18 Months Later
Posted by: Sapphire Maiden on: November 21, 2011
It’s been 18 months since my surgery, and I’m pleased with my results. No one notices what’s left of my scar, and that’s a good thing.
To those of you about to have Mohs, try to relax and just go with it. The surgery is better than having cancer eat away at your face. If you have any questions, I’m happy to answer them. Any comments below are delivered to my email.
Good luck, and DON’T FORGET TO WEAR SUNSCREEN!
That’s A Wrap!
Posted by: Sapphire Maiden on: August 7, 2010
This is my last post to this blog. I want everyone to know how much their support has meant to me through this ordeal. All your emails, Facebook posts, cards and gifts – especially the gifts!! – helped lift my spirits when they were pretty low. With all sincerity, THANK YOU! With your help, I made it through, no worse for the wear.
Oh, and the broken foot? It’s all but healed. I don’t have day-to-day pain, but if I take my dogs for a long walk, it hurts by the time I get back. At least it’s getting there.
Again, thank you all for being such wonderful friends. AND – you know what I’m about to say – DON’T GO OUTSIDE WITHOUT YOUR SUNSCREEN! 
It’s All Good
Posted by: Sapphire Maiden on: August 6, 2010
Today marks eight weeks since the surgery. My nose continues to heal, although I think it’s 90% there now. These pics were taken today and were not Photoshopped.
8 Weeks Post-Op
8 Weeks Post-Op
The scar continues to fade, as does the redness. I still use a touch of concealer to even my skintones. Overall, I think it looks pretty good, considering what it looked like just eight weeks ago.
4 Weeks Post-Op
Posted by: Sapphire Maiden on: July 16, 2010
My final appointment with my surgeon was Monday, and he said he was happy with how my healing is progressing. Here’s a pic taken today.
4 Weeks Post-Op
Compared to one week ago.
3 Weeks Post-Op
No question, it’s healing like gang busters.:-) The little “pit” is where there was a stitch hiding. Dr. M. dug in there and pulled it out, so there’s a tiny scab over it. It should all even out shortly. A friend also suggested I start using Dr. Blaine’s Scar Therapy, so I put that on my nose at night. It’s only been two nights, so there are no results to report yet.
More flowers arrived, this time from our friends in Tucson. The card said they wanted to wait until I could actually smell the roses before they sent them.
Thanks, Joe and Kathi!
Foot Update:
The broken foot isn’t as healed as I’d like it to be at this point, after all, it’s been almost six weeks! One of my gf’s, the physical therapist, came over a couple of nights ago and taped my foot. It made a huge difference in the pain level when I walk. Just that little bit of support worked wonders. We’ll see if there’s a significant difference without the tape after we’ve done it for a week. It’s too bad that my amazing healing abilities seem to apply only to my nose and not to my foot.
Exactly 3 Weeks
Posted by: Sapphire Maiden on: July 9, 2010
My surgery was three weeks ago today. I decided to be adventurous and try to cover my redness with makeup. Here’s the result. The resolution isn’t great since I had to use my laptop camera.
The skin’s surface is still rough, and I expect it to continue smoothing over as time passes.
3 Weeks Post-Op
Sunscreen Review
Posted by: Sapphire Maiden on: July 7, 2010
Remember after I did some research on sunscreens, I decided to try Keys Soap Solar Rx Cosmetic Moisturizing Sunblock, SPF 30? It arrived last week and I’ve been using it since. The BIGGEST test was whether it stung my eyes by the end of the day. Good news! It didn’t! The first time I used it, I thought it was a little too sticky for a moisturizer. The second time, I discovered that if I use less, it’s not sticky. I also remembered reading a couple of reviews that said a little went a long way. Yep. It’s true.
Keys Soap Solar Rx Cosmetic Moisturizing Sunblock, SPF 30
I can’t vouch for how it protects against sunburn, since I’m deathly afraid of being in the sun now, especially as my nose heals. (I can’t use anything on my nose except Aquaphor until I see the surgeon next Tuesday.) That said, I don’t have real reservations about its effectiveness, based on the review from EWG’S 2010 SUNSCREEN GUIDE. At least for the foreseeable future, I’ll be using this.
3 Weeks (Minus 2 Days) Post Op
Posted by: Sapphire Maiden on: July 7, 2010
The schnoz continues to heal, so much so that I’ve “graduated” to those mini-band-aids I bought a kazillion of. They could be just a s-m-i-d-g-e bigger, but they’re better than the size bandage I’ve been wearing. Here’s a pic taken today. This Friday will be week three since the surgery.
Taken 7/7/10
I’ve come a long way from this:
6/18/10
The inside of my nose is still swollen, and I still have a little swelling/bruising under my eyes. What’s weird is that I don’t have any feeling in the “new part” of my nose. I know it takes a while for everything to connect like it should, it just feels weird.
