Growing Old: Fragilities In Spite of Good Health

I had some tough days during the past couple of weeks. Out of the blue, my heel flap developed inflammation. I felt some discomfort with my two legs during my usual morning and evening walks but did not think much of it. On July 1, I used a mirror to take a look; a small break had already happened near the joint of the grafted skin. It started to grow. A week or so later, I consulted a GP. He did not think it was serious. Another week passed; we decided to see another GP. She also thought it was not serious. My wife was less sure.

But seeing a specialist in Melbourne is usually a long wait. I wrote to Prof Wayne Morrison who did my flap surgery 2019. I knew he had already retired and was counting on him to recommend someone whom I could consult. I did not receive any response until the office of a certain Dr Eldon Mah wrote to say that he had been requested by Prof Morrison to see me. But the earliest appointment he could give me was sometime in August.

My son Shen-Yang was also unhappy with my condition based on what he saw from the picture of the wound I sent over. He wrote to his former mentor and now dear friend Prof Owen White to ask if he could help. Owen was kind enough to arrange for Dr Graeme Southwick of the Melbourne Institute of Plastic Surgery to immediately see him.

By the time Dr Southwick saw me, the wound has already grown to quite an ugly state. He ordered X-ray, ultra-sonar and some other lab tests to be done without delay. The wound was cleaned and dressed in bandage. I was advised not to apply pressure to the wounded part, which meant I could only tiptoe around. A week later, the wound turned even uglier. Dr Southwick had already left for his holiday in Paris; however, he had arranged for his colleague Dr Morris Ritz to attend to me in lieu. Dr Ritz ordered a further need – biopsy – to see if there were other potential causes.

Compounding to my discomfort, and my wife’s anxiety, another incident happened.

Ihad been having issues with my tear ducts for some years. Especially in more humid weathers or conditions, I tended to tear a great deal, giving the impression that I was weeping much of the time! I had already booked to have a surgery done with Melbourne’s Dr Chen Yi some two years ago. But the pandemic put paid to the appointment. When I returned in April, I contacted his clinic and he was happy to operate on me on 29 July.

Despite the condition of my heel flab, my wife and I thought I should keep the tear duct surgery appointment. All went well without drama at first.

In the small hours of that night, I began to feel that fresh blood was dripping down my throat and nostrils. When the flow became alarming, I reluctantly gave Dr Chen a call. He urged me to go to the Eye & Ear Hospital for emergency attention. By the time I reached there, they have already been informed by Dr Chen and a young lady doctor promptly did all the necessary to stem the oozing. My wife and I were comfortably rested in a room. Next morning, a young ENT specialist by the name of Dr Nuwan Dharmawardana followed up on what the earlier doctor had done. He had the burst blood vessel cauterized and I was allowed to go home.

Fortunately, my flap wound started to show signs of healing. I kept the appointments we had with both Dr Ritz and Dr Mah. Both were happy to see the improvement to the condition of the heel flab.

It was indeed a traumatic time for my wife.

At my age, I am more philosophical. Life is a journey, and I have already done and enjoyed much of it. Fear is the last thing I want my loved ones to feel for me.