Hi Everyone,

I am up at the computer for a few minutes so thought I would take a sec and write a few words. Thanks for the cards and gifts 🙂 It really means a lot to me to have that support and contact with everyone. Of course, being laid up has given me an opportunity to write to everyone at work at both sites, as well as cards or letters to everyone in my address book, so that has helped me pass the time. I am about to call my surgeons office to let them know of my left incision (the one on the outer aspect of the leg that had the 40 staples in it, has opened in 2 spots and both holes have drainage. Seems to be old blood mostly but I worry about infection so want to know if I should be on some prophylactic antibiotics. I’m seeing the surgeon on Friday, so I’m not sure if they will let it continue to drain or stitch me up again. 🙁 the holes are about 1/2-3/4 of one cm each). They came open in the area where, when my family Dr took out the staples, one area just gushed out some blood down my leg, so I think there is a big hematoma in there that needs to evacuate. (just my guess). Both areas had a hard bit sticking out of the incision and I know from my breast cancer incision that it was a piece of suture that would dissolve. Anyways both area’s look look almost like a fistula hole (say it isn’t so) but I will call the surgeons office and let him know. I’ve been holding the wound together with a couple of bandaids, and changing them every couple of days.

The incision on the right side of the knee had split open after the last of the steri strips had come off, and it wasn’t deep or bleeding, so we pushed the incision together and it seems to have worked. I’ve had no bandaids on it for a few days now so fixed that side, but the left side continues to worsen so I think the surgeon is going to have to do something there…

I’ve been spending most of my days sitting up in my recliner. I make it to the bathroom or bed with an old lady walker 🙂 I don’t have a ton of stamina with it, but I’m doing alright. 🙂 I can do my hair standing at the laundry sink and there is a small bathroom down here so I can do a wash there. He has brought a bed down into the family room, as I am not able to do stairs right now but he’s thought of everything and is taking good care of me.

The pain in my leg now is mostly stiffness and when I do the exercises. It hurts behind the knee on outer left when I try to lift my leg behind me by bending my knee. I started at about 45 degrees flexion in the knee (not great) but with physio it has started improving each time. I have gone to 50 degrees, then 70, then 77 degrees and then 80 degree’s… not normal yet, but it’s a struggle to gain a degree with the swelling and stiffness I am having. I can’t wait to see the surgeon and see if this brace can at least come off at night so I’ll be able to sleep easier. I have a feeling it won’t, but I’m hoping anyways.

I am going to physio in a few minutes. Just heard back from surgeon’s office. Because I told them it looked more like old blood and not infected looking, I am OK to wait and see him on Friday, but if it looks infected at all, to call the office and he will see me sooner. So, for now, I’m going to wait. 🙂

I’m off to get ready for physio, better take a couple of pain pills…  and I will post again if any new developments… maybe after I see surgeon on friday.

Take care everyone and thanks all for your kind comments and support. Special thanks to Maurice, without whom I could absolutely not manage.

…Pam…