December 14, 2005

Ouch.

Just plain ouch.

Because I’ve had malignant melanoma, doctors enjoy cutting out funny-looking spots on my skin. I don’t have a problem with this. I like being alive. It’s a habit I would like to continue for the fifty years or so. Plus, when they cut out the spots, it usually doesn’t hurt too much. Not a big deal, right?

Not a big deal until yesterday when they cut out a big spot on the bottom of my foot.

Wicked, wicked ouch. You don’t want all the details…. let’s just say that when a doctor approaches the sole of your foot with a scalpel and says the incision will only need two layers of stitches, you might want to run. I couldn’t run, of course, because by that time they had shot the foot full of novocaine and it wasn’t working very well. He sliced and diced, I bled, and then he sewed me up. I’m sure he did a great job, but ouch.

Right now it feels like a large wolf is gnawing through my foot. Walking anywhere? Hysterical laughter. My butt is parked today. Bathroom trips have to be planned out well in advance because I can travel only with crutches or on my rear end. This is good news for my revision, though. I am spending all day with the computer in my lap and my foot in the air.

The irony here? One of the characters in my WIP has an accident that leads to the bottom of her foot being sliced open, and stitches, and hobbling around of crutches. I stuck that scene in the book back in MAY, long before I knew this surgery was going to happen. That’s right sdn, my life is imitating my books…. again. Remind me not to ever make my characters have a car crash.

(In climate news, it got down to -12 degrees here last night. We’ve warmed up to a balmy 8 degrees in the sun right now.)

90 comments

90 Replies to “Ouch.”

  4. What I hate about stitches is when it’s starts to heal and they itch like a mother; it drives me nuts! My dr. gets mad cause I always take them out myself. Yes, I’m a little on the crazy side.

    Hope it feels better soon.

  5. What I hate about stitches is when it’s starts to heal and they itch like a mother; it drives me nuts! My dr. gets mad cause I always take them out myself. Yes, I’m a little on the crazy side.

    Hope it feels better soon.

  6. What I hate about stitches is when it’s starts to heal and they itch like a mother; it drives me nuts! My dr. gets mad cause I always take them out myself. Yes, I’m a little on the crazy side.

    Hope it feels better soon.

  13. yow

    sounds painful, I don’t personally know what you’re going through but my mom gets that done to her a l l of the time, it’s such a bummer. But better than cancer, for sure.

  14. yow

    sounds painful, I don’t personally know what you’re going through but my mom gets that done to her a l l of the time, it’s such a bummer. But better than cancer, for sure.

  15. yow

    sounds painful, I don’t personally know what you’re going through but my mom gets that done to her a l l of the time, it’s such a bummer. But better than cancer, for sure.

  31. Kyleh

    I love my girl frined so much. I really do I dont what to say but i do I hope yo get beter wiht your booboos I sure they will write a book about my life growning up in a army family then going to the real world w/o the army, normal school normal people. Its really different and hard.

  32. Kyleh

    I love my girl frined so much. I really do I dont what to say but i do I hope yo get beter wiht your booboos I sure they will write a book about my life growning up in a army family then going to the real world w/o the army, normal school normal people. Its really different and hard.

  33. Kyleh

    I love my girl frined so much. I really do I dont what to say but i do I hope yo get beter wiht your booboos I sure they will write a book about my life growning up in a army family then going to the real world w/o the army, normal school normal people. Its really different and hard.

  34. Hello!

    Kind of off topic but my freshman highschool class is reading Speak and we are looking at your website. I just decided to write to you which is really cool. My sister who is in the sixth grade is doing a book report on Fever so I know a lot about you.
    Thanks for Writing Great Books!

    -Cameron Johnson

  35. Hello!

    Kind of off topic but my freshman highschool class is reading Speak and we are looking at your website. I just decided to write to you which is really cool. My sister who is in the sixth grade is doing a book report on Fever so I know a lot about you.
    Thanks for Writing Great Books!

    -Cameron Johnson

  36. Hello!

    Kind of off topic but my freshman highschool class is reading Speak and we are looking at your website. I just decided to write to you which is really cool. My sister who is in the sixth grade is doing a book report on Fever so I know a lot about you.
    Thanks for Writing Great Books!

    -Cameron Johnson

  37. hello

    how was your day.how did u like being xena warrior princess i like your book speak and im reading it now and I like your other book fever 1793 it was very incitefull well ya cool

  38. hello

    how was your day.how did u like being xena warrior princess i like your book speak and im reading it now and I like your other book fever 1793 it was very incitefull well ya cool

  39. hello

    how was your day.how did u like being xena warrior princess i like your book speak and im reading it now and I like your other book fever 1793 it was very incitefull well ya cool

  40. just a quick thanks.

