December 18th, 2025

Yesterday, I was disconnected from all infusions, including the Fentanyl pain pump. An important milestone, certainly, but one I paid for during the night. By the evening, a sharp pain had appeared around one of the scars on my ankle, and the hip incision gradually joined the party as well, to the point that, despite the full arsenal of medication (Novalgin, Paracetamol, Ibuprofen and Oxynorm), I managed no more than two or three hours of sleep. A rather… lively night.

This morning, true to their reputation as early risers, Professor Krause and his assistant stopped by at 7 a.m. to change my dressing, which was once again soaked with blood. The large scar on the left side of my ankle continues to cause trouble. It does, however, look as it should, neither swollen nor irritated. Simply painful… but nothing unexpected.

In addition to the medication, the team offered me cooling packs for my ankle and hip. A welcome idea, as the hip pain has begun to radiate into my back and is becoming genuinely bothersome. Even the morning shower turned into a small logistical challenge, one I managed to overcome more out of pride than elegance.

In the afternoon, my mother and her neighbour Urs came by to bring the documents needed to finalise the heritage. The notary requires them before the end of the year for tax reasons, especially as the office will close on 23 December for the holidays. Fortunately, everything is signed, and he should receive the papers in time to conclude the matter.

As for the meals, nothing new: they remain excellent. Today’s menu featured osso buco with gremolata, served with a corn galette and a selection of yellow, orange and red carrots. For a hospital, the food is almost indecently good!

This afternoon, I’ll try to catch up on a few hours of sleep. I suspect my body will appreciate the gesture.

Dr Flückiger, the surgeon who has accompanied me through all my operations, including the one on Monday, stopped by this evening to see how I was doing. He apologised for not being able to come earlier: he had only just returned from a conference in Glasgow, Scotland. I told him I completely understood… although, to be honest, I would quite happily have traded my sleepless night for a conference on foot surgery in Scotland, the country where I lived in my youth and to which I still hold wonderful memories.

I genuinely appreciated that he took the time to visit. With his usual calm manner, he reminded me of two essential points to help speed up recovery after such a demanding procedure. First, I should never hesitate to ask for an analgesic: battling pain is a pointless fight that only slows everything else down. Second, I should request a sleeping aid if needed, to ensure truly healing sleep, absolutely crucial for getting the body back on track.

A brief visit, but a reassuring one. And above all, a simple reminder: after such an operation, taking care of oneself is not a luxury, but an integral part of the medical strategy.