baileythorne (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} baileythorne) wrote,@ 2007-12-12 12:56:00 |
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on the mend
So, few posts but lots of reading of LJ over the past few weeks. That will remain so for a few more.
- Accident: Friday, November 23rd (cut my hand washing dishes)
- Surgery to reattach nerve: Wednesday, November 28th.
- The experience was one of the best I've ever had in a hospital. I highly recommend Wake Raleigh Hospital. The staff was very friendly and caring.
- They never told me they were going to put me out. I scooted onto the operating table, traded a few comments with the surgeon, then woke up and was told we were done. No anxiety...
- Dad picked me up and took me out to lunch. Then out for coffee and desert at my favorite coffee house (major calories, but as "sick girl" I didn't care)
- Stayed over night with my dad & stepmom (hospital requirement not to be alone). We had steak for dinner -- and I had to ask my dad to cut it up for me.
- Recovery: 3 days out of work. Watched most of my downloaded and never watched movies. There are a lot of BAD movies out there.
- Stitches out: Tuesday, December 11th. So far so good. I can get my hand wet again!
- Next steps: wear the splint that prevents me from extending my thumb until Friday Dec 21st. This prevents me from ripping the nerve back apart that was reconnected. And makes it a bitch to type.
- The hand is very tender. Still have bruising on my wrist from surgery (working it's way down the arm...) Part of my palm looks like Frankenstein - the incision from surgery was much larger than the original cut.
- Movement in the direction toward my little finger is good.
- Still no feeling in my thumb. Should be 2+ months to see how much will be returned.
- Other comments/observations:
- Progress Piercing will remove & replace body piercings free of charge. Hospitals ask you to remove *all* jewelry before surgery. I signed a waiver in SF when I had foot surgery (I elected not to remove my genital jewelry). Didn't want to have that conversation at the hospital here in front of my dad... I've had the hood piercing for 5+ years so I didn't think a few days would allow it to close up. Lee at progress is the first person ever to remove a segmented ring and *not* pinch me. Kudos.
- There are some things that are difficult if not impossible to do one handed.
- flossing your teeth (buy the plastic, Y shaped, pre-threaded flossers)
- pulling back long hair (dealt with it for 10 days then figured out a way to get in a barret with the help of fingers only on the other hand)
- There are somethings that require help: I paid the person who colors my hair to wash, dry & flat iron it last Saturday. Will do that again this Saturday but am hoping to be able to manage it by the 22nd. My form of physical therapy: flat iron my hair!
- I have learned to be patient. Some tasks have been put on hold. Somethings I do slower. I was really spun up at first but now am accepting. I just take a deep breath and do my best.
- Life doesn't stop and there are many things I can still do: cardio workouts at the gym on the lifecycle, tango class (no need to hold my left hand), grocery shop, laundry, limited cooking. And yes, sadly, I've learned to hold the phone with 3 fingers and talk on the cell phone while I drive with my good hand. I dial before I start the car...
So, few posts but lots of reading of LJ over the past few weeks. That will remain so for a few more.
