Asperation joy and disappointment

 Yesterday was tough. Not at first. At first there was real joy when I had a minor procedure on my left knee. For many years I have had a ganglion there. It started off as a small bump. It grew. My then GP told me there was nothing to worry about as it didn’t seem solid or in a fixed point. It grew some more. And more. 

For years I lived with this ganglion on my knee about the size of a golf ball, not that I know how big a golf ball is. I would often bump into things with it. It became angry red and black with bruising. I couldn’t kneel down without it causing pressure on my kneecap. By now I had osteoarthritis in my knees and MS unbalance means I often bump into tables, chairs, doorframes, anything hard and in the way of my spectacular ganglion. 

It was the subject of much curiosity and speculation. “What is that?” “How did you get that?” “What is THAT?!”

Some of that came from medics. I kept reassuring people that it was just a ganglion. Nothing really to worry about but I became worried. Then my new Banbury GP told me he would get it seen to. He referred me for an ultrasound. And treatment, agreeing that it was more than just a minor inconvenience. I had that done yesterday. 

The radiologist agreed it probably wasn’t sinister, was easy to deal with and proceeded to perform the asperation. The ganglion went down. It was nearly flat. Hurrah!

Just a small plaster and we were leaving the hospital at about the time of the original appointment because they were running early and it was all done. The joy after so many years of living with ganglion to now have a flat, normal looking knee - aaah! :-)

But then… there is always a but. A few hours later it was back. Not quite as large as it had been but there is definitely a lump on my knee again. I am so disappointed. It’s not as defined as it was. More a spread of the liquid that shouldn’t be there. The ultrasound had clearly shown the ganglion mainly had two sections, one was considerably larger than the other. I think what I now have is the smaller section relishing freedom from its companion and spreading like a content cat relaxing in front of the fire. I’m not content. I’m disappointed. 

Actually that’s not quite true. Right this moment I’m happy and proud of myself. My husband, stepson and I are on our way back to Banbury after seeing a wonderful Xmas show in Oxford. Creation theatre company will be 30 years old next year. I’ve seen and acted in many of their productions. This was the fourth Xmas Creation show we have been to. Nutcracker at the North Wall (a venue built on what used to be my local swimming pool as a child!) was imaginative, beautifully staged and enjoyable for young and old alike. But what makes me proud?

We parked the car in a Blue Badge car park bay about half a mile from the venue. And I walked all the way there. And all the way back to the car after the show! With the help of Jem of course but this was my first major walk since breaking my leg. And I had an asperation of my other leg’s knee yesterday. Proud? You bet I am!