Dressing off

So... I'm back from my appointment with Mr Hussain. I felt violently sick in the car on the way to the hospital, shaky and faint. It was also my first encounter with anyone other than my family and friends. I avoided enquiring eyes - real or imagined - in the Reception , but, fortunately didn't have long to wait until the ever sprightly Mr Hussain called my name.

I went into the room with real trepidation , tears springing unbidden , but promptly reabsorbed in the face of Mr Hussain's efficient and brisk demeanour .

Removing the dressing was painless. He then put Vaseline on the stitches with a long cotton bud, declaring that it was an excellent result. That my non talking had really helped with the recovery and was to be continued for as long as possible.

He then asked me to look in the mirror. This time , tears of relief. Very little swelling and bruising, two black eyes for sure, but nothing as grotesque as I had feared. The scar runs from the top of my right nostril to my lip, on a slight slant to the right. I could have needed stitching right down and along my lip , bending towards my chin. I can see that I've been lucky.

I need to sit down to digest what I have seen.,saying thank you seemed inadequate. I really wanted to embrace Mr Hussain but he's not the type, brushing off my effusive gratitude.

Instructions are to cover the stitches with Vaseline twice a day, avoid scrubbing them ( as if ), but a shower is fine. Come back on Saturday when the stitches may be removed. Relieved and pleased just touches the surface.

On way to have dressing removed

Revealed

Revealed