Journey to Bangalore for Kshar Sutra treatment

I’ve had my 10 th and 11 th thread change since my last entry, and both were easy peasy. They are definitely still painful, but a LOT less. (A great suggestion is to walk after a thread change as it helps ease the pain. I rest for as long as I need and then pace the clinic to adjust to the feeling and let it kinda settle in). I then went in for my 12 th thread change but doc did a clean instead. That was a bit difficult and left me walking like a penguin for the day and into the next day a bit. I haven’t written for a while as I’ve been out and about exploring and enjoying the fact that I can. I went out for 12 hours one day and it was the first time in a year that I’ve been able to do that! That was liberating! Exhilarating! When I look back, I can see how much I’ve progressed in terms of healing. Physically a lot better and mentally a lot happier. It’s a gradual process but it’s not something I think about every day, and when I do realise how far I’ve come, it fills me with joy....

Went in a couple of days ago for what was meant to be my 10 th thread change. Doc comes in all smiley and jokey, says it’s a good day for a thread change, it’s an auspicious day…I ask him why and he says cause it’s Monday…we all laughed. Then he takes a look and says – maybe it’s not such an auspicious day and cleans the wound instead! It was very entertaining and a good distraction from the clean which I find to be more painful than the thread changes. Have been going in for wound clean daily and tomorrow should be my 10 th thread change. I was thoroughly enjoying the couple of weeks’ worth of almost no pain! Having said that, the pain is still manageable. We patients were talking about how we adapt the way we walk to accommodate the pain and as a result have caused pain in other parts of the body. We could all relate to each other in this area and it was so good to see others nodding emphatically in understanding. I went for a walk the other day to Cubbon Park and had to tell mys...

Up to thread number 9! Once again it was minimal pain. I can definitely tell the fistula is healing, it feels closer to the surface. I wonder how I’ll react when I hear the coveted words… For those keeping track, baby eagle has hatched! It’s been awesome watching every step of the process. Pappa eagle has given me a few very clear warnings to stay away!   Check out this little fluff ball (not the best vid but still can see his/her cuteness) City Market - an endless maze of streets and laneways.  Insanely chaotic and intense and amazing:

Had my 8 th thread change today (can’t believe I’m up to 8!). I said to doc what I always say – no pain today please! He replied with his usual ‘no no pain today’ and I told him I’m on to him and I know his tricks, I know he says ‘no pain’ as a psychological tactic to help us patients prepare. We laughed. This thread change I didn’t even flinch! Doc noticed and said that I must be used to the pain. My usual reaction is to say the F word repeatedly and then laugh like a maniac…so either he is right and I’ve adapted, or the thread changes are just less painful. I’d like to think it’s the former but know logically it’s more likely the latter, and that the pain is an unpredictable roller coaster. Either way I’m thankful! Pain days, no pain days, whatever.      Had an exceptional New Years Eve celebrating with the masses. Church St was closed off to traffic and it was chock-a-block. Chaotic. Boisterous. Colourful. Amazing! We managed to find a bar on the first floor ove...