Can't Believe I Slept through this

Day 12. Today, my surgeon forwarded me the jpgs made during my tendon repair. I am usually not a huge fan of the health care system, but to date I have been really impressed by Dr. Nunley and his merry band of associates. And not just because he sent me these nasty pics. You really have to prepare yourself for appointments. He does not have a lot of time for formalities, but to date, he has answered all of my questions. I have a long way to go before I see the final product, but if you are in the market for peroneal longitudinal tear repair, at this point I would endorse Dr. Nunley & Associates at Duke. If you found this blog searching for information on peroneal repair, the most helpful site I found was a forum on Runner's World. 

My recovery ebbs and flows a lot. Two days ago, I announced myself fit for work. Yesterday, I tired myself out brushing my teeth. The incision pain has ceased for the most part. A throbbing emerged deep in the ankle. It shoots up the tendon occasionally, but stays isolated in the brevis area the majority of the time. A lot of weird sole pain began, which I think results from the new cast and the strange foot strike it produces. I have upped the walking around a lot and perhaps a too little quickly. My leg plans on elevation, insurance paperwork, job administration and a couple of paperbacks for the next two days. Just 12 days out from the pictures below, I think things are progressing a little ahead of schedule. 

The itch created by a fortnight's bath abstinence rivals water boarding torture interrogation techniques. I would confess the identity of D.B. Cooper and Coca Cola's secret formula for a reprieve. The benedryl tabs work wonders at relieving both the itch and consciousness, but both resume at the same time. 

Please finish digesting your breakfast before scrolling down.

This image shows the tear running longitudinally. Unfortunately, I had my eyes closed in this picture.

 A tad over 3cm. This may put me off chicken wings for awhile.

Trail running. Sometimes you reap what you sew.

The special today  is tough and a little stringy. I would recommend the sirloin instead. 

diatribeFifteen

Measure Twice, Cut Once

My diabetic status marks me with the health care system's scarlet letter, D. In my experience, doctors tend to judge diabetics at the same time very likely incompetent and probably guilty of something sinister. Maybe eating honey buns off of the floor or mainlining cotton candy. I was scheduled a phone pre-op after establishing my blood sugar history with my surgeon. One and a half business days prior to my tendon repair, Duke Ambulatory Surgery Center contacted me at the last moment and informed me I had to attend a pre-op audition to ensure I was a proper candidate for mutilation. I managed to shuffle around my schedule enough to create the appropriate bureaucracy sized hole and high tailed it to the last appointment Friday. Weighed, EKG'd, bloodletted, and measured, I was deemed worthy and awarded my CHG surgical hand scrub.

New party game: pin the scar on the ankle. Can't wait to see
where the surgeon adds his signature.

I spent Saturday prepping the house for a handsome, humble, charming, but clumsy invalid. I removed all of the rugs, built pillow stacks for elevating legs, and stocked up at the grocery store. My birthday fell on Easter Sunday this year and Penny and I cooked every protein save the Cadberry bunny to stock pile low carbohydrate friendly meals. 5 lbs chicken, 4 lbs ham, 4 lbs corned beef, 1 lb bacon. After adding Saturday's 48 cheese sticks to the inventory, I lightly wet a bottle of Lipitor pills, dried them together in the sun, added a string and hung them as a medicine lick next to the refrigerator door. 

Last flight of the Dodo. I got 2 barefoot miles in against
 medical advice 5 days presurgery.

Thankfully, Monday brought the normal distractions of work to speed the passage of the countdown to surgery clock. I drank 128 ounces of water to ensure hydration and an undisturbed night sleep. I cautiously avoided yard work, taking out the trash, washing the dishes and flossing to prevent any skin breaks. As part of my just say no to MRSA campaign, Penny scrubbed me down with a mop and the agent orange turpentine doctors scrub. I set 3 alarms for 3:45, 3:50, and 3:55.

Our self-starring Doomsday Preppers episode ended with my birthday present from Penny. A Roscoe Knee Scooter. I am hoping my bike helmet will complete the Easy Rider Captain America image.

I am still planning the custom paint.

diatribeNine