Nerdy Gross Out Alert

During my recent surgeries, I have always been under the influence of heavy anesthesia. But the other day, I had a unique experience as I endured another slice and dice.

Ronald and I had gone to our yearly dermatologist appointments but went to a new place because of our move. We were very pleased with Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta. The doctor and staff were very nice. The first visit, Dr. Taylor scraped two places. He said when there was a place like I had, especially with red around it, he would guess it would be cancerous. It was. Which meant a wee bit of ‘in office’ surgery.

I’ve had ‘X marks the spot’ on my hips before each surgery, but I didn’t see them. I think the doctor just marked the hip so he wouldn’t get the wrong one. I’ve heard of that happening.

I didn’t see this drawing either, but the sweet nurse was taking pictures which I bugged her to send to me.

But isn’t that a cool drawing? That’s the design the dermatologist made as a blueprint of where to cut. Almost an outer-space kind of symbol. Sorry, but that is a neat drawing! Look how even the concentric ovals are! I’m totally impressed.

But bless his heart! While the poor man was trying to concentrate on his job, I asked stupid questions, I’m sure he was glad to get my backside out the door.

I wondered what it felt like to cut through the skin. I’ve cut myself innumerable times by accident but never with guided intent. He said the cutting of flesh was more fibrous than cutting up chicken. Stupid me – I asked about the fat (of which I have a ‘morbidly obese’ abundance according to all my medical records. Ugh!) I asked if the fat was like melted butter or just globby as he cut. The doctor said it was solid, not liquid, that it was not globs of fat but had substance attached to the muscles. Who knew? I figured the inner fat looked as globby and roly-poly as my bulges. Live and learn.

When I told Ronald what I asked, he said I should have known there was fiber like fat in a steak. Like I have said many times, I’m pretty clueless about a lot of things.

Pain medicine doesn’t work very well on me, so the doctor had to keep having the mild shots poked all around where he was cutting. I didn’t feel the pain as the plug was excised. That was a new word for me. I’ve heard of exorcism but he must have not done that because the place hurts like the dickens! Or something.

I was feeling more than pressure. I was feeling the needle stitching me up. I asked if he was using a curved needle or straight. He said curved. As a seamstress, I figured as much, but I didn’t know for sure.

I was also impressed by the neat stitches which were evenly spaced.

Looks good, but those stitch ends are a literal pain the backside. Since I am allergic to all sorts of adhesive, we kept trying to find a kind that wouldn’t cause me a breakout more painful than the pokey stitches. But aren’t the stitches a lovely color blue?!!!

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Had I realized that earlier, I wouldn’t have been complaining so much as blue is my color!

The picture of the blob he excised is a little fuzzy but still VERY creepy. I have always wished I could have seen what my knee bones looked like after they were taken from my legs a few years ago. I know the blob of flesh in this instance was sent away for testing, but what did they do with my bones? Skeleton by Ray Bradbury talks about a bone vampire so maybe that’s where they were shipped. I need to find a story about a monster eating excised flesh. Like I said, creepy.

I’m way over my word limit, but I’ll share one verse. 2 Corinthians 1:3. ‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort who comforts us in all our affliction.’

So I’m thanking God who has provided us with a doctor who has skill to fix what ails me.

And I’m thankful for God’s comfort.

And ice packs.

Blessings

Kara Beth