March 29, 2016 - Epilogue

Things have settled down since our return. Bags were unpacked, and laundry was done the day after our return. Three large containers of held mail have been processed, and the containers returned to the post office.

We saw doctors the day after we got home. The lesion that developed in my right foot 4 weeks ago is infected. X-rays show no bone involvement. The doctor excised the damaged tissue, dressed the wound and prescribed a stronger antibiotic. I will use a surgical shoe with padding for two weeks. Then we will schedule surgery to relieve the pressure on the foot. This is all easy stuff. Just inconvenient.

Alice saw the doctor who replaced her left knee. He has cautioned her for 2 years that the right would need replacing too. He believes she suffered some meniscus damage in Vietnam. X-rays do not show any broken bones. He injected cortisone, and said things should improve in 2 or 3 days. Then we will assess the situation and plan her care. She is not a candidate for arthroscopic surgery. If this does not work, a replacement is the solution. 

Fourdays after the treatment there was no improvement. In fact things were worse. Alice called the doctor to request an MRI. He iwas away for a week, but his partner ordered the MRI. It was done on Wednesday. The results would be available when her doctor returns.

The doctor's medical assistant called on Wednesday. He had called up Alice's file, and reviewed the MRI. It shows a fracture in her right tibia. She must wear a knee brace and stay off the leg. She has to use a walker, and just toe tap with her right foot. No weight. Of course this works the upper body because she has to support herself by pushing down on the walker.

We saw Dr. Cirrincione yesterday, his first day back. He showed us images from the MRI that showed accumulated fluid at the inner side of the tibia near the knee. This explained how he and the ship's Doctor thought it was a meniscus problem. Without any displaced bone x-rays alone showed nothing.

Alice will continue the same care program. Healing should take about six weeks. Remarkably she says the pain level had gone down on Sunday. It continues at a much more tolerable level.

These health issues are not insurmountable, but they do inject an element of stress. After talking it over, we have cancelled the Grand South America voyage we had booked for next January. That just added another level of stress. If all of this resolves well, we will find a winter cruise later in the year. Otherwise, this is a great country for road trips.

All things considered we had a marvelous experience. We met many new people, visited great ports, saw wondrous things and were cared for in first class style by the fine crew of Amsterdam.

Life is Good!

Thanks for following this blog.