Suspicions

I have a sneaking suspicion that I may be in hospital this Thursday. Just a feeling.

When I had my last bout of surgery and I was put on my current course of antibiotics, the Surgeon said that he would see me in 10 days to take my stitches out. He also warned me to be careful, avoid sweating, keep clean etc, because if my infection didn't calm down they would have to take the plate out.

Well guess what...

When I got home from work yesterday my wife made the delightful observation that I was leaking. More specifically, my wound appeared to have wept a lot and my dressing was currently soaked and the remaining ooze was running down my chest. Awesome.

I am not really sure what caused all this. I have had a dressing on my wound since surgery (as instructed) so I haven't seen it, but it has felt like it was healing well. All I can think is that there was actually some fluid build up under the dressing and something yesterday afternoon (seatbelt perhaps) put pressure on the wound causing something to burst.

I have since replaced the dressing and the wound looked okay, but the fact that I got the fluid build up at all is concerning.

As far as I am aware I have done everything right. I have taken my antibiotics religiously. I haven't trained, I haven't sweated. In fact I haven't done much of anything since my surgery other than sit on my rear end on the couch. And despite all that I got fluid build up anyway.

It makes me wonder about the whole infection thing. Surely after all the surgery, the antibiotics etc it can't still be lingering. If it is the infection, then what on earth have I done wrong to aggravate it? If it isn't an infection, then what else is there? That will be one of my questions when I go and see the Doctor tomorrow.

Whatever the answer though I suspect the Surgeon will just see that the wound hasn't healed properly and decide to take the plate out.

If he does decide that, then the plate will be coming out two weeks early. I am not entirely sure what the ramifications are of that, if there are any. If I am honest, I am slightly excited by the idea that the plate could be out by the end of the week. Although I suspect I shouldn't be.

Still, I shouldn't get too far ahead of myself. The Surgeon may decide that the fluid build up wasn't a big deal and decide to leave the plate in for the remaining two weeks. In the long run that would probably be the best solution.

I will find out for sure tomorrow I guess. Still I have a feeling...