    I like your books. especially the fever one. i’m writing this during my english class. thanks for all the advice about college. thanks!
    got to go, see ya.

  41. just a quick thanks.

    I like your books. especially the fever one. i’m writing this during my english class. thanks for all the advice about college. thanks!
    got to go, see ya.

  42. just a quick thanks.

    I like your books. especially the fever one. i’m writing this during my english class. thanks for all the advice about college. thanks!
    got to go, see ya.

  55. owch that would hurt, and stiches are horrible; u write great books btw i really like speak alot!! keep wrighting!!!

  56. owch that would hurt, and stiches are horrible; u write great books btw i really like speak alot!! keep wrighting!!!

  57. owch that would hurt, and stiches are horrible; u write great books btw i really like speak alot!! keep wrighting!!!

  61. ouch

    man that must suck i hate cruches!!! i hurt my knee right before volleyball tryouts and was on cruches for 2 weeks. good luck!!

  62. ouch

    man that must suck i hate cruches!!! i hurt my knee right before volleyball tryouts and was on cruches for 2 weeks. good luck!!

  63. ouch

    man that must suck i hate cruches!!! i hurt my knee right before volleyball tryouts and was on cruches for 2 weeks. good luck!!

  64. Ouch

    1. Pretty soon you’ll have to start introducing yourself as “What’s Left of Laurie Halse Anderson”.
    2. There is no such thing as minor surgery when it’s on you. (Trite, but true.)
    3. An assault on the body such as this requires rest. Be nice to yourself. No guilt trips. In fact, perhaps all surgery should be scheduled in December, so that obligations will be lessened in the most understanding and loving way! Hugs!

  65. Ouch

    1. Pretty soon you’ll have to start introducing yourself as “What’s Left of Laurie Halse Anderson”.
    2. There is no such thing as minor surgery when it’s on you. (Trite, but true.)
    3. An assault on the body such as this requires rest. Be nice to yourself. No guilt trips. In fact, perhaps all surgery should be scheduled in December, so that obligations will be lessened in the most understanding and loving way! Hugs!

  66. Ouch

    1. Pretty soon you’ll have to start introducing yourself as “What’s Left of Laurie Halse Anderson”.
    2. There is no such thing as minor surgery when it’s on you. (Trite, but true.)
    3. An assault on the body such as this requires rest. Be nice to yourself. No guilt trips. In fact, perhaps all surgery should be scheduled in December, so that obligations will be lessened in the most understanding and loving way! Hugs!

  70. i hope you’re okay:’-(

    oh i hope you’re okay. (but if it makes you feel any better i have a wart on the heel of my right foot and it makes walking to all of my 7 class periods every day painful:-(.) i’ll be thinking about you:-)!
    -ash 🙂

  71. i hope you’re okay:’-(

    oh i hope you’re okay. (but if it makes you feel any better i have a wart on the heel of my right foot and it makes walking to all of my 7 class periods every day painful:-(.) i’ll be thinking about you:-)!
    -ash 🙂

  72. i hope you’re okay:’-(

    oh i hope you’re okay. (but if it makes you feel any better i have a wart on the heel of my right foot and it makes walking to all of my 7 class periods every day painful:-(.) i’ll be thinking about you:-)!
    -ash 🙂

  73. hi

    Yea, the same thing happened to my neighbor, melanoma on the bottom of her foot. She’s better now. I liked the book Speak. The tone of your writing is very funny, nice sarcasm.

  74. hi

    Yea, the same thing happened to my neighbor, melanoma on the bottom of her foot. She’s better now. I liked the book Speak. The tone of your writing is very funny, nice sarcasm.

  75. hi

    Yea, the same thing happened to my neighbor, melanoma on the bottom of her foot. She’s better now. I liked the book Speak. The tone of your writing is very funny, nice sarcasm.

