Behind the wheel

I can drive a car again! After just over 8 months I'm officially allowed to drive. I'm also allowed to shower (only after wrapping my left arm in plastic wrap and while wearing a waterproof boot on the other leg) again for the first time since the first foot surgery 3 months ago.

I'm starting to get used to looking at my feet in their new configuration. At fist, when I looked at my feet without bandages, I always looked at the spot where the toes were amputated. Now I'm starting to look at the rest of the foot without fixating on just the missing bits.

Ever since the surgery I've experienced "Ghost limb", a condition where one feels something like pain or an itch on a missing body part. In my case I sometimes feel a strange rubbing feeling on the outside of my pinky toe -- the pinky toe that was removed. It feels exactly like something is rubbing on that toe. I've even absentmindedly reached down to scratch that toe a couple of times.

Our COBRA eligibility expires at the end of December so I've been busy searching for a suitable replacement health insurance policy. I had foolishly hoped we could simply buy the same policy directly from the provider. That has proven impossible - that level of coverage is simply not available to individuals at any cost. It looks like we will be paying a lot more out of pocket for care next year but we will be able to keep all my current doctors.

Egg Nog Porrage

1 cup steel cut oats

1.5 cups water

1 cup egg nog

1/4 tsp salt

Combine ingredients in a lidded saucepan and slowly bring to boil. Boil for 5 minutes then cover with lid and remove from heat. Let stand for 2-3 hours and refrigerate overnight. 

Reheat in microwave and add dark brown sugar and rasins to taste. For even more flavor add 1/4 cup grated tart apples to the saucepan prior to cooking.

Hummus man

Small Milestone

I'm getting used to doing the regular IVs 3 times a day and the problem with clogging the line is gone. Hopefully this works and the bone infection is resolved.

Still pretty gnarly looking but getting better

Today marked another small milestone, I got all the stitches removed from my feet. After the amputation I was left with about 30 stitches in the left foot and 6 in the right. It was actually quite painful which ironically is good news as it indicates the numbness is slowly receding.

With the stitches removed I can now wear normal socks instead of having my feet wrapped in bandages so walking is easier. Also and more importantly it means that I can take showers again which is a wonderful treat. I still need to treat the remaining gangrenous areas every day with Betadyne to keep then dry and germ-free. The remaining caps should fall off over the next few months leaving behind healthy - albeit shorter - toes.

Jax gets his first ink