Not dead yet

[susandennis]

My right foot has been swollen for about 6 months but in the past couple of weeks, it's been really swollen. Left foot fine. Dr. Internet says it's a blood clot or gout or one of a biscillion things down the rabbit hole of internet diagnosis. I considered taking it to a Real Life doctor but veto'd the idea. If it's gout, then I either take gout preventive medicine for the rest of my life (no thank you) or change my diet (BIG no thank you). If it's the beginning of a blood clot then I have that blood thinner train to get on and ride forever and I already have blood bruises all over my hands and arms. I'm sick of those and don't want more. A blood clot could cause a debilitating stroke. Not my first choice or even on my top 25. Or just drop me where I stand.

Other than looking like a balloon foot, the swelling causes no problems. It's not painful or hot. I can still wear sandals. It does not interfere with my swimming.

But, this morning, the swelling is down a little - down enough to be very encouraging. I may well have to think of some other way to die.

I could die of heat this week. We have a heat advisory going into effect tomorrow through Friday. Swell. I have an eye doctor appointment early in the morning tomorrow and then I have nothing else that will cause me to leave my house/air conditioner for the rest of the week. Except the pool, of course, but I'm home by 6:30 while even on hot days, it's cool.

Portland is expected to get even hotter heat than here but they also get snow when we don't and don't share that, so I think it's payback.

I have about a dozen projects ready to start today and am still undecided on which one to do first. While I was swimming this morning, I was thinking about the list and priority and changed my mind a dozen times and still don't have a winner. But, it could be this new t-shirt idea I got in between thoughts in the pool this morning.

Comments

[badrobot68.livejournal.com]

Portland in the summer is generally 5-15 degrees hotter than Seattle...I only agreed to move here if we got a place with air conditioning (lots of places don't have it!)

I hope we all survive this week of hell.

[sweetmeow]

My husband has gout. If you get a true gout attack, you'll know it. It's hot to the touch and is incredibly painful. Ray has a high threshold for pain, but that pain nearly reduced him to tears! Ray is on permanent meds for it, but sticks with it, as he *never* wants to feel that acute attack again. With the meds, he doesn't need to alter his diet TOO much, but I do know of someone who has gout severely enough that he must do both.

Bottom line: The fact that you feel nothing is a good sign that it's not gout.

I can't speak to any of the other possibilities, but the fact that the swelling has gone down is a good sign. :)

I hope your weather cools down soon. I'm with you on hating the summer heat.

[susandennis]

Yep. I've had gout for years. Some flare ups are truly kill me now experience for sure.

[nick-101.livejournal.com]

Here in my part of California, we're usually spared from heat waves during most of the summer, but I heard it'll get real humid this week here. Heat waves suck.

[susandennis]

yup

[yesthatjill.livejournal.com]

If I sit with too much pressure on the underside of my legs, that foot (or both feet) will swell. Elevating my feet at night helps immensely.

[susandennis]

i get that. I also tend to sit cross legged a lot which kind of does the same thing. but, oddly enough, there is no difference in swelling from morning to night - from sitting to lying - from feet up to feet down. it's just weird.

[rock-dinosaur.livejournal.com]

I anticipate numerous comments from people telling you to get to the bloody doctor! Get that seen-to! I was tempted to say the same myself for a moment, but that would have made me a hypocrite. I hate going to the doctor to be told what I'm dying of this week, almost as much as I hate people telling me to go to the doctor the moment I mention any health issue I'm having!

I hope the swelling resolves itself. I occasionally get swelling in my lower legs and ankles myself. No idea what causes it, but it always seems to sort itself out.

[susandennis]

If I thought for one minute that the doctor was going to do something that I will tolerate to fix the problem, I would go. I got no problem with that.

BUT knowing what he is likely to suggest and knowing that I have no intention of doing what he suggests, deems the trip to the doctor pretty much a waste of time for him and me. Plus it is not impairing my life in any way.

My view is 100% practical.

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

I'd be willing to take a little of the heat off you. It's cold and rainy here and I'm off to Wales at the weekend which it is traditionally even more rainy than here