[Artemisia] OT, graphic, and likely too much information regarding Malkins Knee surgery

[Georgia Foster]

Appologies to those who recieve this more than once.

The pre-surgery consultation went well.  We discussed options and what the 
options would mean for the rest of the year.  All pretty standard stuff.

The surgery went as well as could be expected.  The ACL and LCL were 
reconstructed … in the former case with my own hamstring tissue and in the 
latter with a cadaver graft.  The MCL and PCL were repaired as far as 
possible without surrender, and the femoral chondial was micro-fractured to 
try to convince it to smooth out some.  In theory, the contract surgeon from 
the University of Utah Med center, Dr. Lohav, did the surgery.  That being 
said, if I am reading the human animal rightly, Dr. Bryan, VA intern 
actually did the procedure under the direction of Dr. Lohav.  It is the 
nature of the beast, when dealing with VA hospitals.  VA hospitals are 
teaching facilities.  My suspicion is born in part, due to the protective 
nature of in Dr. Bryan’s concern while I was in the hospital, and the 
protective nature of his discharge instructions.  In this case at least, I 
don’t mind.  Everybody has to have a first time to do something, the LCL 
reconstruction is a very uncommon surgery, and I believe that the job was 
done well and thoroughly.

The post surgery thing did not go well.  As sometimes happens, the patient 
woke up throwing up.  The individual in charge must have decided that I was 
not done cooking yet, and she used what I suspect was Ether to put me out 
again.  Dosing with Ether is not an exact science,  and she put me too far 
out.  My core temperature dropped to 93 before I was able to get them to 
understand that I was soooo cold.  Then … I passed out.  When I regained 
consciousness, I had what looked like an air mattress full of holes over me. 
  The device was attached to a heat pump, and for the first time in a while 
… I was warm.  It was WONDERFUL, and would really like to know where I can 
get one of those contraptions for my own personal use.

Recovery issue two … the procedure involved using a femoral nerve block.  
The two ladies that administered the block took four tries to find the 
juncture where the femoral nerve exits the pelvis.  I have four distinct 
puncture wounds and four little bruises at the exact place where leg becomes 
hip.  I am so glad I was unconscious for all of THAT.  As a result, however, 
I was unable to feel my left foot for three days after the surgery.  What I 
could feel was comparable to having ones foot fall asleep.  Ever try to walk 
on crutches when you can’t feel what the other foot is doing?  Let us just 
call it a low-quality recreational experience and leave it at that.  I still 
can not feel about half of the bottom of the foot, but the Doctor informs me 
that so long as there is daily improvement, there is nothing to worry about.

Three days in the surgical care ward, and another two in the interim care 
ward, and then the two and a half hour drive home, and all is well.  The 
doctor informs me that if I follow his instructions to the letter, I should 
be able to dance at least the slow ones by Coronation in March, that I 
should be able to walk well in two months, run in four months, and manage 
the Fire Pack Test (3 miles, 45 pound pack, in 45 minutes), by June.  I am, 
have been, and will continue to follow the instructions to the letter,




"It is a damn poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a word" ...
Thomas Jefferson

Jo (Georgia L.) Foster
jo_foster81 at hotmail.com