  76. Hello there!

    Hi! I’m Chanel I’m in my english class and were supposed to leave you a comment! So I am….we are reading your book speak in class. I already read it last year but I’m reading it again! yay!
    so ye ayou can find me on myspace at http://www.myspace.com/chanely
    if you don’t have a myspace make one!
    And if yiu haven’t seen The Rocky Horror Picture show! do so now!
    and consider writing a book on it…
    Sincerely,
    Chanel Joy

  77. Hello there!

    Hi! I’m Chanel I’m in my english class and were supposed to leave you a comment! So I am….we are reading your book speak in class. I already read it last year but I’m reading it again! yay!
    so ye ayou can find me on myspace at http://www.myspace.com/chanely
    if you don’t have a myspace make one!
    And if yiu haven’t seen The Rocky Horror Picture show! do so now!
    and consider writing a book on it…
    Sincerely,
    Chanel Joy

  78. Hello there!

    Hi! I’m Chanel I’m in my english class and were supposed to leave you a comment! So I am….we are reading your book speak in class. I already read it last year but I’m reading it again! yay!
    so ye ayou can find me on myspace at http://www.myspace.com/chanely
    if you don’t have a myspace make one!
    And if yiu haven’t seen The Rocky Horror Picture show! do so now!
    and consider writing a book on it…
    Sincerely,
    Chanel Joy

  79. I really feel for you. I’ve had a series of operations to prevent just that problem. After taking off nearly all the birthmarks on my body, I was told to leave the ones on my feet unless there is a definite problem, as doing any reductive surgery on feet is painful. I hope you heal well, and soon. I do understand what you are going through, and the concept of preventative med. is better than a sudden problem. But I understand the pain as well. My best wishes go with you.

  80. I really feel for you. I’ve had a series of operations to prevent just that problem. After taking off nearly all the birthmarks on my body, I was told to leave the ones on my feet unless there is a definite problem, as doing any reductive surgery on feet is painful. I hope you heal well, and soon. I do understand what you are going through, and the concept of preventative med. is better than a sudden problem. But I understand the pain as well. My best wishes go with you.

  81. I really feel for you. I’ve had a series of operations to prevent just that problem. After taking off nearly all the birthmarks on my body, I was told to leave the ones on my feet unless there is a definite problem, as doing any reductive surgery on feet is painful. I hope you heal well, and soon. I do understand what you are going through, and the concept of preventative med. is better than a sudden problem. But I understand the pain as well. My best wishes go with you.

  82. I’m with you sister…

    I once had a “healer” slice and dice the bottom of my left foot with no anesthetic. She used what seemed to be a clean scalpel, a needle bent like a hook and needle-nose pliers. It was one of the most painful drawn out ordeals of my life and the pain continued long after the “surgery.”

    I hope you get to lay down and put your feet up. I think you’ve earned it!

  83. I’m with you sister…

    I once had a “healer” slice and dice the bottom of my left foot with no anesthetic. She used what seemed to be a clean scalpel, a needle bent like a hook and needle-nose pliers. It was one of the most painful drawn out ordeals of my life and the pain continued long after the “surgery.”

    I hope you get to lay down and put your feet up. I think you’ve earned it!

  84. I’m with you sister…

    I once had a “healer” slice and dice the bottom of my left foot with no anesthetic. She used what seemed to be a clean scalpel, a needle bent like a hook and needle-nose pliers. It was one of the most painful drawn out ordeals of my life and the pain continued long after the “surgery.”

    I hope you get to lay down and put your feet up. I think you’ve earned it!

  85. have you characters get a new BMW from an unexpected donor, then it starts raining money in the character’s neighborhood. better yet, have your character live in my neighborhood. that way i wouldn’t have to worry about paying for college 😀

    …
    and along with the rest of these anon posters, i guess i should (randomly) say: i like your books.
    but i really do 😀 so it’s sincere and not for an assignment…
    …

    it really should rain money someday…….until then, i’m wishing it would at LEAST snow…it is bitter cold and RAINING! the weather has the responsibility to SNOW!

  86. have you characters get a new BMW from an unexpected donor, then it starts raining money in the character’s neighborhood. better yet, have your character live in my neighborhood. that way i wouldn’t have to worry about paying for college 😀

    …
    and along with the rest of these anon posters, i guess i should (randomly) say: i like your books.
    but i really do 😀 so it’s sincere and not for an assignment…
    …

    it really should rain money someday…….until then, i’m wishing it would at LEAST snow…it is bitter cold and RAINING! the weather has the responsibility to SNOW!

  87. have you characters get a new BMW from an unexpected donor, then it starts raining money in the character’s neighborhood. better yet, have your character live in my neighborhood. that way i wouldn’t have to worry about paying for college 😀

    …
    and along with the rest of these anon posters, i guess i should (randomly) say: i like your books.
    but i really do 😀 so it’s sincere and not for an assignment…
    …

    it really should rain money someday…….until then, i’m wishing it would at LEAST snow…it is bitter cold and RAINING! the weather has the responsibility to SNOW!

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