Thursday, February 12, 2009

...back from the doctor [caveat lector...]

WARNING : CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES


if you aren't into surgical images, skip this post...

[disclaimer : the images in this post were taken with my cell phone,
thus the poor initial quality...and were then shot from the cell display...
due to technical problems, thus the even poorer resolution...
sorry...]


I had a post-op doctor's visit this AM...
I assumed that the sutures were coming out...
and wasn't disappointed...

there were about 8 sutures...
and these pictures were taken, before...
the sutures came out...



that shiny thing, about the size...
of the biggest paper clip wire I've ever seen...
just below and to the side of the top joint...
is the steel "wire"[aka "pin"]...



after the nurse washed the incision with H peroxide...
she cut & removed the sutures...
it stung a bit... but wasn't too bad...



in these close-ups, you can really see the wire...



about a 1/4 inch piece is sticking out...



when she redressed the incision...
she padded the area where the wire sticks out...
it will remain for at least 3 more weeks...
[my next appointment is March 5...]

she used "skin glue" and paper tape strips...
where the stitches had been...
the dressing is pretty thick because of the protruding wire...

she also gave me her "number"...
so I can come by anytime in the next 3 weeks...
that I may need the dressing changed...

the one she took off was filthy from just 1 week...
so I'm pretty sure that I'll have to go there...
a couple of times, at least...



so now it's re-dressed and feels snug...
but it's also nice and loose...
and feels better now...
though it's still achy & feels a bit cold...

the wonderful news is that I can bend the tip of my finger !
and it doesn't hurt to do it...

this is great news because it means that the surgery was successful...
the tendon & ligaments are healing well...
and I should have the full use of my hand again...

there had been some fear that things...
might have gone too long without proper care...
and would then be un-repairable...

so as I sit here, holding my right hand under the middle joint...
where the wire is still immobilizing it...
and watching the top joint move up & down freely...
I'm very grateful for the "circumstances" that led me to this surgeon...
and for the healing taking place...

God was definitely in the details here !

4 comments:

us300 said...

Great news! Yes, God is good!!!

catsinger said...

...A-Men, Brother ! :D

The Calico Quilter said...

Glad to hear everything is going well finger-wise, and am very glad the pictures were blurry and ungraphic. I wanted to know how it was going but didn't need to see the gory details!

catsinger said...

...yes...I was kinda glad that "Frankenfinger" was a bit blurry too...
seeing it up close & personal was a bit daunting...
especially the wire sticking out part...