Thoughts Become Things

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Itchy! 4/1/2010

When I went to the surgeon on Monday for my check up, I mentioned to her that one of the stitches was sticking out and was a bit scratchy. She said that it was no problem to snip the stitch, which she proceeded to do.  To be extra careful, she applied antibiotic and 2 small steri-strips.

Yesterday, just before bed, I mentioned to Ray that the steri-strip area was very itchy, and, for that matter red, and the red surrounded the area to which she had applied the strips. By this morning, the itching was intense, and the red area bigger. Fearing that any infection might interfere with radiation, this morning I called the surgeon's office for advice. Their response was that I should come on in right away before radiation, so they could inspect the area.

It turns out that I am allergic to the adhesive that she used to adhere the steri-strips. The strips are gone now, but the itch remains, and hopefully will diminish with time.

Radiation is a piece of cake. You check in, change into a hospital robe, wait a few minutes in the lounge, go in and lay on a table with your arms over your head for a few minutes, get up, get dressed and leave. The whole process takes about 15 minutes.

I start PT next Wednesday with a lymphedema specialist.

BTW--my hair is starting to come back--not so much that it would keep my head warm, or that you'd mistake it for anything other than fuzz, or that I'd have to worry about clogging up my bathtub drain with it when I wash my head, but it is coming back all the same. It's maybe 1/4" long now--Maybe I'll wear it in a ponytail tomorrow!!

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