Darn

Well, I jinxed myself. I brought my other shoe with me to my doctor's appointment in case I got to wear it again, and it turns out that I have pain in a very bad spot (the cuboid something-or-other), pain I've actually had for a couple of years but flared up while I was walking to my car so I mentioned it, and I'm in the cast and boot for two more weeks. It could have been a week but next Friday was not good for me due to some things going on at work. I am not happy.  At this point, if it weren't environmentally horrible, I would burn the thing. But I guess it's better than continuing to be in pain, right?

Well, damn

I was feeling better, and so earlier this week I dispensed with the boot and just wrapped my foot, and I did pretty well, not hurting any more than it did in the boot.  I had an MRI on Monday, and got the results on Friday.

So by the time I went to the appointment on Friday, I actually showed up in sandals without having even wrapping my foot.  This was not a good idea, and the doctor was not pleased. Now, in my defence, he didn't think there was going to be much on the MRI to be concerned with when he ordered the MRI.  And my foot and ankle was feeling much better.

However, his first words to me when he came in was that the MRI had shown all sorts of problems.  I do have arthritis midfoot and some mild plantar fasciitis, but the more worrisome issue was the ligament status.  Several were terribly sprained and one was actually kind of lax.  So...I have to be in the boot, probably for about five weeks, to make sure the ligaments do not become any more damagaed, and certainly I don't want to tear anything completely.  This was not the information I wanted to hear.  Even worse, without me quite realising what he was doing, he put a soft cast on my foot, using a plaster bandage with magnesium in it that helps keep down swelling.  But I can't get it wet.  And I don't go back for a week, which means I can't take a shower.  On the one hand, I've talked to a few people at work (we are an orthopaedic hospital, after all, even though we mostly deal with children and adolescents).  Several suggested putting a heavy plastic bag wrapped tightly with tape over my foot, but the problem I have with that is the layout of our bathroom.  The  shower has two doors and is set with the tub between two tiled pedestals that are tiled halfway up and glass above, so glass on three sides.  I have been using a shower chair, but if I sit on it and open the door with my foot out in the bag, the shower head is on that side and the water will spray out, but if I turned on the other side, my foot would be on the wrong side to put it outside.  Plus, the tub doesn't quite drain quickly, so if I get up to get out, I'd have to put my foot down into the water, which defeats the process.  So it's sink baths fo me, I guess. :(  So yeah, not ideal.  My roommate has been mocking me unmercifully and not letting me forget that I was not being compliant, and rightfully so.  So, since I don't want surgery and don't want to be out for weeks on end (wearing the boot), I will wear the boot like I'm supposed to.

I had to remind myself that it's Saturday

I've been off since Tuesday after the accident.  I am glad I'm going back to work this Monday, though.  I was so happy when Dr Fine told me that I didn't need surgery that I cheered in the exam room.  See, the last time I broke an ankle (my right one), I got hit by a car on October 12, 2012, and didn't go back to work till January 2, 2013.  And I didn't even get to take a proper shower till December 13, 2012, because a stitch had popped up so it didn't completely heal as it should have immediately.  My doctor did tell me I could take a shower with this as there's no incision, but to use a shower chair, which I have with me. I've actually been putting a pillow on it and using it to prop up my ankle for icing.  I got a walker, a boot, and the chair out of my storage unit the other day because I was afraid I might need surgery or even might be put non-weight-bearing when I went to my appointment on Thursday.  I am so glad I went in a few months ago and brought them from the back of the storage unit to the front. But I didn't need the walker, at least, although the boot was useful, as I didn't need to get another, and my goal today is to use the shower chair and get one, as I'm tired of sink baths.

I'm also just taking it easy.  Saturdays I have a few chores I normally do, but I'm not going to today, although I do need to see if I can do just a little laundry. It isn't much, so it won't be heavy.  I think I can do it without pain.

Had an early morning appointment

with my ophthalmologist, Dr Kielar, today.  I started seeing him twice a year several years ago because I had a little ocular hypertension--not glaucoma, or even high enough for drops, but the pressure in my eyes was just a bit too high.  He also follows me to see if there are changes in my retinas or eyes due to my diabetes.  This was just a brief exam--no field of vision test or picture of the optic nerve this time.  They basically numbed my eyes with these yellow drops and did the pressure check, after just running me through a quick exam to make sure I was seeing well.

He said the pressure was a little higher, but not enough for drops as if it gets too high and I'm put on the drops I'll be on them the rest of my life.  But apparently, it reads a little higher anyway because I have thicker corneas, which is genetic.  He said that's better than if they were thinner as they'd have higher pressure than the readings.  He also gave me some tips on my contact wearing (which I knew, and which I follow, thankfully, except sometimes I'm a little over my monthly wear, and so I've started changing them at the beginning of the month to be sure I don't go too long).  But I don't sleep in them or swim or shower in them at all; I even take them out for naps.  I usually do take my contacts out when I get home, which he encouraged, as 12 hours is about the limit of what they should be worn.  We also discussed amoebic and bacterial infections and what happens when they infest the eye (apparently it's extremely painful and takes 6 months just to kill amoebae, and then there may be scarring and a need for a corneal transplant.  I first was made aware of them by my optometrist, Dr Zent, who stressed drying hands thoroughly after rinsing or washing them with tap water, as any wetness could allow the parasitic infection.  Dr Kielar said you should not rinse your case with tap water, but use solution, and if you can, have two, so you have one drying at all times.  I don't use tap water on mine.  I actually just ordered a multi-pack of the solution I use, Bio-True, from Costco yesterday (that was what I needed but wasn't going to go in-store for because of my ankle).  It has two full-sized containers, one travel one, and a couple of cases.

