This past Friday, I had surgery on my big toe to remove two ingrown nails. Gross, right? I will not argue with that description at all. The surgery itself is not all that painful, except for the two initial needles to freeze the toe. That hurts. Basically the surgery entails cutting a good portion of both sides of the nail. After the nail is trimmed the doctor puts quite a bit of gauze in the sides of the nail to stem the bleeding. The toe is wrapped and I am sent home with instructions not to do any walking for the next couple of days.
The next day I saw the nurse who would change the bandages. This is extremely painful!Β As instructed I took some codeine a half hour before seeing her. My husband being a very good sport, and having a strong stomach, attended the appointment with me. The initial bandages came off with no problems at all, and then it was time to remove the gauze the doctor had inserted in the nail bed. To say I screamed, swore loudly, and cried is an understatement. At one point, I had to ask the nurse to stop, the pain was just too much. She was wonderful with her attempts to be gentle (impossible), and the humorous distractions made by all. Eventually all the gauze was removed and my toe was again covered in bandages. (Thankfully there was only a tad of gauze put back in the nail bed).
One of the other instructions the doctor had given me, was not to get the nail wet for a few days. This would pose some difficulty when showering, until my husband spoke up, and suggested my toe wear a condom. Β The nurse thought it was a fabulous idea, the condom is sterile, and it would just roll over the toe. Me, well, awkward. Desperate for a shower though, I bit the bullet, dug out the package of unused condoms, and proceeded to cover up my toe.
After my shower, I unwrapped my toe from the condom (oh that brought back memories, not from unwrapping toes though, lol), to find that my husband was correct, the bandages on my toe were dry. Damn, now I had to tell him he was right. π
I do have to say that your husband’s idea was pretty ingenious. I knew someone who had this procedure done, and I was so happy I was not in his shoes. I do feel for you as this was not a great experience to have. I also hope that your foot heals quickly!
Thank you Reese. It is exceptionally painful when healing but I am happy it has been done.
I can’t say that I’ve ever seen a toe covered in a condom before but if I had it would definitely be on your blog. You never cease to amaze me.
Glad to hear that your toe is okay.
Besos, Sarah
Always a first for something, right? Thank you Sarah. π
Hahaha!! And what wouldn’t come to mind after seeing your wife dying of pain on an operating table?! π
lmao! Nice comment. π
Can’t begin to imagine how painful this was… here’s hoping you’re feeling better! Brilliant suggestion from your husband… he deserves full credit for this.
It was painful, but there are worse things, at least I like to believe so. I told him he was right and gave him credit.
The screaming gave my chills … but at least I was laughing at the end. Cheers to a quick recovery.
Thank you, and sorry for giving you the chills. Time for you to have a snuggle with your wife of 37 years, just fabulous.
π
This is pretty damn funny. I have had an ingrown toenail removed and don’t remember it hurting that bad. Get well soon!
Thank you Melissa.
Aieeee that sounds incredibly painful! Glad you could shower though (husbands are right once in a while I guess!)
It was painful, but my husband being right was probably more painful.
Am sorry for your need for surgery, but am laughing so hard over here…..a condom on your toe. OMG> Was there ever any funnier use for a condom than this? A very good post too……got all those emotions across with no trouble at all!
Thank you. I can’t take any credit for the idea though, we have to say thanks to my ever creative husband.
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