Saw my family doctor today and I do have phlebitis (inflammation of the veins due to the meds being injected into my IV). He said that unfortunately it happens and I am to continue with the antibiotics, aspirin and most importantly the warm compresses.
It is ironic that my neck where I was cut open and now have a 6 inch incision doesn't hurt, but my arm does a lot.
I have had in my 50 years 27 operations. Two tonsilectomies (they grew back as an adult. Think it was the New Jersey water that caused that), Four elbow operations for cartilage damage, ankle surgery to fix a broken bone that they didn't catch and a large piece of bone grew into my ligament, 8 knee surgeries (2 ACL repairs in the late 1970's, 4 arthroscopies, and 2 total knee replacements, gallbladder removal, an oophorectomy, 2 ablations, total hysterectomy, 2 thyroidectomies, 3 nose procedures (with one being a graft from my ear to fix cartilage in my left nostril due to too much being removed during nodules being removed) and 2 foot procedures to fix plantar fasciitis. Making 27 surgeries. This does not include the other injuries I have had from falling and getting stitches and breaking my nose twice (jumped off a garage roof and knee slammed into my face and jumping off a picnic table and hitting a clothes line across the bridge of my nose....all done as a kid).
Then there is the Fibromyalgia. I had a car accident in 1995 when a car blew through a stop light and took the nose off my car. I was extremely active. Walked 3 times a day and did aerobics at least 4 times a week. After the accident I started to get very tired and I hurt everywhere. Also, developed insomnia. Was getting maybe 2 hours a sleep a night for over a month. I thought I was going to lose my mind. I worked in a medical center with 40 multi-specialty doctors. They kept telling me it was stress and yes, I was in a stressful situation taking care of my dad who was ill, but I knew damn well that was not the case. Finally, a specialist came up from the Twin Cities, tested me for multiple sclerosis, ran a bunch of other tests and diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia. It won't kill you, but there are days you feel that it is going to.
Finally in 2005, I knew I couldn't work any longer and I applied for disability. It was a depressing decision. It felt like I was giving in to the disease. In a way I was. But, I still have hope that things will change some day soon for the better. In the meantime I had to face reality and the reality was that I was no longer to work nor do much of what I used to do. I applied myself to SSDI and filled out a ton of forms. It was rejected. My advice is to get a lawyer immediately. My lawyer said that it is standard to be denied, so get a lawyer and don't waste your time trying to do it on your own. I had pages and pages and pages of documentation, which SSDI said that they could not find. Funny. I went on their website and I found it myself. Asses. It took over 2 years to get approved and let me say that that is fast. My friend waited over 6 years. I am lucky I live in South Jersey where there are many good lawyers. My friend lives in the boondocks of northern Minnesota.
I am blessed that I am married to an amazing man that sticks through all the ups and downs. Makes me laugh when I hurt and holds my hand just because he wants to.
Time to sign off and put warm compresses on my arm. Life is odd.
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