I could use some cheering up

[cornerofmadness]

It was supposed to go this way: 1. see the vascular surgeon 2. have them move me to one visit a year instead of two. 3. know I'm kidding myself because of the claudication symptoms. (pain and numbness in my leg with exercise, gets better with rest)

How it went: 1. even before I tell him about the claudication symptoms he says there is some signs of increased velocity thru the stent indicating it might be clotting up (which happened last year too) so I can't be moved to one visit a year 2. Explain that his nurse never called me back after multiple tries so I could tell him Dr. L thinks I have neurogenic claudication.

He is doubtful (because it's not equal in both legs and he has a point...maybe unless there's only pressure on one side) but he is concerned (forgotten is the fact I didn't go for the varicose vein testing or why because it's no longer important).

So now I have to go for an angiogram and they set that up to be sure that the stent is functioning and that collateralization of the blood vessels (i.e. vessels around the injury taking up the slack) is good.

I went off on my day but tonight I was thinking about this and going 'I know it's been nearly 25 years since I've seen patients but wasn't this a big deal?' I looked it up. Between Mayo and Cleveland clinic a) I need a drive b) pressure and bed rest is required for 5-10 hours so I need to know (if someone doesn't call me soon I'll call next week) am I staying at the hospital for the night? If not can I sit in a car for the 80 mile drive home?

Sigh.

I was also frustrated in my attempt to donate my clothing. The veterans boxes were ringed by bags (which is not allowed) AND furniture (which they don't even take) so I came home and asked local friends for other options.

In an attempt to distract myself I ended up buying tombstones at TJ Maxx (all I really wanted to do was pee and they have an easy to get to bathroom) and then I went to the Hopeton Earthworks.

In nearly 20 years I never went to these ones in Chillicothe. It was literally 2 blocks from Spirit Halloween (which I drove on past!!) It was a short walk on a nice flat mulched pathway through the woods to get to the site and if I didn't know what it was I'd just think it was some small hills in a field. No historical markers or any context sadly (there is a much bigger site in Chillicothe that I need to revisit) I'm glad I went but I also don't feel the need to return.

I did go to the new Mexican place in Jackson (after saying I wouldn't) only to learn it was identical to the one in Gallipolis. Sigh. Nothing new or exciting there. It's good mind you.

The good news is my blood pressure was back to normal (for me) 100/60. And I got the graphic novel I backed on kickstarter, some steampunk thing. I'm really looking forward to reading it.

I do have pictures and a fannish 50 in mind but I need to wait until my head is better

Comments

[badly_knitted]

*sending hugs* Hope things improve and you get the information you need.

[cornerofmadness]

Thank you so much. It's very appreciated

[spikedluv]

Ugh. Sorry things didn't go as well as you'd hoped.

This made me chuckle. (Link goes to tumblr.)

[cornerofmadness]

thank you

Ha to the bears. Actually when evil_little_dog and I went to the zoo in St. Louis, two of the bears were doing this with us.

[trobadora]

Sending you all the hugs!

[cornerofmadness]

Thank you, so appreciated

[shipperslist]

Re: angiogram/angiography
Our patients need 2-4hrs of pressure on the site and bed rest 4-6hrs, depending on the procedure. They usually stay the night if they have no adult company at home but most often the reason is that the next day, they'll have ABI test or something similar. 5-10hrs sounds like a lot but perhaps the procedure itself is different over there.

[cornerofmadness]

Thanks this is helpful. I might have typed this wrong. it's actually a lot less pressure time (like 40 minutes) but then 4-10 hours bed rest depending on which site I look at)

I've already had the ABI and the venous doppler last week (which is why I'm being set up for this) You'd think the doc would have said something about hey you might be in the hospital overnight and I never know is it because I AM a doctor and they think they don't have to or they're just dipshits.

I have no adult company and I'm over an hour from the hospital so I suspect I'll be there overnight

[shipperslist]

I've already had the ABI and the venous doppler last week
Our patients sometimes get ABI before the procedure so that they can compare the before and after results.

You'd think the doc would have said something about hey you might be in the hospital overnight and I never know is it because I AM a doctor and they think they don't have to or they're just dipshits.
...yeah. Sometimes it's the same with me. Like. Yeah, I'm a nurse but I know neurology and surgery, not EYES ffs!

[cornerofmadness]

makes sense

thanks I appreciate this. For me it's been 20 years since I've seen patients so I'm not always up to date and yeah I'm a foot/ankle specialist so I DO know lower limb stuff but points to the time off clinical experience

[suzume]

What a rough day. But know you're always in my prayers and I send you many, many hugs~!

[cornerofmadness]

Thank you so much. It's so appreciated