Hooray!

Hooray! My breezy surgeon breezed in today, breezed around my leg, and decided to breeze off my frame. Incredibly, there was a slot in theatre, and less incredibly, I had forgotten to have breakfast, so was all ready to go. After months of everything seeming to go in slow motion, I was to be separated from my stainless steel friend in an almost indecent hurry. It was an odd moment too, as although I had found myself in a frame of mind where I viewed my metalwork as the enemy, the prospect of having it removed reminded me that it was in fact the only reason why my leg was still there, and it’s been doing a fine job. I am also going to have to have a cast for a few weeks, as one of my breaks is still a little ‘unstable’. In fact, I rather wish I hadn’t been told this, as I’m sure that I can now feel exactly where this instability is, and have the odd sensation of my lower leg dangling from a bit of jelly. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. So I suspect that I shall be spending more pointless hours on the internet trying to fill my head with further half-understood medical jargon.
My surgeon did offer me the opportunity of having it taken off without anaesthesia. Even he was prepared to admit that it was a little on the large side for this approach, and that it would hurt. This, and the fact that his colleague was behind his back, looking wide-eyed, and shaking his head sagely, convinced me that discretion was the better part of valour. Unfortunately, the fact that I was offered the option has opened me up to charges of cowardice from friends and family. It’s a price I’m prepared to pay.

So here we are. I should now be able to contemplate the possibility of wearing long trousers, and should be less of a circus freak as I walk around in public. I’m still unable to bathe, so can enjoy my new-found aromas for a few more weeks. So it’s all good news.I've attached before and after shots. I hope to sneak a crafty photo of my bare leg as it gets clad in plaster tomorrow. Notice the large black arrow on the ‘before’ photo. I’m hoping that this is a reflection of over-caution, rather than of a myopic surgeon. But so far, no complaints!