Babs in Blogland

Saturday night I hosted a game night in my home to kick off what was supposed to be a week of birthday celebrations.  The night started off grand.  Folks were eating, drinking and having a good time.  We played some taboo, we danced and we talked a lot.  Even when one of my young friends (whose name I will not mention so as to protect her identity) got a little too tipsy and ended up sick in my kitchen I wasn’t mad.  Hey, everyone should be so smart as to vomit in the garbage disposal.  As long as I wasn’t cleaning anything up I was cool.

Sometime, later in the night, things turned very, very bad.

Without going into detail, I ended up in an argument of sorts with someone whom I considered to be a close friend.  I was called a bitch numerous times and I was subjected to “fuck you” more times than I could count.  But the piece de resistance was when wine was poured on my clothes and hair.

In my own mutherfuckin home.

Now, I have a pretty good idea where this hatred and venom came from, so a part of me feels a little sorry for this individual.  Still, my making a comment on something we had discussed jokingly as a group just two weeks earlier should not have been the catalyst for lunging at me with an intent to hurt me. 

In my own mutherfuckin home.

I have already decided to forgive this individual for what transpired on Saturday night, and I readily apologize for whatever part I had in setting her off.  But I won’t soon forget.

Disrespecting me in my own home is something I won’t be able to bounce back from.

Today is the 4th day that I will have a shot in the stomach.  The first one was given in the doctor’s office and I gave myself the next two.  That means two more to go!  I have the makings of Orion on my tummy and I think it is making me quesy, but I have to be honest and tell you it is totally worth it. 

Sure my leg still hurts and there is some discomfort, especially when I stand, but that deep throbbing that would wash over me and bring tears to my eyes has stopped.  So I guess the meds are working!  My limp is barely noticeable.  I dare say I’ll be doing the stanky leg again in no time.

Today I am back on the couch for another day of bedrest.  I have no more movies to watch and you all know I canceled my cable earlier this year, so I will likely be spending all my time online.  I plan on doing some research on these meds I’m taking.  I’m noticing some side effects and want to make sure that is normal.

Tomorrow I have to go have blood drawn.  I have to have it drawn every week for the next five weeks.  I was thinking of returning back to work Tuesday, but I think I’ll take one more day.  The plantation is big and I’m not trying to do all of that walking.  I do notice that I get tired very easily. 

The nurse suggested I purchase some support hose.  Yeah, that sounds really sexy.  The first thing I asked her was if they came in open-toed.  Here we are entering summer in the south and you want me to wear hose?  I’ll be researching that today as well, but I honestly don’t see me wearing them.  Maybe if it were winter, but support hose in June? 

So that’s what’s going on with me today.  The excitement never ends around these parts! *eyeroll*

Okay, I’m going to try to tell you this story in 4 paragraphs or less…*

Remember last week when I told you guys I had hurt my leg again?  Well since last Tuesday I have been dealing with pain in my lower leg and calf.  I figured I had a pulled calf muscle, so rather than pay $20 to Dr. W, I figured I’d try to self medicate for a few days first. I was obedient about icing it and keeping it wrapped and I stopped all cardio and brisk walks.

I was fine over the weekend as couch potato-ism is quite conducive to self healing.  Tuesday when I went back to work, it started to get worse.  The throbbing pain and dull pain were becoming unbearable and I started taking aleve.  Tuesday night, or was it Wednesday, I was laying in bed doing some research.  I came across something about Deep Vein Thrombosis and got really scared.  DVT basically leads to P.E. (pulmonary embalism) and for all of you fans of old school E.R., you remember what happened to Kelli Martin’s character when she got P.E.?  Yeah, she died.  So I went to bed kinda scared thinking I had some horrific blood clot in my leg and would die in my sleep.

Wednesday I vowed to call my doctor, but got so busy that before I realized it, it was too late.  Wednesday is also the day my coworker noticed how swollen my leg was.  I had never noticed it so this only added to my worry.  On Thursday I called my doctor and they were able to get me in first thing Friday.

My doctor inspected my leg and told me he thought it was a muscle strain, just like I thought.  He gave me crutches and some exercises and asked me to stop by the vascular surgeon’s office for a quick sonogram to rule out a blood clot.  “99% of the time it’s not a blood clot, so don’t be worried,” he told me.

As the girl giving me my sonogram took her time and kept going over the same spots several times, I had a sense of dread wash over me.  Then, when she said it was standard procedure to have someone else come in and do the sonogram I knew I was in trouble.  Yep, sure enough, I had a blood clot. Guess I’m one of the chose few.

I headed to the vascular doc’s office where I waited nearly an hour.  The entire time I sat there I was freaking out in my head.  Finally, Nurse Doom came to get me.  Upon first glance, she did not look like Nurse Doom.  She was cute, friendly and had excellent demeanor.  I liked her a lot.

Until she started talking.

She went on about how I had this blood clot from my ankle to my knee and how bad that was.

Crying.

She then told me that to treat it I needed to give myself shots in the stomach for five days.  She asked if I thought I could do that.  I told her no.

Crying harder.

She said the only other option was to admit me to the hospital for five days so they could get this medicine in me via IV.

Sobbing.

Nurse Doom left the room to allow me to compose myself, which I absolutely could not do.  I got on the phone with the Wise Lady and she said that she had the same problem years ago and that is how it was treated.  I called my momma and started crying to her.  The Doc came in and said most people just do the shots in their stomachs, but if I didn’t think I could do it and didn’t have anyone to do it for me then I needed to be admitted.

I told him I couldn’t do it and I didn’t know if my friends could.  I felt stupid for being admitted to the hospital though, because it was clear in his voice that he thought I didn’t need to.  I got on the horn with my crew and started arranging for transport to the hospital.  Nurse Doom brought in my admit papers and my first shot to get the meds in my system.  She lifted my shirt and grabbed one of the many meaty options and gave me the shot.  I asked her if that is what I would have to do if I just went home.  She said yes.  I said give me the shots I’m not staying in the hospital.

And that is how I avoided a five day stay at St. Joe’s.

Honestly, I am a little scared to give myself the shot, but I can suffer for a couple of minutes a day to avoid a hospital stay.  After the five days worth of shots, I am on blood thinners for six months.  I have to take it easy this weekend and follow a few rules for the future.

Number one, they want me to come off of birth control pills.  I am really worried about this one.  Not because I am worried about getting pregnant, but because I am worried about having bad skin.  BCP keeps my skin clear and I really can’t go back to pimply face.  Also, and this might be one of the few time I give you TMI, but it really keep my least favorite visitor away.  Aunt Flo is not a particularly welcome guest!

Number two, and this is where we have a problem of epic proportions, I have to limit my alcohol intake to one or two per week.  When she told me that I almost told her to take my leg right then and there!  Whatever shall I do without my beloved Margarita.  She’s my favorite girl!  Just thinking about it makes me want to take a drink.

So that’s where I am.  On the couch with a giant clot in my leg.  Feel sorry for me?

Please send cards, flowers and care packages to Babs in Blogland.

XOXOXO

*I failed miserably.