Life, As Always

stopLife is pretty grim right now, as my relative is still poorly.

So what better way to cheer myself up than dropping my trousers for a couple of doctors?

Today started like any other day at the moment – escaping to work to switch off for a couple of hours. I had a laugh with the lads, scoffed a couple of biscuits and had the first of several coffee breaks until I couldn’t take it any longer.

The pain in my right leg which had started up last week became unbearable. It was badly swollen, difficult to walk on and my ankle was puffed up.

I called my lovely chiropractor and booked an emergency appointment. He took one look at my leg, prodded it and advised me to go straight to my doctor Ah. The last time he said something like that in his Serious Voice, I ended up being diagnosed with MS so I was naturally hesitant and not a little alarmed.

He checked my Achilles tendon was intact – it was – then mentioned deep vein thrombosis, DVT. Ah. Ok. So I called my doctor and was miraculously slotted in for an appointment within the hour.

I made my way over there, thoughts whizzing round my mind. I could just go back to work and forget it all? Keep dragging my dodgy leg behind me in the hope it would somehow disappear? Maybe not the best idea.

So I sat in the waiting room, being coughed over by an elderly gentleman until my name was called. In the consultation room, I dropped my trousers, the doctorΒ took one look at my leg, prodded it and set me on the DVT Pathway, which basically meant I was booked straight in to hospital and told to go there immediately with a bundle of paperwork.

By now I was kind of worried.

At the hospital, I was seen by a doctor within five minutes, which in itself was alarming. I dropped my trousers again. He ran a probe up and down my leg and squeezed it now and again. My leg, not the probe. I held my breath. He looked at the scans. I looked at him.

I was DVT-free. I almost kissed him, but he had a wedding ring on. He told me the swelling was impressive and probably due to a snapped ligament. I hobbled out of the hospital, got to my car and exhaled.

So now I am sporting a glamorous flesh-coloured compression stocking (if you have American Tan skin) and trying to keep my leg elevated as much as possible.

I’m trying to laugh in the face of adversity, but honestly, there could not be a worse time for this to happen. Life, eh?

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20 thoughts on “Life, As Always

  1. Kirsty says:

    Love those stockings. ?
    Just one more thing to add to the list. Put your feet up tonight and rest.
    Hope family member improves. Xx

  2. Nicky says:

    It does seem like rubbish timing ::-( so sorry but glad it’s not a DVT.
    Hope your leg improves soon xxx

  3. Share says:

    whewwww thank goodness no DVT but I must say you gave me a good chuckle. I too was at the DR today for the third time in two weeks. After blood test by a tech who had no idea a needle should not be moved back and forth once threw the skin and an ultrasound tech who asked how much pain I was in as he pushed down the wand on my painful ribs. All tests came back clear whooo hoo no liver damage or gall bladder stones but could be just another MS symptom.. Oh joy oh bliss if I could run and jump with happiness, NOT. I already suffer the MS hug (google it for those who dont know) on a daily basis, ok hourly is more like it. ahhhhh such is life with MS… oh well c’est la vie… I am still smiling (another shot of scotch please)

    • stumbling in flats says:

      Why do they do that?? I had a blood test recently when the same thing happened to me – absolutely excruciating.
      As for the MS hug, I had it a couple of times a while back but thankfully not recently. So painful, so hard to describe!
      X

  4. Judy Epstein says:

    A snapped ligament? Ouch!! Hey, Stumbling, I got your book! Love it! Just love it. Get well soon.

  5. Rachel says:

    I love your book as well and recommend it to other MS’rs I’ve met along the way. Those stockings r murder to put on. You need a lot of upper body strength to do it. As for the MS hug it’s horrific. I’ve had it a few times mainly when I’m in bed trying to sleep which isn’t going to happen when u feel as tho yr going to be squeezed to death!

    • stumbling in flats says:

      Thank you!
      You’re not wrong there – takes a feat of endurance to put the darned things on. But such a relief!
      x

  6. Tricia says:

    All please get well soon xx

  7. Kirsty says:

    Tip for stockings…… Turn them inside out, put hand into end hold toes and pull stocking up and over foot and leg. Difficult but maybe teenager could help. Good luck. Xx

    • stumbling in flats says:

      That’s a great idea! They’re so tight and it hurts like hell putting them on – my leg is so tender and painful. Mind you, can’t see the teenager helping πŸ™
      x

    • Share Taylor says:

      I had my saphenous veins removed a couple years ago and had to wear tor to hip compression socks..putting baby powder on my skin first helped slip (yank) up my legs. I hope you heal quickly and as pain free as possible.

  8. Lets be realistic, there is never a good time for something unplanned to happen unless something unplanned has just happened.

    Chin up and smile

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