Here with Her

Hiking After Bunion Surgery

The following information about my experience with Lapiplasty 3D Bunion Correction is brought to you in partnership with Treace Medical Concepts, Inc.*

I want to continue sharing my personal recovery journey following Lapiplasty 3D Bunion Correction. Undergoing any surgery is, of course, a huge decision so I want to help you understand what the days and weeks following the procedure looked like for me. Your own results and experience could differ from mine so please check out the Lapiplasty website to learn more about benefits and risks.

I got Lapiplasty done on my right foot in September 2021 and in this post, I want to tell you about my recovery as I transitioned out of the walking boot, got back into normal shoes and really began to live life without bunion pain.

At the 6 week mark following surgery, I was given the green light to transition out of the boot and wear regular, but comfortable and supportive shoes. Now, I had been working since the week following surgery with the boot on but I was very eager to transition out of the boot by mid-October because that’s when my job as an emcee for Arizona’s hockey team began again. I did not want to be navigating the arena in a boot and I was able to wear my normal shoes at that point!

I did, however, continue to wrap my foot with an elastic wrap and apply compression to my ankle. Here’s why: I lost some strength in my ankle while wearing the boot so it was important to understand my limits. In fact, when I was working at the arena from about the 6-8 week post surgery mark, I would still wear the boot to navigate the stairs and walking long distances before and after the game just to make sure I was not doing too much, too soon. I also tried to be diligent about continuing to ice my foot after long periods of walking and/or standing.

I could tell when I was overusing my foot when I would feel that ankle soreness or see swelling near my surgical entry points. As someone who has a tough time sticking to my limits, I needed some discipline to stay on track and remind myself I was still recovering but the great news is that by the time I got to the 9-10 week mark, I started to get my ankle strength back and swelling significantly diminished, even after a lot of activity.

As a hiker, it was really important for me to be cognizant of ankle strength issues as I got back on the trail. If you’ve been following my hikes for a while, you know I typically wear trail running shoes and not actual hiking boots. However, I found it was really important to use actual boots for ankle support as I got reacquainted with hiking. In fact, my hiking boots were so supportive and comfortable at this point in recovery that I ended up wearing them most of the time! 

I still didn’t want to overdo it on the trail, especially while balancing my job at the hockey arena so at first I stuck to shorter trails but it felt amazing to be back at it without my bunion hurting! I really started getting back into my hiking flow at about 12-16 weeks after surgery.

Another activity I really enjoyed while recovering was paddle boarding. It felt incredible to be outside living life again . I was so grateful for my relatively short recovery period and the ability to get back on the water and feel comfortable with my balance and coordination. 

The 6-12 week mark was also a really important time because that’s when I celebrated Halloween and Thanksgiving with my toddler and got geared up for Christmas. Halloween was at the 8 week point following surgery and as I mentioned earlier, at that time I was still putting the boot back on occasionally when I knew I was risking overusing my foot. A good example of that is when I went trick-or-treating with my little guy. I just didn’t want to face any setbacks after hours on my feet.

I do have a couple of scars from the procedure but they don’t bother me at all. One is on my big toe where the bunion used to be and the other is above my arch. At the 12 week mark I was still applying Vitamin E Oil to them but, honestly, the scars are just a reminder that I made a choice to take control of my future and move forward without bunion pain. 

I am so excited to share the next parts of my recovery with you all because not only was I soon able to return to serious hiking, I also started snowboarding! I can’t wait to tell you everything because before this procedure, I wouldn’t have ever believed this was going to be possible for me.

Thanks for following my story. And again, this is my personal experience. Click here to learn about benefits and risks. 

*Talk to your healthcare professional about your personal recovery plan as this may not be recommended for everyone. 

Getting Back to the Trails Without Bunion Pain

The following information about my experience with Lapiplasty 3D Bunion Correction is brought to you in partnership with Treace Medical Concepts, Inc.

