Blobbyectomy Follow Up Visit with PS

I had my follow up appointment today with the PS who lopped off Blobby last week. I should have known it would be a bad day when I arrived 15 minutes early for my appointment and found a waiting room jammed full of patients.  He was running behind, and I didn't get to see him until an hour past my appointment time. He looked at my incision and said there were a couple of spots that worried him because they were oozing and moist.  He was also unhappy that I'm still draining blood-colored fluid.  He had the nurse put a new, smaller dressing on it and show me how to do so (she did such a craptacular job dressing the wound that I could have done better in the dark, upside down).  He then went into full alarmist mode, just like he did at my consult appointment.  He said he hoped we could "salvage" the repair, and I asked him what that meant.  He said it meant getting it to heal without having to go all the way back in.  Of course, we aren't anywhere near that stage yet, even I know that. Even so, I left there convinced my leg was going to get infected and fall off.  My sister said that although he mentioned watching the wound, he didn't belabor the point, and to quit worrying about it.  I have to stay off it as much as possible and keep it elevated.  Sigh. I guess I'm upset because I don't want any more leg drama.  I want it to heal and be healthy.  I don't know why the PS has to yell "Fire!" when the building isn't burning (if you know what I mean).  What kind of doctoring is that? Sad Kix

Ok, first off, that Dr. needs to learn some people skills. What an a** to scare you like that! He sounds like a "the glass is half full" kind of guy - too bad it translates to his patient care. I can think of a couple of things I could say to him, big jerk. And I'm so sorry the healing is being held up - however I would think that it might take a little longer than usual since you have had so many problems with that good ole' blobby. You would think the Dr. would take that into account, that each patient is a little different? (I know, what a foreign concept!) Take care of yourself hon and don't worry too much. I'm sending up some prayers for you as I writer. Love ya Pam

I guess that's what bugs me -- he expects every patient to heal at the same pace and when things are outside the norm, he panics.  He's a former military surgeon, so I think that's part of the problem.  The other part of the problem is that sometimes I scare easily!  Not a good combination! I change my leg dressing once daily and the incision looks fine to me.  My sibling looked at it yesterday (she saw it when the PS looked at it, so she has a better sense of comparison) and thought it looked a lot better.  I need to resolve not to let that butthead PS upset me so much. Kix

HEY KIX,         JEEZ, TALK ABOUT A HALF EMPTY GLASS KINDA DR HUH? AND YOU KNOW..... SOME OF THE BEST SURGEONS IN THE WORLD ARE ASSES AND I GUESS MAYBE THATS WHAT MAKES THEM ON TOP BUT IM THE KIND OF PERSON THAT TAKES EVERYTHING<<< TO HEART AND DAMN, WANT HOPE WHEN YA SEE SOMEONE LIKE THAT. I MEAN COME ON NOW.... AINT YOUR MENTAL WELL BEING JUST AS IMPORTANT. GETTING YOU ALL UPSET AND WORRIED LIKE THAT WAS UNCALLED FOR. YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE GAME LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW THERE ARE SITUATIONS THAT CAN OCCUR BUT DONT LOOK WAY DOWN THE ROAD YET AND TELL YA THAT CRAP WHEN HASNT EVEN BEGIN TO HAPPEN YET. SO YOU JUST TAKE IT EASY AND PROP THAT LEG UP AND DONT LET THE GHOST OF BLOBBY UPSET YOU. JUST KEEP EATTING AND DRINKING AND REST AND DO WHATS EXPECTED OF YOU... HEY, LET THE FAMILY HAND YOU YOUR SEAFOOD NOW WHILE YOU LAY BACK LOL....... SURE YOUR SISTER WILL LOVE THAT LOL... HUGS MARGE

Marge, "ghost of Blobby" is a great description!  In fact, I had a dream last night that my leg popped (yes!) and I couldn't decide whether to take a cab to Barnes Hospital in St. Louis or St. Peters in Olympia, WA (both former duty stations for me when I was able to work).  Now, how weird is that?  I haven't lived in St. Louis in 20 years!  Not to mention it would be one expensive cab ride from the Denver area!     Doctors take an oath that begins, "First, do no harm."  I wish more of them would actually pay attention to this oath.  My PS certainly doesn't believe in the power of positive thinking.  If my HMO decides to pay for skin removal down the road, I definitely want another surgeon. One good thing about propping up my leg all day is that it gets me out of doing my chores. Kix

You're doc sounds like an eternal pessimist.  I hope you feel better.  I'll say a specialprayer for you!  Hugs, Tracy

Tracy, he sure is!  He did try to temper his upsetting remarks by saying, "We'll get it fixed."  It didn't work at the time.  Now that I look at my incision, I don't think anything needs to be fixed, I think it is healing just fine.  I wonder if he doesn't have a lot of history doing PS on formerly SMO folks and isn't sure what to expect as far as healing time, etc.  Instead of stating this, it's just easier to get me all upset!  Thanks for the prayers, I'll take 'em! Kix

Kix, As I've told you before, I essentially work for over 900 physicians.  There are very many of them that don't deal well with any complicating factor.  He sounds like one of those. I wish you great healing...sometimes our bodies do it in their own sweet time though! Big Hugs, Lori