Victory was officially declared today, Foot Day 182, October 22, 2012. The second toe has healed by itself. Nature had the right idea.

The other option was another surgical procedure to clean off the auto-amputated end from which a small bit of bone was showing. That was Sept. 18, the auto-amputation. I took antibiotics against staph, re-bandaged 2x/day, applying first Silver Sulphadiazine, and later Mupirocin ointment. There is a small ulcer on the 3rd toe almost all healed.

Dr. Polun said the 2nd toe looked awesome. I'll apply the Mupirocin daily, cover it with gauze and tape until the ulcer is totally gone.  No need now for the more elaborate bandaging.

After that, no more bandaging at all, and the right foot gets to get in the shower with me. Meaning no more bathtub bench, shower standing up.

It's a red letter day! Long haul. Still a few things to do. In a few weeks I'll check into getting orthotic insoles for shoes with a prosthesis on the right one with a stalagmite-like knob to fill in for the area of the 2nd toe at the end. The reasons to get this prosthesis is to fill in that missing area and be something the first toe will find as a barrier to moving to the right again...if such a thought should even enter Big Toe's little mind.

I'll go back for a little more physical therapy, which we put on hold after the auto-amputation to give the 2nd toe plenty of time to heal. There's just a bit more to do for flexibility and strength for the right foot.

More good news! I had an A1C test for the average glucose load over the previous 3 months. The results were 5.6, which is within normal range. The last test in May showed 5.9, which was right up to the danger zone. http://diabetes.webmd.com/guide/glycated-hemoglobin-test-hba1c:

"For people without diabetes, the normal range for the hemoglobin A1c test is between 4% and 5.6%. Hemoglobin A1c levels between 5.7% and 6.4% indicate increased risk of diabetes, and levels of 6.5% or higher indicate diabetes.

"People with diabetes should have this test every three months to determine whether their blood sugars have reached the target level of control. Those who have their diabetes under good control may be able to wait longer between the blood tests, but experts recommend checking at least 2 times a year."

I think the reduced level was because I have been serious about eliminating sugar, fat, carbs from my meals. I've cut out white rice...  Do you know how hard it is to convince Shanghai Gardens that you really want and mean "No rice, double vegetables, please"?

Also, no white pasta (sigh), no white bread, no white nan, the delicious Persian flatbread. Well, I have a quarter piece at Iranian restaurants, and the other day had a little piece of good french bread. Balance seems to be the point -- lots of vegetables, appropriate protein, fruit. At Pete's Pizza, 1 piece of veggie and a spinach salad instead of, in the past...oh, never mind.

I've lost about 5 lbs. and just broke into Body Mass Index 27. (As a silver oldie, I'm getting shorter and just lost a half inch, down to 5'6" and that makes the weight loss more challenging.)

Goal: healthy BMI 24, 20 lbs. I'm giving myself until next spring.

Will be able to build up my walking now, and do so even more after PT. Will finally go back to tai chi classes on Nov. 5.

At some point, I'm going to the shoe store and getting a pair of nice new shoes, too.

Thank you, Lord God Almighty, for your compassionate and loving healing. You are da Greatest!


Photos: Dr. Polun and Carla, Washington office; big tree at the Bethesda pool near the Crescent Trail, Saturday afternoon walk; up close and personal.