:( Woe is me

[Flashy]

I have permanent tendon damage in my left arm and hand and last year saw a plastic surgeon who wanted me to have tendon construction surgery. He said that he wouldn't do it then, but would wait until I was more 'stable'.

I've lived quite happily with the lack of use of some of my left hand and wrist and no one can tell because I can mask it very well.

Unfortunately, my whole hand has now blown up. I have no knuckles and it looks like a babies hand. It's also very painful. It is the tendon stuff that is causing the pain so I can't help but think my body is protesting to the fact I use it as much as possible because whenever I use it it gets more swollen.

Guess maybe it looks like I should have this surgery, if he will do it right now (which he may not).

That means a trip to a hospital pretty far away for a specialist plastic surgeon to take tendons from elsewhere in my arm, feed them through, sew them up, and do some other fiddly stuff. It also means staying there for a fair while (plus then also followed by a stint in the psych ward if they deem that necessary to protect me from myself), and then being completely out of action with my left arm for a long time, and lots and lots of physio.

I'm terrified. I can't stay the night away from here, and who the HELL would look after my buns? The thought of this makes me want to cry I'd quite happily have left it partially useless, but what I can't leave it, is swollen and in this state.

This is a pointless post, I'm just feeling scared and miserable about this prospect.

I wonder if completely immobolising it might help if movement and action is aggravating it? That's such a desperate aftert thought, lol.

Sorry, I'm being woe is me, which I hate, so I am sorry. I just needed to get it out.

 

[jewelwillow]

HI Flashy,

I'm sorry to hear you're having a tough time. You need to look after your self first- you won't be in a position to look after your bunnies if you don't look after yourself! I wish I was closer, so I could offer to look after your buns for you. Do you have friends or family that can house sit/ bunny sit for you? Maybe there's someone on the forum that can drop in and keep an eye on them while you go for surgery?

If you have been coping without full use of your hand, would it be completely awful to have it out of commission while it is operated on and heals, if it means you'll regain better use of it down the track?

It sounds as if the movement has aggravated it, so maybe try to ease the use on it to at least stop the current pain and swelling. I'd be surprised if they would operate on it while it is so inflamed- they may wait for the swelling to go down first.

I'll be sending positive thoughts to you and your bunnies. If you need to vent, feel free to PM me, it's nice to have a shoulder to cry on occasionally (sometimes you need the people that know and love you, and sometimes you need a stranger)

Take care, and keep us posted with what you decide to do.

Beth.

 

[pumpkinandwhiskersmom]

That sounds really painful! And, I do agree with Beth, you must care for yourself in order to be at your best for your bunnies. I know that's of little consequence when you have to have someone care for them while you see to your hand! Sending prayers and good thoughts your way...thinking of you and the bunnies...take care!

 

[Flashy]

Thanks for the replies

With 16 buns its hard to find anyone who can look after them. My parents could do it but it is hard work and would take them so long and they already have so much to do. Plus I worry about them missing something.

Mum thinks I need to wear a sling because of how it is. Very attractive and very difficult to do anything whilst wearing it. That will definitely break me in and give me an idea for what I may be in for if I have this done. I've not yet given in though, no sling for me yet.

 

[Amy27]

I am sorry. I understand you not wanting to leave your bunny's. This could be different in the UK, but here, atleast in my area there are a ton of pet sitters. Some of them are not great, but I found this one lady I love. I would trust her with anything. Maybe you could hunt around for a good pet sitter that you feel comfortable with. I never would have thought I would find one this great. As soon as I met her I loved her. She was great with all the animals. She also wrote notes each day she came. Reading the notes I know she took good care of them. She could tell me Chase's fav food and George's fav toy. So I know she really did spend time with them.

Also, when Chase had to have her sub q's I had a vet tech come and do it. She charged me $5 a day and usually spent about an hour here. She also offered to pet sit as the previous sitter I was telling you about no longer comes to my area. I also emailed the local colleges for vet students and got some emails back but had already agreed to the vet tech. The way I got the vet tech was by going on local vet offices websites and emailing them to see if any of their employees were interested.

I think that if you found someone who you trusted to care for your bunny's you would feel a lot better about this. I would check around and see what you can find. It might help you make your decision. Good luck. You are in a tough spot. I know a sling limits your movement but could you wear a brace for support that wouldn't limit your movement as much but give your arm/tendon support while you try to figure out how you are going to make all this work?

 

[Flashy]

Thanks Pet sitting is not massive over here, normally its boarding that people do.

To be honest though, I think I'm just using the buns as a really good excuse because I'm just terrified of the whole prospect of going somewhere new and perceived 'unsafe' and staying there for a while. I have written out good instructions for my parents and they know what to do and how to do it, yes,m it would be time consuming and the rabbits care and welfare would suffer a bit, but they could do it, if they wanted.

 

[polly]

Tracy go to teh doctors and ask them for a splint like the ones I wear. it will still let your fingers move but limits your movementit sits over your your hand to your knuckles and goes about half way up your forearm. it will help to stop you twisting your wrist and give it soem security

also go to health food shop and get soem Rhus tox cream which will not be a miricle cure but its really good for joint and tendon,ligament pain xxx