Vanishing comfort

After removing the mesh on the donor site on my thigh yesterday, I felt victorious.  Sadly that feeling changed as pain set in.  By mid-afternoon I was so miserable I called the ortho clinic and Cristie could only comfort me by saying my experience isn't unusual and I should up my pain meds.  By evening I was a mess.  I was in so much pain I was unable to eat and could just about get myself in bed.  I finally was able to sleep when Ira got me to take the full range of pain medication available to me.  I have continued to do the same today.  I wish I could say that all of this medication eliminates my pain.  At best it makes it tolerable most of the time.

The visiting nurse came and suggested we might want to try putting  antibiotic ointment on adaptic and putting that on the site.  It would need to be wrapped for when I walk to the bathroom or kitchen - the only 2 places I go now.  I'm just living on top of my bed and amusing myself with my iPad, computer and books.  Ira put a call into the ortho clinic and I'm not surprised to report that so far no one has called me back.

As I researched skin grafts on the internet I came to the conclusion that my physician is using an out of date approach to the donor site and thus has caused me unnecessary pain.  Ira was skeptical and rightly so as I have no medical background.  He did his own research and now agrees with me.  We should have used a plastic surgeon to do the grafts.  We made a bad mistake just going along with the doctor on this.