Thursday, May 15, 2014

Toenail Treatment Finale Part 2

Yesterday I had my second total matrixectomy (removal of toenail and matrix 'envelope' at the base). After enduring the same procedure on my left big toenail one month ago, I had the same procedure done on my right big toenail. (For anyone who hasn't read my previous 'toenail treatment' posts: longterm untreated toenail fungus caused bone spurs on the ends of my big toes, which prevents normal nail grow out, even after I finally treated and eliminated the fungus. Rather than endure bone spur grinding and skin tuck in hopes of normal nail grow out, I opted to just remove the toenails, which had been problematic for about 35 years.) The second matrixectomy went as smoothly as the first. My doctor wisely distracts me by asking about my cockatiel.  However, he tried a new bandaging technique, after I told him how much the first toe surgery bled. He wrapped the first dressing with a small ace bandage hopefully to reduce swelling and bleeding. Unfortunately the second sugery site bled much more than the first. Oh well, the idea sounded good at the time.


For 48 hours after total matrixectomies I need to keep my foot elevated, which also reduces swelling and bleeding, but mostly reduces pain.  I can't take narcotic drugs (which make me vomit) or NSAIDs like Alleve which causes stomach pain and inflammation. So I rely on Tylenol for pain. However, I can't take more than 4-5 capsules daily without getting sick from overdose symptoms. My low weight and my nonuse of drugs make me vulnerable to overdose symptoms from painkillers.  Nevertheless, I can take a tylenol capsule about every 5 hours and endure the worst of my post surgery pain.  I suspect I also have a high pain tolerance level after enduring 30+ years of undiagnosed gut pain, which I later learned was celiac disease, food allergies and gut bug infections. I never took anything for celiac or allergy pain. I wanted to discern the cause, rather than mask the symptoms. So I also learned to keep myself distracted.  I can sense the pain, but I don't obsess about it as long as I know the cause and treatment.


Next week I return to my podiatrist for a dressing change and another dressing change (to just a bandaid) after another week. As I learned from my first total matrixectomy 4 weeks of healing removes most of the pain and allows the skin to grow over the surgery site.  On my left toe (first surgery), I just replace the dressing daily with a large cloth bandaid (after applying antibacterial ointment).  I can wear most of my sandals on that foot now.  However, in order to accomodate my swollen toe from my second surgery, I wear old sandals which allow for adjustment at the toe and ankle straps.


So for the next week I'll be sitting more often with my foot propped up and blogging more often, IF my cockatiel will stay away from my laptop.  Usually he wants to watch singing cockatiel videos and/or peck the keys (with disastrous results) anytime he sees me with my open laptop.  Fortunately he got bored with the video thing after an hour. Now he's on top of his cage foraging for sprays of oats which I hung around his cage to keep him entertained ... at least for a few minutes.