Nice post! Wish you a good recovery! I was not as lucky as you with the weather when I was there last in July. About cable cars, I usually prefer to take them only to go down after a good hike up. Going up starting from Wasserauen, Seealpsee, Ebenalp then along the northern ridge up until Säntis was a very nice hike, though quite exhausting (2000m up).

Here before reaching Seealpsee, we could see our target Säntis waiting for us :

Seealpsee that you mentioned :

Starting the ascent, we pass below Ebenalp, with its famous Ascher cliff restaurant :

Taking some altitude, now seeing lake Seealpsee below :

We encounter some cows who seem to enjoy the view :

Some parts are somehow challenging once we arrive closer to the top, but always well secured with cables or ladders :

And finally the last exposed portion to reach the cable car !

Clouds were all around unfortunately. But still a very rewarding journey : )