I started this blog in 2017 because of my love for hiking and the outdoors. I’ve told you many times how hiking healed me, strengthened me and brought me immense joy. 

All of that became threatened as a bunion on my right foot worsened and caused severe pain that hindered my ability to hike. I have even finished some of my adventures barefoot because my bunion hurt so badly I couldn’t keep a shoe on. I have gotten really creative with bandages and moleskin to try to mask the pain while hiking Half Dome and I even backpacked out of Havasupai with only socks on (pictured below).

I kept pushing past the pain because I heard how painful bunion surgery is and how lengthy the recovery time would be. Frankly, I heard horror stories about “shaving off” the bunion and you probably have too. I knew I would eventually need intervention but I held out hope for the technology to improve. “Somebody’s going to come up with a better way,” I would think.

In my first year of motherhood, it became obvious the intervention I needed could not be postponed any longer. I wasn’t just in pain while hiking, I was in pain just pushing my son in his stroller. I vividly remember a day at the zoo when he was five months old. I don’t even think I made it 15 minutes before the walking hurt my foot so badly I needed to take a seat. I knew at that moment, I wanted to get my bunion fixed immediately so I could get back on track by the time my little boy wanted to go hiking with me. I mean, if I couldn’t even walk with him at the zoo, how were we ever going to have adventures in the mountains together?!

I went home and dug into research about bunion treatment. Immediately, I came across information on Lapiplasty 3D Bunion Correction. I learned that this is different from traditional surgery because it actually repairs the unstable joint that leads to a bunion instead of cutting the bump off. I knew this was the treatment I had been waiting for!

The next step was to set up consultations with podiatrists and find out if I was a candidate. At these appointments, the team took x-rays of my foot, told me about the device that would be used to correct my bunion and gave me the opportunity to ask lots of questions. I was mostly concerned about when I would be able to get back on my feet. When they told me I could be in a walking boot within days of surgery, I knew I wanted to schedule surgery ASAP! I got it on the calendar just a few weeks later.

I prepped for surgery by getting ice packs, ibuprofen and arranging for my mom to drive me to and from surgery. The morning of surgery I did have to fast because I would be going under and I arrived at the surgery center about two hours prior to the start of my procedure. The nurses administered a COVID test, got my IV hooked up and went over my health history. My doctor talked to me and checked in to see if I had any final concerns. 

The anesthesiologist took time to talk to me about how I would be sedated and numbed. Something I found unique was the approach to minimizing pain. The anesthesiologist actually performed a block on my leg to keep my foot numb for about 24 hours after surgery so I would be completely pain free. This brought me a lot of comfort knowing I would not be in pain when I awoke.

Moments before surgery

In my next post about Lapiplasty, I’ll get into the details of my recovery but what I want to tell you now is this: I am so glad I chose to get this procedure done. I have so much hope for my future now that my bunion is corrected! I cannot wait to continue my healing and get back to hiking.

If you can relate to my condition and have been putting off bunion intervention yourself, I encourage you to learn more about Lapiplasty and schedule a consultation. You can get started here. https://bit.ly/2YNFHOy
Individual results vary. These experiences are specific to these patients only. Lapiplasty® is a surgical procedure. Potential risks include infection, pain, implant loosening, and loss of correction with nonunion. To learn more about the benefits and risks, please visit Lapiplasty.com/Patient-Risk-Information.

No Contacts in This Camp!

I am so excited to share that earlier this year I got LASIK and no longer have to wear glasses or contacts! Getting this procedure done with Barnet Dulaney Perkins has improved my lifestyle tremendously in so many ways but especially when I am camping and enjoying the outdoors in general.

Disclaimer: LASIK outcomes are different for every single patient. Please contact an opthamologist to discuss your personal situation.

I used to dread my glasses/contacts while camping for a few reasons including: my hands were never *really* very clean before putting them in my eyes to take my contacts in out or put them in, when I switched to my glasses at night and it was cold out they would often fog up while I was sipping on a hot drink, campfire smoke irritated the heck out of my eyeballs and last but not least, I felt super vulnerable knowing if anything went wrong in the middle of the night I would have to scramble to find my glasses.

