin, hope you girls are okay, you're what got me through everything!</p> <p>j_1312 hey, how are you doing? Have you gone any further with the op? If it is making you feel this bad i would recommend getting the surgery. Its been 10 months today since my op and i couldnt be happier with the results, they have honestly changed the way i live, i dont have to worry about little things like going to the beach, taking my shoes off infront of people etc, this has taken a huge weight off my shoulders. To those who don't have syndactyly (such as the surgeons) there is no possible way for them to realise how we feel about this, i can never find the words to explain and express how i felt about my toes, its hard to put it into the right words. Its much easier for them to say its not a problem, dont worry about it as they dont have to put up with it.</p> <p>I won't lie, i had a couple of problems with mine after, it took a long while to learn to walk without a limp again, and it got infected and went black which added an extra 4 weeks onto the recovery period but they were both my own fault, the infection was due to going back to work, my job isnt the cleanest thing and there's alot of dust which got into the wound. The walking problem was because i was scared of coming off my crutches and didnt start walking soon enough.</p> <p>I haven't heard of anyone's toes growing back together after, i think the docs just tell you this so that if it does happen you can't sue them and possibly try to put you off the op as they don't understand it fully for our side! I say go for it if its affecting you this badly, its done so much for me and i am so much more confident in myself now! I felt exactly the way you did before my op!</p> <p>Hope it all goes well, write back and let me know how it goes, if you want e-mail me at <a href="mailto:evilpinkbanana@hotmail.com">evilpinkbanana@hotmail.com</a> xxx </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/how-much-time-off-your-feet-is-needed#post-190 Fri, 21 Aug 2009 06:06:52 +0000 j_1312 190@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>Hi, did you have your surgery yet? How long has it taken you to recover? xx </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/im-the-only-one-in-my-family-with-webbed-toes#post-189 Fri, 21 Aug 2009 06:04:00 +0000 j_1312 189@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>Hi amanda, how did your appointment go, what did they say? Do you know if it is possible to get both doen at once? I am getting mine done through the nhs i think. I don't know how to tell my family though, let alone hide it / cut myself off from my friends while i recover! </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/im-the-only-one-in-my-family-with-webbed-toes#post-187 Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:13:12 +0000 amanda1988 187@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>Hi guys, </p> <p>I am new to this forum so bare with me!!</p> <p>I can relate to you all. I have partial syndactyly on my second and third toes on both feet. I can't stand it. It actually makes me sick to think about it and I struggle to even talk about it with my partner.</p> <p>I have an appointment with a surgeon tomorrow morning, I am extremely nervous. It is going to cost me between 5 &amp; 10k. I have been wanting this surgery for as long as I can remember, my parents aparantly talked about getting it done when I was a baby but decided against it, I really wish they had have got it done and saved me all the embarassment over the years!</p> <p>To all of you guys that are desperate to get it done and the surgeon you have spoken to wont do it, then keep looking till you find a surgeon who will do it for you.</p> <p>To stefy337 - I so wish I had the confidence you do to be proud of my toes. I envy you! Lol at getting the flower suck hahaha! </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/im-the-only-one-in-my-family-with-webbed-toes#post-186 Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:36:42 +0000 stefy337 186@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>hi, my names Stephanie and I'm 18 and my 2nd and 3rd toes are webbed, almost 3/4 the way up on both feet. When i was little (like 1st grade) i was embarrassed of my toes but then once i got into about middle school i started to get over it. It became a GREAT conversation starter, lol. And i also felt like it made me unique. I wear flip flops EVERY SINGLE DAY and nobody ever notices it unless i point it out, and most the time i get the response "How did that happen?" which cracks me up cuz sometimes i joke around and tell them that i used to play with super glue too much, or my mom smoked too much pot when she was pregnant with me. haha... but the point is- really you shouldn't worry about what other people think about your TOES. i'm sure the people with problems on their FACES are pissed that we are complaining about something that we can at least cover up pretty easily.</p> <p>ps- my friends love my toes, they draw on them every now and then. They all tell me that i better not ever get them separated. my boyfriend loves them too and we've been together for almost 4 years and he tells me all the time he loves my "unitoes" sooo instead of HIDING your special cool unique toes, FLAUNT them... you might start to feel better without even dealing with any surgeries and peoples reactions might surprise you. =) Good luck &lt;3</p> <p>oh pps- the only problem i've ever had has been running through the grass and getting flower stuck in them,haha </p> http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/topic/im-the-only-one-in-my-family-with-webbed-toes#post-185 Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:21:57 +0000 honey girl 185@http://dougal.gunters.org/forums/ <p>Try not to be depressed, I know what it tis like to spend your life hiding your toes and making excuses. I would love to wear pretty shoes and have pedicures but I have also always been ashamed of my feet. I have never spoken to anyone much about it, my Mum once but she shrugged it off and told me my there was nothing wrong. I spoke to the dr once and secretly went to see a plastic surgeon . I think he must have thought i was there to get my boobs done as he laughed when i told him it was my webbed toes. He said i would probably be more self conscious of the surgery scars and there was no garantee that the op would be successful so i let it go. Like you i get around in socks or closed shoes. I'm a shocking swimmer as i hate to take off shoes at the pool.One thing i know is its not your fault that your toes are like this and they don't define who you are. Try to hang in there and let us know your outcome. Take care.X </p>