Sunday, November 2, 2008 - 3:25 p.m.

Crease of knee (below)

Wounds on the side of my leg have joined now.

In this picture, the skin around the left side and top of the wound are still peeling back more. The skin all around this wound and especially the 2" past it toward my thigh are extremely sensitive and painful, and it's far worse when my leg is swollen from standing or sitting too long.

Although this looks really awful, last night (All Souls Vigil Mass on Saturday, 11/1/08) and Thursday, 10/30/08 after the Saints Alive LIFE Event with the Children's Choir were the most painful two days I've had since radiation ended. As it said in my blog, my leg hurt so much that I sobbed throughout the entire Vigil Mass. People who don't know what's going on with me must have thought I was just really sensitive to those who had lost loved ones over the past year, or maybe that I was mourning for someone in particular.

Several people offered me a ride home, but thankfully, Bill had driven us to Mass since my leg was already swollen before we left, and I didn't have to stay afterwards. He really took care of me after Mass, running around to get medicine, gel packs, kleenex, etc. as I needed it. I really don't know what I would have done without his help these past few months, but especially since radiation ended.

Sunday was at least reasonably comfortable, especially considering that I HAD to play two Masses and fully expected my leg to explode after 12:30.

The kids' choir sang for their first Mass of the season at 10:30 and I did 12:30 solo, but I wrapped gel packs around my leg every time I could during Mass, and I went into my office between Masses, put my leg up on my desk with the gel pack for about 15-20 minutes, and that helped immensely.

I also kept my leg elevated and cooled with the gel packs for most of the afternoon and evening.

The skin on my upper calf is discolored and still rashy, although that is finally starting to heal now. The discoloration may fade over time, but I was warned that the texture and color of the skin could be permanently damaged, and the tissue in the radiated area could be more fibrous than the surrounding area.

Dr. Godette said she felt that she could feel a difference (fibrous tissue vs. healthy tissue) as long ago as three weeks, but I'm hoping that will subside after it heals with the help of Vitamin E oil and eventually massage which I miss a LOT, especially when my leg swells. Unfortunately the skin and damaged tissue beneath it is much too sensitive and delicate to manipulate very much at all right now.