Noticed today that I have a patch of skin--2 inches by 3 inches--to the left of the incision where I just don't feel anything.

Also, apparently the correct way to shower to keep incisions dry involves swathes of saran wrap and then waterproof adhesive tape around the top. I finally figured it out--the fourth time I showered.

One of the...techniques, not really a resolution, that I'm adopting is the notion of identifying one or two major goals per day and making that or those be the main focuses of the day until you can get them done--the idea being that if you get those done, then you can feel accomplished, even if there are other items outstanding ( Read more... )

My answer to the question part in the meme that I'm reproducing below, because I thought it was useful documentation ( Read more... )

Back from surgery. It went as well as could be expected, though I was slightly disturbed by the surgeon's tendency to use "air quotes" when "describing" things. They found a few unexpected things: turns out I did have a small meniscus tear that didn't show up on the MRI, so they fixed that, too; and some bone abrasion on the underside of my kneecap ( Read more... )

Got a call around 7 am saying that an earlier patient had canceled, and could I come in early?

It's not like I was sleeping anyway--waking up on and off all night. Partial dreams of some poor sod drawn into a bank robbery and hunted down by the police & their dogs while the real masterminds got away.

So I'm in to surgery.

Surgery is tomorrow morning, and I am made entirely out of nerves.

...which may be a problem when they're looking for the knee to operate on.

I was going to write a post. Then I realized that this IM exchange pretty much sums it up ( Read more... )

Yesterday I had my pre-surgery physical. I didn't even have to take my clothes off. The doctor talked to me, listened to heart and lungs, felt my pulse in my feet, and said I was good. On the other hand, I *did* have to have a liver and kidney and whatever-all-else organ function blood test done. And I got the Worst Blood-Drawer Ever.

( Because it's a long post (not all about blood), I've been kind and cut it. )

I am having knee surgery in 18 days, barring illness. (Sick people, stay away! I do not want to have to reschedule surgery.) This gives me a rather horrible hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach when I think about it, which I try not to. After surgery, I'll be going through physical rehabilitation for about nine months before I can do much of ( Read more... )

Another doctor's visit today. This time, the specialist I saw right after my injury referred me to another doctor in the clinic that specializes in ACLs, among other things. So that doctor talked to me a bit, examined my knee, told me that it would probably be another month to surgery time, but that we should schedule it now. Apparently scheduling ( Read more... )