Speaking of my ankle, I'm feeling pretty decent.  I did wear my boot today while I was out, and I remembered the secret to getting the thing on without stress. 1) Put your foot into the inner lining. 2) Put that with your foot into the plastic/rubber case. 3) Line up the bladder with the hole on the cover.  4) Lace the straps through their loop and fasten.  It makes it so much easier than trying to just put your foot in the whole thing at once.  Also, I wore short capris today, which was a mistake, and I must remember to wear long pants rather than a skirt or shorts or capris.  I have a pretty large calf and the velcro only closes in a sort of 'v' shape, leaving part of it unattached.  It doesn't hurt as far as the fit and the use, but it does rub against bare skin unless I have some cloth there.  That is not good for someone who is diabetic at all.  So again, lesson learned.  I'm glad I have till Monday to work out the kinks before returning to my job.

Okay, it's late morning and I haven't eaten anything. I'm going to go have some cereal. :)

Postscript

The doctor also said that when I start outpatient physical therapy, I can start working on weight-bearing without the boot, although I'll probably use it for work for awhile until I can comfortably walk in a regular shoe. The nice thing, though, is that I don't have to sleep in the boot anymore, but use it just for major walking. Yay!

The Frankboot broke

on the way across a four-lane highway this evening. The strap that keeps it on the leg snapped in two (and that strap was only on it a week). I'm hoping I can get it fixed tomorrow (for lo, Frankenboot has died, but may be resurrected).

I heard an amusing thing today. When asked what was wrong with my foot, one of my friends (who is very blond, in more ways than one), said it was stressed. It had to be explained to him that a stress fracture means it's broken. :) What can I say, this was the same friend who thought a metal lamp had DNA. Blond to his roots.

I knew this day would come

Got these at the doctor's today. I don't know if you can really see what they are, but they are:

• a Lantus® SoloSTAR® injection pen
  
• a box of 50 needle pen tips
  
• a take home kit containing glucose tablets, needle pen tips, lancets, alcohol swabs, and a whole bunch of information on how to inject insulin glargine (long acting insulin).
  

My doctor and a nurse showed me how to use it. It looks pretty easy, although of course I hate needles, but at least it isn't an actual syringe. He didn't want to take me off Abilify because my mood is so good, and stable. He did up my Strattera a bit. I also have an appointment now for a bone density scan.

On a brighter note, I went by my podiatrist's office and an incredibly helpful woman named Audrey (who is, incidentally, also in a boot) put foam around the offending edges of mine, then took an old boot that they couldn't charge for anymore and switched out the lining (which is taller than mine) so there's more cushion as well. She also gave me new straps from that boot, the thing you blow the boot up with (I'd lost mine) and a whole lot of those little padding inserts. She also gave me some surgical booties like they cover shoes with in the OR to see if I could get them over mine (they work well for her to keep out the wet, but mine is blockier, so we were having trouble). Even so, the fact that the cannibalised boot was larger means there was excess fabric in the liner to tuck over my toes and keep out the snow. Today was a much better boot-wearing experience as a result of this, and I was able to go without the hand towel, so it was more comfortable. I almost forgot to go since I had insulin and needles on the brain--I was halfway out to the bus stop and then realised I was supposed to stop next door and then had to go all the way back up there. :)

I'm home early today for a couple of reasons, so I wasn't actually at work that long today. Now I'm in and warm and snuggy, and I had some wonderful kidney bean curry that came with a CD of percussion instruments of India. I think I'm going to take a short nap and then get up and try to do something about my living room.

I'm boot free!

I had three appointments today:

• I had my teeth cleaned, which really was the most painful of the three as it involved taking those damn bite-wing x-rays of my whole mouth. Thank goodness they recommend that for only every three-five years.
  
• Had two porcelain crowns and a temporary filling put in (the latter to replace one that had broken when I chewed a sugar-free mint too hard). We're going to pre-authorise a bridge, assuming the crowns haven't taken all my benefits this year. It may have to wait for next year. I think that's all the crowns needed for root-canaled teeth, though. If you don't crown them, they get brittle and break after a root canal, as I found out.
  
• The podiatrist was happy to be able to touch my feet without my nearly yelping. She suggested I use my lace-up brace (much smaller) on my ankle when working for awhile and to do stretching exercises such as tracing out the alphabet with my ankles each day (this is apparently one way to get total range of motion). If it had been really bad still, she would have sent me to physical therapy. I worked yesterday without the boot to see how I would do and am just a little sore today after being on my feet for seven hours, so I think I'm on the mend.
  