Foot Update: No change:-(
Question
If one of your friends – who is also your dentist – brings you candy, do you think there’s an ulterior motive involved? (Just kidding, Sandy.:-))
2 Weeks Post Op
Posted by: Sapphire Maiden on: July 1, 2010
I had my 2-week-post-op visit to the surgeon today. (Actually, it’s one day short of 2 weeks because of the long weekend.) Any remaining stitches were removed and he cleaned all the gunk off. I have to say, I think it looks pretty damned good…
2 Weeks Post Op
…compared to one week ago. Wouldn’t you agree?
1 Week Post Op
My next follow-up visit is in 10 days. Maybe I’ll get to stop wearing bandages by then.:-)
My “I Survived Skin Cancer” T-shirt was a huge hit at the doctor’s office. Everyone in the waiting room wanted to know where they could get one.
Show and Tell
Posted by: Sapphire Maiden on: June 29, 2010
OK, kids, today we’re gonna learn about fractures – foot fractures, to be exact. To start, here’s an X-ray taken today of my swollen foot.
Fractured 3rd Metatarsal
As you can see, the third, or middle metatarsal is broken. Why didn’t this show up on the first set of X-rays I had taken almost two weeks ago? Well, here’s the theory, and it makes sense. The day the first X-rays were taken was the same day that I later gimped all over the neighborhood carrying one dog while chasing down the other one. Stress fractures usually don’t show up on X-rays because they’re more like a crack than a break. Most likely, that’s all I had when those first X-rays were taken. The “runaway dogs” episode is prolly what completed the break and dislocated the bone. So, I’ve been walking around with this injury for at least two weeks, plus the week that it was most likely a stress fracture.
What’s interesting about this fracture is that it’s uncommon for the third metatarsal to break. It has the support of two other metatarsals on either side, which usually protect it. How mine broke is anyone’s guess, but if anyone is going to have an unusual injury or illness, it will always be me. (Any of my friends will confirm this.)
What are we doing about this fracture? Well, nothing really. Except staying off it as much as humanly possible. It has already started the healing process and Dr. G. expects it to heal normally without using a cast or walking boot. He said if I still have pain in four weeks, I need to see him again; otherwise, I’m on my own. I’m soooo glad I don’t have to wear a walking boot or a cast!
Now, about the nose….When I took the bandage off this morning before showering, my nose was covered with yellow “seepage” (the stuff scabs are made of) as the wound continues to heal. I tried to *gently* remove as much as I could, but it actually made me nauseated. I broke into a cold sweat, the room started spinning, and I started to gag. I had to lie down until the nausea passed, and I didn’t mess with it any more, except to put the new bandage on after my shower. I will say, tho, that it’s healing really well. If you’re wondering why I didn’t take a pic this morning, hello? Go back and read the first two sentences of this paragraph. If it made me sick, imagine what it could do to the general public.
Today was also the first day in almost two weeks that I put on any makeup. It gave a major boost to my self esteem, even tho I still have a bandage on my nose. Not only did I go to the doctor’s office and radiology lab, I also strolled around Marshall’s and picked up groceries at Nob Hill. Only one person seemed to notice my bandage, and I was very close to saying to her, “Hey lady. Don’t be so rude. It’s only a bandage.” Geez.
When my doctor first saw me today, he looked at my bandage and asked, “Was this intentional or an accident?” He thought for a minute that I’d had a nose job. When I told him it was the result of Mohs surgery for skin cancer, he said he’d had basal cell carcinoma removed from his face, too, but his didn’t require Mohs. Lucky guy.
Rock It, Baby
Posted by: Sapphire Maiden on: June 28, 2010
Remember my horoscope said something could happen last Friday to rock my world? Well, it did, but I only found out about it today. That swollen foot I’ve been complaining about? An MRI showed it’s “fractured and displaced.” I had the MRI last Friday, but I got the results this morning. My internist suggested I call my ortho guy about getting either a cast or a walking boot. I did, and my appointment is tomorrow at 11:30. So I’ve been walking around on a broken foot for exactly three weeks. Even more interesting: I have no idea how I did it. I was fine when I went to bed and had a broken foot when I woke up. Go figure.
One of the first things I thought about when the dr. said my foot was fractured was about the day, a week and a half ago, when my dogs got out. Those of you who are pet owners (and haven’t already heard it) might appreciate this story.
We had new furniture being delivered, so I told a friend she could have the current pieces. Her husband and his brother arrived at about 5:30 the day before the new stuff was to be delivered. They moved the sofa out to the truck, then they came back into the house for the cushions. When they went out that time, they left the front door open, and Casey and Bono, our Tibetan spaniels, took full advantage and ran outside.
