I AM HEALED

Lippy, the Plastic Surgeon told me today, 

"leave and never come back." 

He also told me i CAN ride my bike again.  Lippy said, 'the new skin is about 80% as tough as the old stuff so be very careful with your new skin.  (Lippy wrote into my chart, "skip can ride his bike.")

Lynn the question sister asks, "Does the shin feel normal when you touch it? When something touches it (nerve feeling?)? Just curious. And how's your hip? "  Lynn you supply some great questions again...

#1.)  FEEL.  i had not really felt the skin graft for 'touch.'  i was always just so careful to change the bandage and avoid 'touching' the new skin.  (it's been so tender i am conditioned to never allowing anything to touch the wounded area.)   Today i was given orders from Lippy, to daily apply Aquaphor to the new skin.  (advanced therapy healing ointment - clinically proven to restore smooth, healthy skin)  *It has the Good Housekeeping seal.   :-)    While applying the Healing Ointment i found that the new skin has limited nerve feel.  It's also very tender to the touch.  I make a very conscious effort to not bump it.  (i've been carefully practicing this since 7/8th)

#2.) HIP.  well now, that's a tender subject...    When they put the old bandage on 8/21st, they told me to 'leave it on till the skin heals and the bandage will fall off.'  But, i knocked that bandage off when preparing for the hurricane.  So i had to make a new bandage and mine was not the magic kind.... So the hip (photo from today) is not quite healed.  But they put a new bandage on today and i expect it to be healed within a week.  i am to change this bandage every 3 days.  It does not 'hurt' but i can feel it and am aware of it.

It's great to be on the mend.  I am loving walking upright on two legs again.  So many things i have missed i can now take advantage of.  I'm excited to be able to ride my bike to the store.  To be able to take a shower.  To have both legs in the water.  Ahhh the little things we enjoy!  I hope YOU have two good legs.  Get up, walk!

This panoramic photo was taken from up on the bridge.

-Peg Leg Pirate Skip

End of September and Fall

I am 'almost' back to normal on the boat.  

i put up the Bimini yesterday.  (the canvas cover over the cockpit, steering wheel area.)  i have not gotten up the clear plastic windows yet. The 'windows' got moisture inside them.  (the material is actually two separate sheets of heavy plastic compressed together under extreme pressure.) When i took them down for the hurricane evacuation it had rained and they were wet.  (i took them down so the 200 mph winds wouldn't rip them down)  Then i put them into a storage unit where the moisture 'seeped' in between the sheets.  (like fog inside your window in the car)  So i am 'running the defogger' on them for a couple of days till the moisture is sucked out.  they are already much better after a day.  Maybe i can put them up this afternoon?

The leg is doing great.  I have my one month meeting with the plastic surgeon tomorrow.  I hope he gives me a good word.  ??   I am hoping i can ride my bike again.

i have been going to a gym for exercise.  i am happy to report that the soreness is less pronounced. i'm going back there this morning....

Yesterday i went to the Baptist Church over the bridge.  i had already tried two churches on this side of town and was not thrilled with them.  It was a friendly church. Eleven people came up and asked me if i was a visitor and to 'welcome me.' Perhaps my height tipped them off?  (they MIGHT have recognized me as a visitor because i was the ONLY person there in shorts?)  

I am eating healthy and still working on growing skin.  I'm reading lots of books and GETTING MEDICAL BILLS.  i spent a few hours friday on the phone with blue cross blue shield and with my check book.  The billing and numbers are all consuming!  *I'll do a breakdown and copy later to the blog.  This aint Obama Care!

We had a pizza party movie night at the marina last night.  it was fun to see a few new neighbors.  this is the 3rd of these since i moved here.  my first time to have legs and attend.  (both the pizza and the movie sucked)  Not much else to report.  It's time now, after breakfast & coffee, to get up and go to the gym for my workout.

Have a great week.    - Peg leg pirate Skip