Beyond camping, I always seem to be the person who gets something in my eye on the hike and used to hate dealing with my contacts and slowing the group down or having watery eyes on the summit.

Now, I get to wake up and just start the day with a clear view of my beautiful surroundings. It Is such a blessing! I love not having to think about where I left my glasses, being afraid I didn’t pack them or that I’ll drop so many contacts trying to get them in that I’ll ruin the whole trip (if you know, you know).

I can even go kayaking without the breeze driving my eyes insane. A few weeks after the procedure I went car camping and spent a couple of days on the water at Lake Pleasant. It was a wonderful introduction to my new life with perfect vision.

I got my procedure done in February and it’s crazy to think I’ve been wearing glasses/contacts for 23 years up to this point!

Prior to LASIK, I had a consultation with Barnet Dulaney Perkins to make sure I was a good candidate… I was. Yay! From there we booked the time for my appointment on a Friday morning and this is the most amazing part: it only took about TEN minutes to perform the procedure.

I know the number one question you want an answer to is this: did it hurt? My answer is “no”. It didn’t hurt actually and I was completely freaked out that it would. The team actually gives each patient drops to numb the eyes so keep that in mind. I did feel pressure on the edges of the eyes but that is from the tools used to make sure your eye stays open while the doctor works their magic. Oh and speaking of magic, they also give you a relaxant when you get to the office because let’s be real, the thought of a laser to your eye freaks everyone out!

What helped me the most during the experience was that the team was so incredibly kind and Dr. Scott Perkins talked through each step of the process as he was performing the procedure. I felt like I had known him forever and completely trusted him with my vision. It’s pretty cool that he also performed my mom’s LASIK procedure previously and she raved about how nice he is!

When the procedure was over, I had my mom pick me up and take me home. Once you get home it’s time to sleep it off and keep those eyes shut. I did feel stinging on the afternoon of the procedure but the drops the BDP team sent me home with helped a lot. They also gave me some sweet goggles to wear to sleep to protect my eyes.

A few days after the procedure, my son Teddy (who was six months old at the time) accidentally smacked in the eye while seeking comfort. It hurt a lot and I immediately called BDP. They squeezed me into their packed schedule, checked my eyes for any damage and told me exactly what to do to relieve the pain. My eyes turned out to be fine but that experience spoke volumes about how much the BDP team cares about their patients.

Now that it’s been five months since I got LASIK, I just feel so grateful that this source of stress has been removed from my life.I don’t have to worry about ordering contacts or running out, when I’m sleepy at night I don’t have to go deal with my contacts, I can take a nap without contacts sticking to my eyes and ruining the rest of the day and another thing I love as a mom is I don’t have to worry about Teddy pulling at my glasses!

If you have considered LASIK, I hope my journey has helped you feel more comfortable about the process. You can set up a consultation to find out if the procedure is right by clicking here or calling (602) 975-5015.

If you have any questions make sure you follow me on Instagram @kristenkeogh and shoot me a DM. I would love to chat with you!

Protecting Your Skin This Summer

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month so it’s the perfect time to talk all things sun protection before summer officially starts. I don’t know about you but I plan on spending a lot of time outside so I’m stocking up on sunscreen!

Did you know that serious sunburns can put you at a higher risk for skin cancer?! I don’t mean to scare you, I just want you to know how important it is to keep your skin safe from the sun!

I have a history of non-melanoma skin cancer in my family, so I am very committed to applying sunscreen, getting my skin examined by a dermatologist annually and making sure I’m up to speed on the best ways to protect myself. To date, I have probably had about a dozen moles removed because they posed a cancer threat. In a way it was a blessing to have serious discussions about skin cancer during my childhood because it prepared me to take action as an adult. 

So, if no one has ever had the skin cancer talk with you, listen up: you have to protect yourself and your kids! 

