No Pain, No Gain
I was always told as a kid not to pick at scabs. Not only would they not heal, but they would scar. There is always an exception to the rule and I’m living it. My newest specialist is a wound therapist who soaks my ankle in a whirlpool tub. That part is actually pretty great. Almost spa-like treatment.
Except spa’s don’t then take a pair of tweezers and dig into the lovely penny size hole on the side of your ankle, in an attempt to remove dead tissue. If the therapist stays on the surface, it’s not too bad. But if she explores the edges of the cave (her term, not mine) it doesn’t feel too good.
It’s not as if my body has not been explored before, but then again I am usually not awake! An ill feeling overcame me today as I realized what exactly I could see in that opening. The therapist’s chit-chat didn’t distract me enough while she was spelunking in my ankle.
They are using a special ointment to loosen the dead stuff that must vacate the area in order for it to heal. I’m praying this is the answer, because my patience is quickly fading. Today, equals three weeks on crutches. Three weeks on IV antibiotic’s. Three weeks of trying to make a fashion statement in saran wrap. Three weeks of pain. But in comparison to the past three years, I know I will survive. I’ve done it before. I can do it again. (At least I keep telling myself that.)
My grandmother used to have a brass oval key chain that said, “You’ve Come A Long Way Baby!” Haven’t we all?
Props & Pans is giving away a set of 25 personalized stationary cards from Pose Prints. They’re really a unique way to design something that reflects your personality. You can create baby shower invites, personal note cards, graduation announcements…just about anything! Go check it out!
Jeez. Is there something you can be doing outside the therapy to help ease the discomfort? (I’m thinking if you soak it yourself at home intermittently, would it make the tissue softer and easier to remove?)
Give the antibiotics time. They can sometimes be slow to start, especially if the infection was significant.
Hope you’re feeling better soon.
KH from DCFS in BV (how’s that for a secret code?) was talking about you the other day. How strong you were and how you never lost your will to just keep plugging along.
She went so far as to say when you made it to the pearly gates, you wouldn’t even have to wait, you would just be ushered in.
Your strength to endure is well known. Hang in there. You don’t want to crush your fans!
wow. i am not sure i have a strong enough stomach for that!
Awe, Emily, that so sucks. I never had the doctor or anyone else do that ‘for’ me, but I know what they are doing and why; in case they didn’t explain it…teehee.
When you have an infection like that, it kills so much of the surrounding tissue and you are left with basically a hole. If you just leave it to heal, the outside will heal, but the inside won’t. They want to make sure it heals from the inside out; less chance of a recurring infection.
I had an abscess on my breast (I was scared, it looked like inflammatory breast cancer, but wasn’t) that came years after a breast reduction that left some type of tiny cyst, which became infected (cellulitis). I had to keep it clean, bandaged and it hurt so bad..the nerve pain was horrible.; of course all of this after I had surgery so they could cut it out and do a biopsy. I so feel for you.
Hang in there; we are all here for ya!
Yuck. I don’t even want to read about it never mind go through it. You stay strong and hang in there.
All your bloggy friends are thinking about ya!
Oh Emily, I winced for you. I sympathize (I was run over, my ankle, and spent a year on crutches off and on and in therapy, and have RSD forever as a long-term result) but never had to deal with as much as you do. Hang in there.
Holy crap! My toes are curling. It better REALLY help with the pain, this sharing!
I know that sick feeling though I get it just giving blood, never mind having someone root around inside my ankle. You are a brave woman!
Hang in there baby. The end is almost in site….
It gave me a chill just reading about it so I can’t imagine sitting through it and trying not to think too much about it. Hang in there, you have been through so much!
Emily, I’m so sad for you and my sister who also got an infection in her recent back surgery. She’s been on antibiotics for over 2 months. What in the hell is going on that we are getting so many infections? Is there something we can do to stop this. It’s far more rampade then health care wants us to know. I think they purposely mislead the statistic.
I’ll continue to keep you in my prayers. I’m a wreck hoping I don’t have this to encounter in my journey.
My best,
Dorothy from grammology
remember to call your gram