My wife got hurt

Gatorboy · May 24, 2005

( Please tell your wife that, in my experience, most people won't even notice it until she points it out. ) 

I just noticed a guy that I have worked with for over a year has part of his finger missing. All this time I never noticed it.

Gerard, I bet your wife won't have nearly the number of people noticing than she thinks.

GerardC · May 24, 2005

We went to the doctors yesterday. Her pain is such that her doctor bumped up the surgery from Thursday at 2:00 P.M. to tomorrow morning at 9:00 A.M.. It's so hard to watch and know that there is nothing you can do to alleviate the pain. My wife just wants to get it over with at this point.

 Gerard, I bet your wife won't have nearly the number of people noticing than she thinks.

That's what I/we keep telling her but I guess women think differently than men. She says thanks to all for the emotional support.

GerardC · May 25, 2005

It seems like all your prayers could be getting answered. The surgery went well today and the re-attachment is taking better than expected. It looks like the doctor may be able to save (hopefully) about 1/2 to 2/3 of it. (Her spirits seem to be much higher now.)
There are several options that the doctor can choose from that he discussed with us in the reconstruction faze which will most likely require at least two more surgeries.
Option One: Shortening the finger a little more and graft with the skin on the same finger by pulling it forward, around and over the tip. He doesn't think he'll have to do this at this point.
Option Two: Taking skin from her hip area and grafting it. I guess this is the most common way most of the time.
Option Three: Cutting a flap/piece of skin (in/out of) the palm of her hand, folding her finger back to it, and then stitching them together so they grow as one for at least two weeks. This gives more length to the finger to work with in future surgeries.
Our next follow-up is next Tuesday. Again, we'll know more then. For now, she is finally just resting.

Soundguy · May 28, 2005

Awesome... we won't let up on the prayer. Looks like she might just come out of this at nearly 100% recovery.. that would be just great!

take care

Soundguy

GerardC · Jun 4, 2005

A quick update.
We went to the doctors Tuesday and again today for removal of any dead tissue. It seems to be taking well but getting shorter with each visit /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. Monday we have to go back and hopefully we'll know more of what the final outcome is going to be.

Bird · Jun 4, 2005

Has the pain subsided any? Hope the news is good on Monday.

GerardC · Jun 4, 2005

Has the pain subsided any? 

It has some overall although after the doctor visits reality once again sets in. Last night was another rough one for her /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif.

Soundguy · Jun 5, 2005

( It seems to be taking well but getting shorter with each visit )

Don't loose hope yet.

A co worker cut his own finger off with a pair of garden shears. He had the same problem.. every time he when in.. his finger got smaller. Ultimately, the Dr told him as long as enough tissue stayed to souuround the bone, and have a blood supply, that the tissue would fill in, and be mostly normal. 2 years later, and i can tell you.. this guys' finger does look normal. nail took the longest to come in correctly.

Good luck! - still praying.

Soundguy

GerardC · Jun 6, 2005

My wifes follow-up went well today. She'll be going in for her skin graft surgery on Thursday.
The doctor said the replantation is taking well and that his choice for grafting will be taking the skin from her hip area. He will be completely removing her finger nail during the surgery and working from there as a reconstruction point.
My wifes spirits are good, but she also said to me that it will be like starting all over again (pain wise) as she is feeling a little less pain as time goes on.

Soundguy:

Many, many thanks for your prior post. I know that her reading it made a world of difference as to a more positive outcome in her mind. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

GerardC · Jun 13, 2005

The surgery went well as did the follow-up today. Her hip has been hurting her more than her finger, but is starting to get/feel better.
The doctor was able to save a portion of her nail bed so hopefully she'll have some sort of decent nail growth. We have to go back next Monday to have the stitches removed and every week there after for at least four weeks. We were going to see him every three days prior to the skin graft.
At this point it's just time for the rest of the healing process (and "what it is, is what it is" as the wife says). She will hopefully be back to work by the end of July.
Many, many thanks to all for your thoughts and prayers as well as words of encouragement through our trying time. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif