48 Hours

Not the TV show, but the time I have to wait to get in the shower.  I went to the doctor this morning.  The big heavy wrapping came off and the stitches came out. I was the first patient for the new staff nurse.  She got to remove my stitches....lucky for her; unlucky for me.  "I've only every removed head stitches...and that's much easier than this! "  OK, no medical experience here, but I could have given her a few hints:

1. Don't stand in the light and cast a shadow on my foot.  Adjust the light, or step to the other side.
2.  Hold the snipping scissors in your right hand and the lifter in your left hand.  You're not successful cutting with your left hand.
3. Try to stop your hands from shaking.
4. Don't be so concerned about hurting me; just GET IT OVER WITH!

They rebandaged my foot (much less volume than before); put a snuggie on it; gave me scar cream; provided instructions on massaging my toes to get them to point the way they should (spooky); gave me shower instructions; and put me in a walking boot.  The "walking" part is a dream at this point.  Doc says I can walk "to tolerance" which today means only about one step.  However, it feels like progress.  The boot is very cool--it can be pumped up to apply pressure.  Sort of an Air Jordan apparatus. Think I'll be able to dunk now that I have this? 

Nurse Glenn insists that this recuperation hasn't been hard at all for him.  But when we got home from the doctor and I'm scooting up the stairs, his first question was "you don't need that chair to get on your feet in the house, do you?"  Sounds to me like someone who wants to retire!

43 hours and counting!!