It is a few days after the operation on my hand and it’s healing nicely. The bandages come off on 12 September when I go for the post-op consultation with the surgeon.

On the day of the surgery, I arrived at the day hospital an hour before the surgery was scheduled and I was taken through the paperwork. I found it amusing that the man due before me was talking on the mobile phone. I was less amused to find him still talking on his mobile phone as I was waking up in the recovery room. How can that be allowed to happen? I find mobile phones insidious at the best of times, but in a recovery room??? Why isn’t the nursing staff stopping him? Well, I hope he gets diarrhea and gets poo on his bandages. I’m sure karma will do him something silly like that.

The pain has not been too bad and the pills I was given for pain management have done the trick. There is still a little bit of swelling. My hand does get tired if I type too long. The mouse is difficult to handle and a pen almost impossible because of the bandaging.

Getting things done has been a struggle at times. Showering is done with a plastic bag held in place by a rubber band to keep the bandages from getting wet. I washed my hair this morning (tip, conditioning makes it easier to brush with the sore hand) and managed a (very poor but presentable) hair style. I was tempted to make an appointment with the hair dresser to wash and blow dry my hair but I held off. When I had the ulnar nerve transposition done, I was going to the hairdresser twice a week, but that operation was far more serious). I need help with my bra and if the buttons on my blouse are too small, I also need help with that. My husband has, very patiently, been helping.

I do have one ctiticism. I was told that I could drive the day after the surgery. I don’t think that this can be done safely with the bulk of bandages on the hand.