I talked to Dr. Rita Fisler, a board-certified dermatologist at Epiphany Dermatology in Peoria, AZ for the best information on sun protection possible. Please read and practice her advice!

• How does Arizona compare to the rest of the country when it comes to skin cancer risk? Arizona has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the country.  We believe this is due to several reasons – first, Arizona has over 250 days of sunshine per year, and also because more people are engaged in outdoor activities throughout the year, compared to many other states.  

• What are the easiest ways to protect ourselves from skin cancer? The sun causes DNA damage, which then can lead to the growth of skin cancers and precancers.  So sunscreen, sun protective clothing, seeking shade when possible, and avoiding being out during peak sun hours (10-4) are all important strategies.  There are also supplements such as Heliocare and Vit B3, which can help reverse the DNA damage we sustain from the sun, but the best way to fix that dangerous DNA damage is to stop it from happening in the first place!  We can avoid the more deadly or more aggressive skin cancers by getting regular full skin exams by a dermatologist.  And if someone isn’t taking the time to look through your scalp or between your toes, then it’s not a complete exam!

• How do we know if we are at high risk for skin cancer? Anyone can get skin cancer, no matter what the skin type!  We have a higher risk for the non-melanoma skin cancers if we have had blistering sunburns, have had a lot of lifetime sun exposure (DNA damage is cumulative!) are fair-skinned, or have red or auburn hair.  Risk factors for melanoma include all of the above, as well as a family history of melanoma, many moles, and history of some other types of cancer such as breast cancer and pancreatic cancer.

• What should you do if you see something questionable on your skin? Are there any ways to tell on your own if a mole/spot is cancerous or not? The only way that has been clinically proven to determine if a mole or spot is cancerous is to do a biopsy.  Dermatologists spend years learning to recognize moles and spots that might be cancerous, and use tools such as dermoscopy, but even then, the only 100 percent way to tell is to take a sample and have a dermatopathologist look at the spot under the microscope.  Many times the spots that patients come in to have me evaluate are benign, but then I will see something else on their back or other parts of their body, that end up being a skin cancer or precancerous mole that they didn’t know they had!  That is why we always advise patients get full skin exams, even if they are only coming in for one spot or for another issue.

• For those of us who want to commit a little more to sun protection, what products/protocol should we be aware of?  I love the broad spectrum (UVA and UVB) mineral sunscreens that go on easily and provide some DNA repair as well.  My favorites are the ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica SPF 50 lotion, that I use everywhere because it’s light, easy to apply, and gives great coverage and repair, ELTAMD Clear for the face and UV Sport for the body, Skin Better’s Sheer Stick SPF 56 that I use on my face before I go out running or hiking, and Skin Medica’s Total Defense and Repair.  I also love the Colorescience powder or the ISDIN SPF 50 powder, that I reapply during the workday to freshen up my protection.

• What are the most common mistakes you see people making when attempting to protect their skin? People forget to reapply sunscreen!  They can often make the mistake of thinking that if they apply it once in the morning, that they are good for the rest of the day in the sun.  I often try to remind them that chemical sunscreens will absorb the UV light and then they degrade, so there is no longer any protective benefit from the lotion or cream.

• Is there anything else you want to add about sun protection? The best protection for all day activities, for children, and for those who dislike sunscreens or are unable to reapply, is sun protective clothing!  Coolibar, Solumbra, REI and even Walmart and Target now all sell protective shirts, hats, and I always recommend gloves if people want to avoid skin cancers and those unattractive freckles on the backs of the hands!

For my protocol Dr. Fisler recommended IDSIN sun care products. I started using the SUNISDIN, a once-a-day antioxidant supplement designed to defend against photoaging and their Eryfotona Actinica SPF 50+ sunscreen. I also have the sunscreen in powder form for touch ups on the go. Life changing stuff!!

To make a skin exam appointment with Dr. Fisler or to learn more about all Epiphany Dermatology offers, head here or call (623) 487-3003.

