I am sidelined. The Physician’s Assistant said “You are doing too much your wrist is swollen.” Duh it was swollen before the surgery. “Your fingers are still numb.” “Don’t lift anything more than two pounds for a month” Heck even Chance’s water dish weighs more than that. “Don’t do any repetative motions where you pull your fingers toward you..like peeling potatoes”…. oops like peeling carrots and potatoes for soup? “ No doing dishes.” oops… “Keep it dry another week or so” …the warm soaks in the bathtub did not impress her.
Far Guy and I just looked at each other. It was the first we had heard of all these rules. The surgeon said I could move my fingers and thumb immediately after surgery and get the hand wet after the big bandage came off. I re read his instructions that we were given, he and his PA must have different views. I wonder how much they communicate?
The tumor was a Lipoma and the pathology report came back just fine. So that was good news.
A very nice LPN came in and took out my stitches. She put on some steri strips. I asked how long she thought they would last …she said “A week, maybe longer wait for them to fall off.”
One trip through Wally World and they were falling off.
At least the stitches are history. I cannot woodcarve for awhile, but I have other hobbies that I can attempt.
The itching from the strips was intense. I wasn’t going to make it 7 days with these strips. I did make it eight hours. I spoke with our daughter that is a Nurse Practitioner, she said if it was itching really badly perhaps I was allergic to the steri strips…possibly… so I took the strips off.
After I took the they should last a week steri strips off.
I tried some different bandages. None of them worked for me. Finally I made my own.
A bit of gauze a brand new sock cut in half and a bit of vet wrap to hold it all in place. Vet Wrap is what I use to protect my thumb at carving. I have rolls of it in all colors…there is a human equivalent called Coban but the Vet Wrap works just as good and is less expensive. I will wrap it like this during the day and let it air dry at night.
I am finally the most comfortable I have been in a long time. I actually feel like doing something…and then I remember I am supposed to take it easy.
Glad to hear you are feeling more comfortable. What a relief that must be. Don't forget the "take it easy" part.
ReplyDeleteSo happy to hear that the stitches are out, the steri strips are off and you are finally feeling better. If the steri strips were made from Latex you sure as well might have been allergic to them. My hubby is allergic to Latex and all bandages must be Latex Free. Hope you get well soon.
ReplyDeleteI can see how red it is from those strips itching like that. Finally you've got some relief. And that is totally weird that you had such different instructions from the doctor. Hopefully you'll be posting next about how much better it all is. I'm hoping anyway. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt looks so much better! Glad it is healing nicely- maybe reading is a possible activity?
ReplyDeleteGood for you for solving the problem yourself! I hope this wound heals up soon.
ReplyDeleteGood! Progress! Looks like you know as much or more for what YOU need!
ReplyDeleteGood ole vet wrap! The duct tape of the equine world. Hope you heal well. I'd be using Young Living oils on it to help it along.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are on the mend!!! You are funny your post made me laugh. Hugs, LJ
ReplyDeleteTake it easy! Muscles can kind of shred even if they don't tear. I have permanent muscle damage in my left wrist due to a work injury that they then kept demanding that I use or be fired (no union) despite what the doctor told me. Should have never done it, but living alone...would have lost my apartment...and car...turned out I lost it all in the end, anyways. Please be careful for a while, like she said. Give yourself that month. :)
ReplyDeleteIt might looked healed and or healing on the outside but you need the inside to heal as well. I don't think you want to have pain for the rest of your life just because you did too much too soon. Take care.
ReplyDeleteWe have to listen to the medical people. we can't cheat one little bit.
ReplyDeleteGlad you got the bandage fixed so that it is more comfortable. That is a large cut. Hope it heals quickly.
ReplyDeleteI received a most curious comment on my last post which I feel sure must have somehow been meant for you. A retired registered nurse goes on to say the stitches must have been taken out too soon and suggests you make your own steri-strips from material that does not make you itchy. I did post about my DH cutting his thumb recently but he didn't get stitches so I'm confused as to this mix-up. In any case since I don't think the comment was meant for me I won't publish it. I am glad you feel more comfortable now.
ReplyDeleteYour covering should work to protect your incision. Now STOP using your hand for a while. Without steristrips, your incision is vulnerable.
ReplyDeleteThankful the report came back ok and I am glad you are feeling better. I have not visited in a long while on the blogs. Try to take it easy - I know it is hard. xo
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