I knew I was in for a rough time getting them back inside, but I had no idea what I was in for. I tried calling them and just walking after them, trying to use a calm approach. I guess they thought they were out for a walk without their leashes and they headed across the street to the little park in front of our house. The two guys were with me, trying to catch the boys. We managed to catch up to Casey, and one of the guys started to pick him up and Case bit him. Great. I snatched him from the guys’ hands and we tried to get Bono. (BTW, it’s pronounced “BONN-oh, like U2.)
I’m guessing that when Casey cried out before he bit the guy, it scared Bono, and that maybe Bono thought he was next. So I’m carrying Case in one arm, and limping across the park, trying to coax Bono to come to me. He ran to the opposite end of the park, and the three of us walked in his direction. Just as I got up to him, he bolted past me toward the opposite end of the park. As we got close to him, he bolted back toward the other end. This happened 3-4 times. By now, my swollen foot is even more swollen and I’m still carrying Case.
There’s a little shortcut from our street to the houses on the next street over, and Bono bolted down that sidewalk. By the time we got to the other side, I could see Bono running at top speed at least a block away. I couldn’t run to save my own life, let alone to save his. The two guys ran after him and they all went down another street – straight toward Sylvan, a busy street. By the time I got to the corner, neither Bono nor the guys were anywhere to be seen. I got to the next block, hoping I’d see them down that block, toward home, instead of toward Sylvan. Nope. No trace. They’d headed straight for Sylvan. I limped there as fast as I could, still carrying Case. Remember, this was during evening traffic and the street was busy. I didn’t see them in either direction, but I did see a guy standing on the sidewalk, looking down a side street. I asked if he saw my dog (everyone around here knows the boys), and he pointed down the street. I walked out into the street, not even thinking about getting hit by a car. Let’s just say I stopped traffic.
A guy in a white truck asked if I wanted him to drive me the 1+ block down the street where the two guys and Bono were. I jumped in, holding Case on my lap. Bono came running toward us, so I jumped out of the truck and called to him. He ran past me like I wasn’t even there, straight for Sylvan. I was maybe 50 yards away as Bono ran across the busy street for the second time. I knew he didn’t have a chance of getting across without getting hit, and I stopped dead in my tracks and screamed like someone in a horror film. Let’s just say his guardian angel was very busy that day.
The "Perps" (Casey, on left; Bono, on right)
He made it across the street (miraculously) and the two guys followed him. Case was still in the truck with the guy I’d never seen before in my life. Again, I walked out into the street like I owned it, stopping traffic in both directions. Bono ran 2 blocks down Sylvan and turned onto a side street with the guys running after him. By now I’m limping big-time and I’m as close to being hysterical as I could be. That side street is only 3 blocks long, and it dead-ends into a big apartment complex. I saw Bono almost at the end, and he darted into someone’s front yard. By now, there were at least 10 people gathered around. The white truck guy pulls up next to me and asks if I want a ride the remaining 2 blocks. I did, but I just kept walking toward this crowd of people. They were all looking in the same direction, and I was so afraid Bono was hurt and that they were looking at him. I asked if it was my dog. They all said yes. I asked if he was hurt. They said no, that he just looked scared.
He was pretty much trapped against a redwood fence, behind a garbage can, and under a bush. As I got close to him, he rolled over on his back. I picked him up, thanked everyone for their help (they had kinda funneled him into that spot), and got into the truck where the guy and Case were waiting. We were 4 blocks from home, and I don’t know how I could have walked all that way carrying Bono. My foot hurt more than I can say. The guy drove us home and held onto Case as I took Bono into the house. I came back out for Case and thanked this nice guy profusely. I asked if he had a dog (I wanted to give him some Furfection products), but he said he’d lost his dog in his divorce. I thanked him again and brought Case inside.
The guys didn’t make it back to my house for the rest of the furniture for at least 10-15 minutes. I believe they were scared shitless to face me. This was when I called my gf in Tulsa the first time. My entire body was shaking and my hands shook like crazy as I dialed her number. I knew she would understand exactly what I was feeling because her Tib had gotten out a few years and was hit by a car. Luckily, his injuries were minor. Unfortunately for her, as soon as I started talking, I TOTALLY lost it and couldn’t stop crying. I still couldn’t believe how incredibly lucky Bono was to cross that busy street TWICE during evening traffic and not get hit.
The guys came back while I was on the phone and moved out the rest of the furniture. Mario came back to the door and apologized all over the place. He asked if I was OK, and I said I wasn’t, but that I would be, eventually. I called my gf back and got hysterical all over again.
After I finally stopped crying and shaking, the boys had the audacity to give me their “Can we go for a walk now?” looks.
So, is it any wonder the broken bone in my foot is also “displaced”? And where are those boys? After reliving that nightmare chase, I’m ready to drop them at the shelter. Kinda. Well, not really:-)
Sapphire Maiden
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