Not-So-Good News

I did not do so well yesterday at my appointment with the foot specialist.   I reported pain in the back of my calf, which I thought was a sore muscle from all the limping.  He sent me right away to a nearby hospital for a blood test that screens for blood clots. 

That was positive, so then I had to go to a hospital farther away in Raleigh for a Venous Doppler test.  Sure enough, I have a blood clot, or Deep Vein Thrombosis, in my leg.  After many hours at the hospital for more blood tests and learning about my new medical regime, they let me come home.

I was very happy not to be admitted to the hospital, and I am very happy that my wonderful doctor recognized that I might have a blood clot.  They caught it pretty early. 

I'm not so happy to have a blood clot, in addition to a sprained ankle., Or to be on Coumadin and injecting myself twice a day with Heparin.  But, you do what you gotta do, right?

 I was planning to attend a going-away party on Thursday for my father at the retirement home in Boone where he lived for six years.  Instead, I have to attend the Anticoagulant Clinic at Rex Hospital on Friday to check my blood levels.  But, they said I could travel to the mountains if I prop my foot up and stop for a break on the way.  So, I am looking forward to going back to the mountains next weekend.

I'm supposed to keep my leg elevated, so probably won't be doing any painting for the next few days.  Maybe I will get out some of the art quilts from my Pamela Allen online classes and work on the hand stitching. I have quite a few of those piled up!  Here is one of them that is ready to stitch.