Update

The past couple of weeks have been very busy. The amputation site is healing very nicely and I suspect that stitches will be removed when I visit the hand surgeon tomorrow. The pain is best described as intermittent and varying but overall mild to moderate. Some days it is sharp and stabbing and others a dull throb but always isolated to the stump and phantom finger.

Today, with our third class, my daughter and I finish our training sessions for TPN . The PICC line was inserted in my upper left arm yesterday, a quick and painless procedure. Tomorrow my supplies arrive and I begin my TPN feed and before you know it everyone will be calling me chubby cheeks.

Update: It's now Friday. First feed went well. I even woke up this morning feeling hungry and that has not happened in a very long time. Had a pudding cup and an Ensure which pretty much filled me up.

I was right about the stitches, they were removed yesterday. The hand surgeon was very pleased with the way my hand has healed as am I. Here's a pic if you're interested.

Post Op

The surgery went very well. Everyone at St. Joe's was amazing. Used a nerve block, actually two, and only needed a little over an hour of the two hour scheduled. Had a decent night's sleep getting up once for a percocet which kept the pain to a dull throb. Home care nurse came just before noon to change the dressing which gave us an opportunity to snap this picture. My son Mike stayed the night and did a great job of looking after me.

SI have an appointment to see the hand surgeon tomorrow.

And finally, a big thank you to Bea for helping me get through the day.