Pain

The operative word for yesterday was pain. I have had many eye surgeries over the past 4 years and this was, by far, the most painful. Even when I spent 5 days with radioactive seeds sewn into my eye I didn't have this much pain. I wasn't at all prepared for this degree of pain. The Vicodin hardly touched it but it did make me get sleepy so it helped that way. I have a lot of bruising, which I was hoping to avoid this time but no such luck. I know someone else who had the same procedure done and had almost no bruising. It probably doesn't help that I've had radiation to the area, that always changes the tissues. Add to that I tend to bruise more easily I guess it would be a surprise that if I didn't bruise.

Trying to get my post op appointment is proving to be very frustrating. The clinic number provided on the discharge instructions was incorrect, it was a PT clinic. I called the plastic surgery appointment number and after much repetition of my name and dob I was given an appointment time but then told oops, the computer says too many people are scheduled that day. So I may end up removing my own sutures. Dr. Fletcher used a running stitch so it's like unraveling yarn, once I cut the retaining knot, which is held to the bridge of my nose with a piece of steri-strip the whole set of stitches can be pulled out. I'm supposed to get a call back once someone figures out how to over-ride the computer. Computers have their place in medical practices but really, a pencil and a notebook worked just as well, and cost a lot less.

I'm off the my local scrapbook store to get things ready for the retreat. I leave tomorrow.