Of all things, about four months ago my left arm where the small pox scar was situated after 62 years, suddenly started to get small pussy spots on it. Yuck. I wondered what was going on! So off to the dermatologist and they of course, did a biopsy that felt just great. They said cancer but not to worry so they make this appointment, two months later so they didn't seem to worried.
Well I had three doctors
and two nurses! I went in at 1:30 P.M. and left at 3:00 P.M.
First they interviewed me and then the lead doctor drew a lopsided
circle on my upper
left arm. It was about three inches long and
two inches wide! I said, "Excuse me! Isn't that rather a large
area?". He said no and he was the expert so
I figured I would have
a very large open area the way he talked. So he gave me about
eight pain killer shots and then started to work. after about 20
minutes he was cauterizing some blood vessels and suddenly it hurt like
crap! I yelp and the lead woman doctor came back in and asked what
was going on. I smiled and said it was just a little pain and they
gave me two more pain killer shots. So then I could hear the
scissors cutting away and away. Then suddenly I felt the
scissors cutting the outer skin off. Another yelp. Back came
the lead doctor and I said just a small pain. She said I was the
only patient that said that with a smile. I said just do what ever
and get the operation over with. So a few more pain killer shots
and more cutting and more burnt skin smell from the cauterizing and
finally the operation was done! So I was wondering now big the
scar was going to be and suddenly I felt the skin being pulled and
figured the Dr. was stitching up the wound. He said he was
doing a fabulous job and when it healed, there would be just a small
inch or so scar. He pulled the skin together and that was that.
The doctor's said the spot of cancer was probably basil cells and
normally did not spread if cut out. Of course they will do a
biopsy to ensure they did cut out all the bad cancer cells! I then
go back in two weeks to have the stitches taken out!
And didn't I do a good job of doing the bandaging with one hand! Not too bad considering the placement of the wound and having to change the bandage twice a day!
But he said no heavy lifting for a week, and no treadmill for five days. Excuse me! He and the nurse said that might pull out the stitches so better safe than sorry. They bandaged my arm and then said keep it dry for 24 hours and then wash with anti-bacterial soap and re-bandage twice a day for two weeks! So no YMCA for a week or so and figured I might as well do some museum hopping as I want to see the Yves St. Laurent's 50 years of fashion at the de Young Museum and the digital Planetarium show at the new half billion dollar Academy of Science building just opened across from the de Young! I might go through the Afghanistan Exhibit at the Asian Art Museum again before it closes. So that was my exciting day at the V. A. Hospital.
Published on: 2009.01.08