TMI

OK, you may think I'm lolly gagging, but I'm not!

I went in for a little restoration work on myself. Actually two surgeries in the form of a fix for Carpal Tunnel on my right wrist, and a second on my right elbow to remove a Schwannoma. Say it slowly...

Two surgeries for the price of one Anesthetist!

The carpal tunnel was at the heel of my palm (I thought it would be in my wrist proper), a half inch incision and only three stitches. Feels good so far and gaining strength back every day. I pictured a rope through a lifesaver, but the doc said it's more like a rope under a blanket.

A Schwannoma is a cyst of Schwan cells - not a campground at a Boy Scout Jamboree. They're the cells that make the myelin sheath that covers nerves, right? Well "oma" in latin means 'mass.' So there you go. Except mine was a little bigger than a golf ball. The difficulty with this is, as it was part of the Ulnar nerve, Dr Watson spent a generous amount of time using a microscope teasing the remaining nerves away from the golf ball, then removing that golf ball. Picture a ball in the middle of a braided wire cable, where each wire is a smaller set of nerves called a fascicle. You'd see something like that at a craft fair. But not with 12 stitches. It feels better already.

Interesting really. I believed when my pea brain thinks a thought, it gets transmitted by one nerve to the muscle to make a physical movement. So if the Doc removes a fascicle (look it up) I thought I'd loose nerve function. WRONG!! Our nerves are like a computer buss - many nerves express that thought like traffic on an interstate highway through a city, including on and off ramps. My ring and pinkie fingers are moving pretty well, and getting better daily. The trauma of moving the nerves around is something time will heal.

However, while still in gauze and Ace bandages, I installed a dog wash basin and replaced the water heater in the garage. I cut the legs short, for Enzo to hop in and out easily, and I cut the front of the tub for ease of use. The first water heater was useless and is now on Craigslist, it's more of a water warmer. This water heater is also electric but has a six gallon tank so it's good and hot.

So, sorry for the drama, but a blog's a blog.