National Parks Nursery

In case you haven’t heard, on August 22nd I gave birth to my little baby boy Theodore. Prior to his arrival, I decorated his nursery to match a passion I hope we will share someday: visiting national parks. 

The national parks are where I feel most like myself, most free and most in touch with nature. I hope that as my baby boy grows into a man he finds the same peace in the parks and grows a desire to protect the outdoors. And yes, Teddy is named after Theodore Roosevelt for his role in protecting wildlife and public lands.

I started designing the space with this piece of art from Woodensense. I’ve actually had it since 2017 and it’s brought me so much happiness that I wanted to hand it down to my baby boy. It’s what faces you head on when you walk into the room and hangs above Teddy’s changing table. Here‘s something adorable- Teddy loves being on his changing table. I call it his “happy place”. As we change him he stares at this piece of art and smiles as I tell him about all of the amazing, beautiful places we will go together.

I found an adorable mountain print called “Rocky Mountain” that was available in different forms of decor on multiple sites. I got the crib sheet and changing table cover from Milk Snob. I also have a matching car seat cover I ordered from them too. The blue/green/grey tones matched perfectly with the art that inspired the entire room.

Our main furnishings are a 6-drawer dress, a crib and a changing table in dark grey from Storkcraft.

I am not a fan of traditional nursery chairs and I knew I was going to spend most of my time snuggling Teddy on my comfy sectional in my living room anyway so I wanted a rocking chair that was aesthetically pleasing and would really make the nursery look cute. I fell in love with this green velvet rocking chair from Wayfair. It is so comfy and easy to clean spit up off of.

A lantern lamp was the perfect light to go with this room’s theme. I found it on Etsy!

The ottoman was a Home Goods find my mom picked up and I also found the side table (that I am obsessed with!) at Home Goods. The side table had the perfect “this wood just got delivered right from the forest” look I was going for. The book on top of the table is the very first book I got for Teddy and I purchased it at Haleakalā National Park on Maui.

Oh, and the baskets under the changing table are from Home Goods too. Baskets are pricey so I only get them discounted. 

More Etsy finds that complete the whole room are the camping prints that hang above Teddy’s crib, the forest themed garland on his crib and the amazing bear rug on the floor!

Also on the floor, you’ll find the cutest plush campfire from Crate & Barrel.

Last but not least, we hung a mirror above the dresser. It’s from Amazon and I absolutely love it.

For a couple of cozy touches we added a blanket that matched the cribs sheets and the sweetest teddy bear from Cuddle+Kind.

In the future I plan to help Teddy keep track of all of his national parks visits with a special collection in his room. I love this idea of collecting magnets and putting them all up on the wall!

I hope you enjoy. As always, if you have any questions, send me a DM on Instagram!

Camping Santa Parked His Trailer in Scottsdale

Camping lovers, you’ll be thrilled to know Santa has a vintage trailer and he set up camp at Scottsdale Fashion Square for the holiday season. You can visit camping Santa all the way through Christmas Eve.

My 3-month-old Teddy and I got the opportunity to pay him a visit and we now have a photo to cherish forever! You can get a closer look at our visit if you watch this Instagram reel.

Santa will sit in front of his trailer solo but surrounded by all his camping gear from a lantern and cooler to his fishing gear and, of course, a campfire.

COVID safe protocol is in effect, so you will be distanced from Santa and anyone above age two will need to wear a mask. There is hand sanitizer available upon entry and Santa will be wearing a mask while guests sit six feet away from him.

Reservations are recommended. You can make them and learn more about COVID protocol here.

6 (More) Things to Try in Pine-Strawberry

Ya’ll know I love Pine-Strawberry and I have six new things for you to put on your bucket list next time you visit. In case you missed my first post, here are the first six recommendations I gave you from a previous trip!

