Wednesday, December 10, 2014

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.

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