Dear friends and family: How are you? Hope you are all in
the good spirit and great health.
the good spirit and great health.
Just to update you with my condition changes…….October 27th when I visited Dr. Friedrich, I had rashes all over my left calf that I thought were from the cream the wound nurse used to massage my wounded leg on September 22nd.
On Oct. 27th Dr. Friedrich advised me to see a dermatologist ASAP, and then come back to see him a week after I have seen the dermatologist. He even sent out email, made phone calls for me from the office while I was there. That enabled me to have the appointment on
November 2nd with Dermatologists – Dr. Colvin (the specialist) and Dr. Chen (the resident at
Harborview) and they both thought that my rashes were common for around skin grafted area and not from anything I had used; what they call it “eczema craquele”. So I have continued using the steroid cream a few days more and the rashes were all sealed up. It was so embarrassing to go anywhere with the wounds and/or rashes leaking……
Today, November 10th, I have just come back home from Dr. Friedrich’s visit and he was happy that the rashes on my left leg had all sealed up, but the marks are still red all over, most of them turned brown. It is ugly and even darker brown than the skin grafted area that had healed up.
The edges of the grafted area are still rough and tough; therefore, Dr. Friedrich decided that I should see him again in two months … on January 19th...… at which time he might be able to schedule me for the reconstruction surgery.
I was prescribed again for Physical Therapy since I still had not granted with any ppointments originally prescribed by Dr. Friedrich two weeks ago. This time they gave me a few telephone numbers for me to call by myself or go find them personally. I will do whatever
makes me sooner be strong enough for the surgery to be done.
I told Dr. Friedrich that this week I had started going to gym with Bob and it was tough on my left knee and ankle. He said that I need to get over it only by using all those areas regularly….so I asked again if I shall be trying hiking when my left foot can slide into the hiking boot?…….and scuba diving??…..he said, “Why not!” He even took off the restriction of traveling aboard…… Wonderful!!! There are more things to do for me to look forward to exercise enough and do them all…..and ASAP………come join me for all these exciting activities???
So I will be in Seattle for another while yet……this past week the snow already has fallen in the mountains over 1,000 meter elevation …..I wonder if my left leg could be strong enough to try skiing before my return to Zambia???? Well, time will tell.
Wish you all have a wonderful day and the great weekend to come. Cheng 11/10/2011