Now, this was the first road trip I’ve taken with my baby boy Teddy. Yes, we hit the road with a four-week-old baby and it wasn’t as chaotic as you would think. You guys know me more for strenuous activities on my trips, but this is a very chill itinerary. It had to be considering I had a newborn in tow. For more on hiking in the area head back to that blog post linked above.

#1 Stay in a Tiny Cottage 

My friends at The Strawberry Inn now have tiny cottages! These are fantastic for anyone who wants a little extra space on their trip. We stayed in gorgeous cottage # 1 and it was perfect for our little family. The cottage has two bedrooms, one bathroom, a kitchen/living area (that includes a full-sized fridge, cooktop, big sink, microwave and dining table!), streaming TV, wifi, a Keurig coffee maker and a couch. My favorite part of the cottage was all of the patio area. The whole point of our trip was to escape the Phoenix heat and enjoy the outdoors so we loved the extra outdoor space as there is a front patio and basically a giant backyard. The backyard area has grass and a picnic table. It was perfect for having a glass of wine and enjoying the cool temps. I do want to mention for my dog people that the cottage is dog-friendly and The Strawberry Inn always has many options for traveling with your pet.

For a full tour of the tiny cottage, head to my Instagram page and click on the Strawberry highlight.

You can book a tiny cottage or any other accommodations from The Strawberry Inn here.

#2 Check out Windmill Coffee

One of my favorite parts about going out of town is trying new coffee spots so I was thrilled to learn that The Strawberry Inn took the adorable Windmill out front of their main hotel and turned it into a coffee shop! My go-to drink is a vanilla latte with oat milk and Daniel at Windmill absolutely nailed it. This yummy coffee was the perfect way to start our day in Strawberry.

#3 Grab an empanada at Pie Bar

There’s another new spot in town and it’s perfect for a grabbing a quick bite to eat. Pie bar offers empanadas, mini pies and yummy salads. Oh and they sell booze 🙂

The menu changes daily but take a look at the September menu for an idea of what you can expect.

I had the Scorpion Whisperer salad and an apple empanada (along with a little cabernet sauvignon). The salad was fresh and the perfect midday delight before stuffing my face with pizza later… which leads us to number four.

#4 Eat at Old County Inn

If you’ve never been to Old County Inn, it’s worth a trip to Pine alone. This restaurant has been featured in national publications for its deliciousness and once you try the food, you’ll understand why.

I’m normally a pepperoni pizza kinda gal (boring eater alert!) but Old County Inn has the most wonderful combinations on their woodfired pizza menu. My personal favorite is the spinach, artichoke, chicken pizza. There is a balsamic glaze on top that makes this pizza to die for. You absolutely have to try it.

I also got the Green Chili Beer Cheese with breadsticks that were absolutely divine and the Arizona Greens salad.

If you’re a cocktail drinker, you’ll love OCI’s craft cocktails. A mountain town isn’t probably where you would expect to find a killer margarita, but trust me, OCI has one heck of a marg! I look forward to getting one every trip!

#6 Watch the Wildlife

If you love animals but don’t want to put in a whole lot of efforting into spotting wildlife, well this is the place for you. Elk and deer are everywhere! Around dawn and dusk you can spot furry friends all over the place (watch out while driving!). Remember that huge yard I mentioned at our cottage? Well we were enjoying a glass of wine in the evening when we spotted two huge elk and a baby. The next morning I spotted a deer through the window while I was in the kitchen.

#5 Try an off-roading trail

I have been dying to do some more exploring of the Pine-Strawberry area via off-roading trails but with a newborn on board that wasn’t going to happen. We did get a little dirt on the tires on some regular dirt roads, but once things got rocky, we had to bail. Because this area offers so much for off-roaders, I did want to share more on the topic with you so I reached out to my friend Jody Isaac of Dirt Therapy to get you a trail recommendation.

Make sure you check out Jody’s videos and follow him on Instagram.

If you have any questions about planning a trip to Pine-Strawberry send me an email at kgkeogh@gmail.com or DM me on Instagram.