The surgeon wants to hold off on further ankle surgery. At least for another week. He was surprised that all the blood tests he ordered came back clear of bacteria, but I will continue with the antibiotic for another week just to be sure. The incision that has failed to heal properly no longer has an odor, swelling and tenderness are less, and it has stopped scabbing. I told him that I dress the wound with Manuka honey and he responded that whatever I am doing is working, so continue. The Manuka honey seems to help with drainage in addition to its antimicrobial properties. The follow-up home care will not continue (per Medicare rules) but I probably don't really need them now. I am keeping my fingers crossed, hoping that next week when I see the surgeon again, he will decide to discharge me. I'm ready for spring! And growing veggies! and sunshine (this is forecast to be another rainy week...after the rainiest year on record here in Virginia. We had 63" of rain last year, devastating for farmers)
Update: holding pattern: The surgeon wants... - My MSAA Community
Update: holding pattern
Im so glad it seems to be clearing up.If you can do it naturally even with added support of medicine how awesome is that.You I think have studied a lot on homeopathy but how far back I wonder?We are all looking for so much but how does one sieve from all out there safely?xoxoxo jj
jackiesj The honey tip came from a friend who has been taking courses in herbs. At first I was dubious, but I looked up wound care on the internet and learned that honey has been used for centuries. Research done (and published) in the last 20 years validated the use of honey on wounds. The Manuka honey comes from New Zealand where the bees gather pollen from plants which naturally possess antimicrobial properties. After reading that, I figured I had nothing to lose. I'd much rather be daubing honey on the angry incision than angering my gut flora with an antibiotic (though I am doing both). It remains to be seen how healing continues, but after 5 months, I am willing to try almost anything!
A friend was given bandages with honey by the nurse after she got a deep gash on her calf.She said it healed up quicker than she expected. 
Good News 👍. Hope next week is even better 🙏👍😊. Ken 🐾🐾
Great news! Keep it up!
greaterexp Thank you. I might worry about honey attracting flies...but since temps are close to freezing, I have one less worry! But it is mighty sticky...
Oh, I am so pleased for you. Hopefully next week you can have even better news. Thank you for sharing about the honey. Keep us informed, again I am so happy for you, big hug, Jimeka 🤗 🐝 🍯
Yea! that's great news goatgal, you R doin the right thing, & usually after the antibiotics, start an anti-fungal cadidiasis cleanse hun, Red Clover Tea, Lot's of yummy Dairy-free yoghurts w/ billions of good bacterial lactobacilis. I too am studying to be a Cert. Herbalist/ naturalist nutritionist.😀💐🙏💗💙💛💐L💗VE YA!---Jazzy🌹💜
Jazinco Well, judging from the photo of yourself you posted, you look great. Keep doing what you are doing. You are right, I am concerned about the antibiotic's effect on my gut microflora...but I'll get them back after I finish week 2. Thank you for the suggestion/reminder.
Where in Virginia are you located? I’m located in Maryland right outside of Washington DC? The weather is crazy this year.
Royjr We're not far away from each other. I live about 2 1/2 hours from the capitol area, about an hour from Richmond, and 45 minutes from Charlottesville. My children were born in Delaware, and I lived there for close to 14 years (up in the corner where MD, PA, and DE come together). Though I'm a native Californian, I love the landscape and climate of the mid-Atlantic, even when (like right now) it's raining. Again.
Yeah You! So happy for you that it's working.
I'm with you, wishing for spring! We have freezing rain today. Yuck!
mrsmike9buffering We have rain as well. It was cold during my first walk down to the road, but warmer on the second trip down at noon. I finally remembered to put Valentine's card into the mail box. The second trip down, I heard frogs (or toads?) trilling. I love the sound, but once it's warm again, they will annoy some folks by trilling all night long.
I'm glad it is getting better I'm sending more prayers.
goatgal Is the manuka honey food grade, or a special type specifically that you buy at pharmacy to dress your wound? Keep on the road to recovery, my friend! 
carolek572 I know that many people consume it (approx 1 tsp daily) but I daub the wound with it. I believe the certified Manuka honey from New Zealand has a rating number, indicating the amount of Manuka factors identified in each batch. As far as I know it is raw and can be consumed or used as I do. Thank you for the good wishes. I am still hopeful of avoiding surgery, but since my body rejected the internal fixation used to hold my shattered wrist together, I have to be realistic that the ankle may be following the same pattern. My body apparently becomes annoyed and irritated by metals of any sort, even those appropriate for internal fixation!
goatgal You are your best advocate. So regarding this, please keep a watchful eye, and don't let it go for too long. Thank you for the information on Manuka honey. I would be consuming it instead of applying it to my wounds. Wonder if it would work that way?
carolek572 Many people report it has been efficacious for their conditions, but I have no personal knowledge. I do use local raw honey in my foods (and on my morning oatmeal). There must be a reason why bacteria in a wound that began to reek like a dead animal did not show up else where. My surgeon said he had expected that whatever was affecting the ankle wound would be found in my bloodstream. Because surely three or four days of honey applied to the wound is no miracle cure (though it did immediately lessen the pain, the redness, the swelling, and begin to reduce the odor), I attribute it to clean living and a diet heavy on organic vegetables, non GMO grains and that, except for the honey, is mostly sugar free.
I have been trying to decrease sugar intake as it is no good for me in general. I have been using brown sugar on my oatmeal in the morning but will start using honey instead. I will keep praying for you to continue your positive recovery, my friend.
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