Sistah Pat

It would sure save time.  Seems like the last week has been one appointment after another.  DH’s surgery went well but the news wasn’t good.  Seems like there are three arteries/veins(?) that supply blood to the foot.  All three of his were blocked.  The one they did surgery on was blocked from mid calf down and they fixed that one.  The other two are shot.  The surgeon says they’re both blocked and the surgery he just had wouldn’t be enough to correct the other two.  He said the surgery needed to fix them is a major deal with transplanting veins/arteries from the thigh to the calf.  Not something he recommends.  So…he has one blood supply going to his foot.  Diabetic risks…I think it opened his eyes, though.  He’s been much more open to healthy lifestyle choices.

He was a terrible patient.  Complaining about having to stay four hours in recovery.  Threatening to get out of bed and catch a bus home.  I finally told the nurse to give him something to take the edge off.  I know what it was…it was smoking.  He couldn’t wait to get out of the hospital to have a cigarette.  He was lighting up before he even put on his seatbelt.

I smoke.  Filthy addiction.  But not like he smokes.  I honestly don’t know how he does his job.  He’s running off to sneak a cigarette every 30 minutes.  So I decided to tackle that issue.  I quit smoking for two years but he just about drove me crazy.  Smoking around me all the time and I usually wanted to knock him in the head, grab his cigarette and smoke it myself.  They say you get to where you can’t stand even the smell of it after you’ve quit.  Huh!  Not me!  I wanted a cigarette all the time.  I never got to the point where I hated the smell of it.  Eventually, I gave in and went back to smoking.  Now I’m smoking a pack a day and he’s smoking two.

I went to the doctor and asked him what the latest developments were in the “stop smoking” area and he said, “You’re in luck!  They currently have a special running where I can give you a coupon to get the first month of Chantix free and $30.00 per month off for the entire time you use it.”

Well, alrighty then!  Give me a coupon for me and one for the hubs!  I ran off to the pharmacy, got both of us a month’s supply for free, gift wrapped one box and presented it to DH at dinner.  He eagerly unwrapped the box, stared at it for a couple of minutes, asked for an explanation and then totally shocked me by saying, “I’m glad you got this.  We really have to quit.  We’re leaving on vacation in a couple of days and it’s probably the perfect time to quit.  We’ll be off by ourselves, no kids or grandkids, no stress.  You game?”

Well, duh!  Of course I’m game.  So…we’ll see if we can manage to kick the habit together.

Next doctor has been the dermatologist.  After waiting weeks to get an appointment, I’ve been to see him twice in the last week.  I’ve tried everything to get rid of this incessant itching.  Been slathering on baby oil twice a day, using over the counter meds, nothing has helped.  I’ve visited my regular GP three times and he can’t find anything.  My dermatologist examined me, took some skin scrapings and headed to the microscope.  Came back and said, “This is really strange.  Your symptoms are classic symptoms of scabies but I don’t see anything on the slide.  You don’t have the bumps associated with scabies but it sure does sound like it.  I’m going to give you a tablet to take at night so you won’t be scratching in your sleep and a cream that I want you to apply all over your body twice a day and have you come back in a week.  If things don’t improve, I’ll take some more tissue samples and we’ll treat you and your family for scabies.”

Oh Crap!  Gross!  Gross! Gross!  It made me feel all creepy crawly just hearing the word.  Scabies…Yuck!  So, I gobbed my body up with some kind of prescription cream twice a day (it came in a one pound tub) and popped a pill every night so I wouldn’t wake up scratching.  Miracle of miracles, within two days the itching stopped entirely.  I am healed!  I can’t tell you what a relief it is.  I’ve been itching for two months!  I went back to the dermatologist today and he said I look fine.  No rashes, no bumps, no more suspicion of scabies.  I asked him what it was and he said he really didn’t know.  Some kind of reaction to stress or something I came in contact with: detergent, soap, etc.  He really couldn’t say but mentioned that it was probably stress related and I should try to relax more.  Yeah!  Okay!  I’ll do that.  Anything to avoid that infernal itching.

Then there was the dentist and the GYN.  Sure would be easier if we had a doctor in the house.  I’ve been staring at waiting rooms all week.

Tomorrow, DH and I head down to Florida for a couple of weeks.  We’re going to put vinyl siding on the cabin and pick up some furniture for it.  We’re finishing up the last four days in Tunica.  Taking advantage of those free hotel rooms and dinner buffets.

And now…I’ve got to pack!  Whoo Hooo!  Just DH and I for two whole weeks!