October 19th, 2024

The night from Thursday to Friday was quite restless. My scar was hurting, and they applied cold compresses, but it didn’t really ease the pain, so I didn’t get much sleep. The night nurse refused to give me any painkillers without a doctor’s approval because of the antibiotics I’m taking. It was only in the morning that I finally received medication, which quickly brought relief.

After breakfast, the assistant came to change my dressing and told me about the results from the infectious disease specialist. Good news: they managed to identify the bacteria. Bad news: it’s very likely that I’ll have to take antibiotics for 12 weeks before we can even think about the second operation. In the meantime, I’m wearing a cast and absolutely can’t put any weight on my foot. This period looks set to be tough, especially since I’m at my mum’s place, where there are quite a few stairs. The kitchen and bathroom renovation won’t be finished until mid-November, so I won’t be able to go back home until the work is done. After the second operation, I’ll need to wear a cast again for another 12 weeks. So, all in all, I’ll be immobilised for at least six months. That’s a hard pill to swallow…

The following night wasn’t any more peaceful! One of the antibiotic pumps kept sounding an alarm every hour. There was a problem with the bandage and the drain near my neck, which the night nurse couldn’t fix. This morning, the head of service, my surgeon’s assistant, came to confirm this “bad” news. She explained it would be far too risky to insert a new plate or any other implant while the bacteria haven’t completely disappeared. I fully understand, even if I would have preferred a quicker intervention. But I certainly don’t want to risk another infection!

Afterwards, I took a shower and had my dressing changed. The antibiotic pump is finally silent! Shortly after, the catering manager came to talk about the menus. As always, the food at the hospital is good. I don’t know if it’s because I’m in a semi-private room, but I always get a choice of three, sometimes four menus, and I can mix and match dishes.