More of the neverending tragedy that is my foot

I saw my doctor again yesterday for a follow-up from my most recent surgery.  I've still got some drainage and bleeding that my nurse was concerned about (still, at three weeks and three days post-op) but I wasn't as worried about that as I was the pain I'm still having at the spot where my foot lifts across the top and the constant popping and snapping that I'm feeling.  

Well, I got worried when he started pressing on my wound and there was pain I didn't even know about hiding in there.  He pressed out a lot of drainage and immediately had three x-rays done right then and there.  The results showed no fractures or problems with the one remaining tendon anchor (but the rubber-band-like snapping I'm feeling MAY be from the one anchor that is not there anymore, the one he took out in January...makes perfect sense to me) or even arthritis, which is what my nurse suggested might be going on.  Nope.  None of that showed up.  What's going on is there's infection in there, either deep tissue or bone.  Since I had staph in the hospital in January, I'm more than a little worried about this.  He took out the one remaining stitch that was holding the graft on and I'm on antibiotics for a week.  We're watching the wound very closely, changing bandages every day.  If there's still drainage after a week, I'll have an MRI to see if the infection is in the bone.

The skin graft has healed over the hole and my thigh has healed as well, I just have a bright pink 2x2 square on the side of my leg, that's all.  But, hey, pink is my signature colah.  I've started working on that scar and it'll be lighter and smaller in no time.

If you've been following me throughout this nightmare of mine, please continue to pray for my foot to heal.  Once and for all, to HEAL.  Every time I think I'm getting better, something else crops up.  

Today is Holy Saturday, the day we remember Jesus' full day in the tomb.  The day all those years ago when all hope was lost because Jesus was dead.  They all saw Him die, right there on that cross.  If you're living what seems like an endless Saturday like that one was, where all hope is lost and you can't see daylight, and sometimes, I do feel like I am, then let me remind you that Sunday is coming!  It's not done yet.  God has a plan for your life and mine, too.  My foot will heal and there will be unbelievable joy for me on that day.  

Just like there will be for ALL of us tomorrow morning.  

Surgery number three

Y'all, I'm becoming quite the expert on this whole surgery thing.  Had number three March 26th.  The skin graft.  We were told to get there at 7:30 so we did and when we arrived, we found out that I was the only one scheduled for surgery that day.  I felt so special.  (Not really.  Not even.  I'm prettttty much done with this whole surgery thing.)  It was nice and quiet and dark back there and we had lots of privacy.  I don't even remember going back to the OR this time.  I remember being wheeled out of there but I was asleep before we got to the operating room.  Didn't miss that cold table.  Or that cold room.  Or having to scoot my fanny off my warm bed onto that cold table in that cold room.  

I woke up back in my holding room and Larry was there, taking pics of my blood pressure and O2 monitors.  And me, bless him.  Doc had shown Larry a pic of my graft and he told me it looked like a football.  With waffle marks on it.  After I was able to drink some Sprite and sit up some, they sent me home.  Since I was the only one there for surgery that day, as soon as I was gone, the sooner they could get on with their slack day, I'm guessing.  They gave us our post-op instructions, threw me in the backseat of the Jeep where my favorite soft pillow and blanket were waiting and we were out of there before noon.

I slept all the way home, with a huge bandage around my left thigh and another one, yet another one, on my ankle.  I was supposed to have a xeroform bandage on my thigh.  That's a thin little yellow Vaseline-type bandage that prevents air from getting to the wound and keeps it nice and moist while it heals.  Yeah.  I was supposed to have that on my donor site.  As soon as I stepped out of the car and walked into the garage, the whole thing fell down my leg and just pooled around my ankle.  On top of my already huge ankle dressing.  My thigh, with SKIN MISSING, was just hanging out, all bloody and naked and stuff.  In the garage.  I fixed it back best I could, noticing right away that the xeroform was rolled up like tight greasy Vaseline paper inside the cotton and bandage, nowhere near the wound.  Oy. 

Since my nurse was coming in two days, we just kept it covered with gauze and Vaseline.  It looked great then.  Two days later, this whole thing was bloody and angry-looking and deep.  She cleaned it, slapped another xeroform on it and we ain't touched it again.  I do keep a thick gauze taped to it at all times because it is extremely sensitive and it makes me extremely cussy when I bump it on something.  This wound has BY FAR been the worst.  The worsttttttt.  And now that it's healing, it's starting to pull and feel tight.  The worsttttttt I say.  It makes me talk ugly and cry.  So we ain't messing with it no more. 

We went back for my first post-op appointment Monday and this is what the recipient site looks like.  Lord, Jesus.  Bless it.  

The cast caused me to have dry, scaly skin so I sloughed all that off and rubbed some lotion on it so it looks better than that now.  The skin around it anyway.  The wound?  Yeah, it's still JUST LIKE THAT.  That little tiny piece in the middle is what used to be my thigh.  Sigh.

I go back April 19th and we'll see how everything looks then.  I seriously doubt I'll ever have my pretty, pink, carefree foot again.

We left the doctor's office and went in search of some junk therapy, ending up at River Market Antiques on Hamilton Road.  There are some really cool, junky things in there!  They have a lunch box museum, too, but once I saw my old Hardy Boys one in a display case in the store, that was all I needed to see.  They also have plenty of sit down places for crippled girls, too, you know, in case you'd be in need of something like that. 

I did find this amazing lamp that I want to go back and get next time.  The guy there didn't know how much to charge (insert eye roll here) and he'd have to find out and let us know.  Sounds like they don't want to sell it.  Anyway, it was all the way in the back, collecting dust and feeling most unloved.  I think it's gorgeous and I'm planning to put it on a table in my antique booth and maybe not sell it.  

There were lots of cool displays in this store and it's well worth stopping if you're ever in Columbus!

There's this beautiful collection of amberina glass!

Lots of interesting stuff!  And two of the cutest little kitty cats who peek at you from underneath a 60's station wagon out back.  We were super impressed!

That's the latest!  Friday will be FIVE MONTHS since I've been at work.  I don't even know if I remember my password.