I was off from the hospital due to the appointments. I also:

• Went to the public library branch between my house and the doctor's office (it's about a block away from where I live, and both dentist and podiatrist are near the hospital, which is just about the same distance further). I picked up several interesting books, including one that seems to argue that the UFO phenomena/ideas that ancient astronauts came and founded civilisations entered the public mindset through the writings of HP Lovecraft. Hmmmm...well, there are extraterrestrial Mi-Go, Cthulhu, the Elder Things, the Great Old Ones (whose bodies, though conical, were actually already here, but their minds are alien), etc. It might make for an interesting read, anyway.
  
  
• Went over to Sqecial Media and nearly died of coughing because I forgot how incense-laden the store is. I went in to look at earrings but they were working on that section and had it pulled apart. So I picked up a birthday card for my mom, a scarab sticker for the car, a bumper sticker to replace my old one, and a package of charcoal for incense (to be burned at the appropriate time when I'm not still having times where I'm fighting for breath). I had to ask for the charcoal. The two girls looked at me like I meant the stuff that goes in grills. The man was more knowledgeable and pulled out three packets, one of which he said was slow-burning and better for a hookah. Since I just needed the bricks for a censor, I took the cheapest packet. :) Hookahs have apparently become pretty popular around the university. There was a hookah bar that opened where people could go to smoke flavoured tobaccos, but I don't know how it has fared. I'm just glad I don't smoke. Even being around someone who has been smoking has been setting off my coughing fits (as has perfume, to be fair). Thank goodness Lexington has an indoor smoking ban on businesses that aren't primarily tobacco-related.
  
  By the way, Sqecial (yes, I'm spelling that right) had these cards that were neat in that they folded up and had stereoscopic lenses (think Viewmaster) with art prints such as Dali and Münch to make them look 3-D. Very nice, and although 'The Scream' might have been appropriate for a birthday card in retrospect, I went with a Albrecht Dürer print of a small owl for my mom. She used to collect owl pictures and figures.
  

What I didn't do:

• Call my mom. I got a cell phone call from her yesterday but I don't know if she intended to call me or not. The voice mail sounded like background noise. Or maybe it was garbled somehow. Anyway, I should check.
  
• I didn't call a friend who's really been having a difficult time. I'm going to message her MySpace page and then try to call on Saturday and see if she wants to go out next week, my treat, so I can see how she's doing.
  
• I haven't filled the fish tank yet. That's on the agenda for tonight or tomorrow morning.
  

Saturday I work in the evening. I'd like to spend the morning and early afternoon working at home. I have a lot stuff that just needs to be thrown away, taken to Goodwill, etc. I really need to clean out my car; you can only fit two people in it right now comfortably. I have nearly every shoe I own in it at the moment, the boot, two empty copier boxes, my winter coat, you name it, it's in there. Plus a bunch of trash. My house isn't hoarded up, it just has a lot of drink bottles and stuff like that to get rid of, plus the bathroom needs to be cleaned and the dishes done. Oh, and I'm sure I'll still be working on notes, although I'm trying to be a little better prepared than I was last week. There's a lot more investigation to get in this week, and that takes more transcription time.

Okay, that's all for now. I'll write more soon. Good night.

I've only been up for three hours but I've done a lot

I put fluids in my car in the hopes that might ease the lack of power issue (which it didn't). There was enough transmission fluid, although it's kind of dark, and I understand that's not a good sign. I'm doing a little better financially but I really can't afford to rebuild the transmission (again) if that's the issue. I did need to add oil (it's apparently still leaking, so the oil filter might have come loose again). I almost accidentally added some transmission fluid to the oil since the bottles look the same and I was juggling the hood, the funnel, and the bottle. That would not have been good. I also put in some 50-50 coolant as well (in the right receptacle, mind you).

I did a couple of errands, hunting for a few things and got them fairly quickly, but trying to stay fairly frugal. Now I've come home and eaten a little. I have 2 1/2 hours before I go to work. I can read, nap, clean, or write a review for a journal. I'm not sure I'm feeling productive enough for the latter two. Sometimes you just need a day of downtime. Also, the truck tonight is supposed to be *very* big.

I've been very non-compliant the last couple of days with the boot, reasoning that I wasn't standing or walking anywhere for any real length of time. Last night it hurt just a little, but no more than it does when I'm in the boot. But I'll go back to wearing it tonight and certainly if I go to the Fourth of July Festival tomorrow (barring rain, I'm okay to go in the morning, although I'll miss the parade and fireworks due to working--but it's double time).

Short and sweet

These three Twitter posts say it all:

eilir: Tomorrow I get to fix the car. Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!
less than 5 seconds ago from web

eilir: I am so not wearing the air boot on my foot when I sleep. It is too clunky and hot. I can't even stand socks on my feet, much less this!
less than 5 seconds ago from web

eilir: Snot! Effusive snot to the point of not being able to breathe out of nose! I hate allergies/colds!
less than 5 seconds ago from web

[but I'm not going to take the codeine/phenergan cough syrup again since I overslept this morning as a result]

I'm very tired and I have to be at the auto shop at 8 am. I'm going to bed now. Good night!