Happy St. Patrick's Day. Yes, I am wearing green, so no pinching.
Well, we got an answer on John's right leg swelling. That started about a month ago, and he dealt with it at the 50 Freaks party by mostly remaining seated in the room parties, because standing around made it worse. He also brought ice-packs, and we traded off with them (sometimes on his leg, sometimes on my butt). He went to the doctor about it, but was told it was simply a circulation complication due to his heart problems. They gave him a diuretic and told him to keep it elevated as often as possible. Not very convenient.
It didn't get better, and he thought it was a little weird that it was just one leg, not both. So on Friday, he went to the doctor again. First, the doc (a different one this time) tried to pass it off as the circulation thing, but when John kept insisting he thought it was something else, they did a sonogram.
John has a blood clot in his right leg, just above the knee.
UGH.
They put him on Coumadin (a blood thinner). This week he has to go in three times, and after that, once a week, to monitor his blood and make sure the drug levels are correct. He can no longer take Advil or aspirin for his arthritis pain, just Tylenol. The blood clot will self-resolve, but it takes time. It's a fairly common thing, but it can be dangerous, even lethal, if it detaches and travels to the heart.
So now, along with a malfunctioning heart valve and as-yet untreated sleep apnea (he's still in the process of being tested for the oral device; he goes to yet another sleep study in two weeks), he has a blood clot. The trifecta.
This man used to be the picture of health and strength. The same man who used to cycle for miles now puffs and pants when he goes up one flight of stairs. It makes me sad. And there is little that's more frustrating than the snail's pace and balking of the medical system.
Bottom line: Don't get sick, people. Never get sick.
John is in good spirits, considering. He's happy to have answers, to know that there are cures and relief ahead at some point. This past weekend, he was tired, but chipper, making jokes and being his usual silly self. We laughed a lot and had fun, visiting a good friend in West Hollywood, taking her to dinner for a belated birthday gift and then sitting out in her yard, in front of a fire pit, talking and watching her cat's antics.
I am doing my best to stay positive, to not let my mind wander into worst-case scenarios. For the moment, things are under control with John. Far from ideal, but we're hoping for the best.
Meanwhile, I am dying to see Steve. Tomorrow morning cannot come too soon. It's been two weeks, and I'm definitely in need.
Hope everyone had a nice weekend.
Well, we got an answer on John's right leg swelling. That started about a month ago, and he dealt with it at the 50 Freaks party by mostly remaining seated in the room parties, because standing around made it worse. He also brought ice-packs, and we traded off with them (sometimes on his leg, sometimes on my butt). He went to the doctor about it, but was told it was simply a circulation complication due to his heart problems. They gave him a diuretic and told him to keep it elevated as often as possible. Not very convenient.
It didn't get better, and he thought it was a little weird that it was just one leg, not both. So on Friday, he went to the doctor again. First, the doc (a different one this time) tried to pass it off as the circulation thing, but when John kept insisting he thought it was something else, they did a sonogram.
John has a blood clot in his right leg, just above the knee.
UGH.
They put him on Coumadin (a blood thinner). This week he has to go in three times, and after that, once a week, to monitor his blood and make sure the drug levels are correct. He can no longer take Advil or aspirin for his arthritis pain, just Tylenol. The blood clot will self-resolve, but it takes time. It's a fairly common thing, but it can be dangerous, even lethal, if it detaches and travels to the heart.
So now, along with a malfunctioning heart valve and as-yet untreated sleep apnea (he's still in the process of being tested for the oral device; he goes to yet another sleep study in two weeks), he has a blood clot. The trifecta.
This man used to be the picture of health and strength. The same man who used to cycle for miles now puffs and pants when he goes up one flight of stairs. It makes me sad. And there is little that's more frustrating than the snail's pace and balking of the medical system.
Bottom line: Don't get sick, people. Never get sick.
John is in good spirits, considering. He's happy to have answers, to know that there are cures and relief ahead at some point. This past weekend, he was tired, but chipper, making jokes and being his usual silly self. We laughed a lot and had fun, visiting a good friend in West Hollywood, taking her to dinner for a belated birthday gift and then sitting out in her yard, in front of a fire pit, talking and watching her cat's antics.
I am doing my best to stay positive, to not let my mind wander into worst-case scenarios. For the moment, things are under control with John. Far from ideal, but we're hoping for the best.
Meanwhile, I am dying to see Steve. Tomorrow morning cannot come too soon. It's been two weeks, and I'm definitely in need.
Hope everyone had a nice weekend.
