here's hoping I don't die from a blood clot

So you know how yesterday the pain in my leg (1) changed and (2) increased by OH HOLY HELL?

I dealt with it with painkillers (double doses) and griping, and dealing, and eventually at near-midnight when I removed my socks and shoes, I noted my foot was... the wrong color. Bluey. Grey-y. Hrm. It also felt, to me, internally, kinda cold. londo came over and put a hand on each foot and made a very memorable face - turns out my injured-leg foot pretty much felt room temperature to him. I could still wiggle toes, it wasn't numb, etc, but it definitely was wrong.

The unfortunate thing about the US medical system, however, is that the prospect of going to the ER for something that isn't currently killing me is so overwhelmingly a burden and hassle, most likely for nothing, that I am really loathe to do it. So I did some research online, which indicated that yes, I might have a blood clot in my leg after all, but it's not confimed. I called the doctor's office answering service and talked to some guy who forwarded my complaint to a nurse, who called back two hours later at 2am to tell me that it could be a blood clot or nerve damage but maybe not. Oh, and that since I was calling her at 2am, this was obviously something impacting my life, therefore I should go in. Yeah, no.

I got in bed, elevated it, put on a sock and some thermal pajamas, and slept. This morning, it's back to normal temperature and color, although there's a strong localized pain in the upper back of my calf - which could be a muscle unhappy with the various positions/manipulations I've had to put my leg in the past week, or could be, you know, a clot. I guess. I don't know.

I've called my doctor clinic, who sent a message to my doc, who might call me back in a reasonable timeframe. I'd really like to make sure I'm not about to die.

EDIT: got called back from the office, although from a nurse and not my doctor herself as she doesn't get in until 1:30. The nurse was sharp and asked a bunch of questions, but did not think it was a clot issue and basically said "keep it elevated as much as possible until your doctor can call you back."

Also, I forgot to give props to londo: last night when I was lying in bed, waiting for the nurse service to call back, he surprised me with a cat in the lap. My cats aren't normally allowed in the bedroom, but he rightly surmised that I was feeling crap but confined to the bed and that the addition of a purring bundle of fur would calm me down. It was a very sweet move.

here's hoping I don't die from a blood clot

So you know how yesterday the pain in my leg (1) changed and (2) increased by OH HOLY HELL?

I dealt with it with painkillers (double doses) and griping, and dealing, and eventually at near-midnight when I removed my socks and shoes, I noted my foot was... the wrong color. Bluey. Grey-y. Hrm. It also felt, to me, internally, kinda cold. londo came over and put a hand on each foot and made a very memorable face - turns out my injured-leg foot pretty much felt room temperature to him. I could still wiggle toes, it wasn't numb, etc, but it definitely was wrong.

The unfortunate thing about the US medical system, however, is that the prospect of going to the ER for something that isn't currently killing me is so overwhelmingly a burden and hassle, most likely for nothing, that I am really loathe to do it. So I did some research online, which indicated that yes, I might have a blood clot in my leg after all, but it's not confimed. I called the doctor's office answering service and talked to some guy who forwarded my complaint to a nurse, who called back two hours later at 2am to tell me that it could be a blood clot or nerve damage but maybe not. Oh, and that since I was calling her at 2am, this was obviously something impacting my life, therefore I should go in. Yeah, no.

I got in bed, elevated it, put on a sock and some thermal pajamas, and slept. This morning, it's back to normal temperature and color, although there's a strong localized pain in the upper back of my calf - which could be a muscle unhappy with the various positions/manipulations I've had to put my leg in the past week, or could be, you know, a clot. I guess. I don't know.

I've called my doctor clinic, who sent a message to my doc, who might call me back in a reasonable timeframe. I'd really like to make sure I'm not about to die.

EDIT: got called back from the office, although from a nurse and not my doctor herself as she doesn't get in until 1:30. The nurse was sharp and asked a bunch of questions, but did not think it was a clot issue and basically said "keep it elevated as much as possible until your doctor can call you back."

Also, I forgot to give props to londo: last night when I was lying in bed, waiting for the nurse service to call back, he surprised me with a cat in the lap. My cats aren't normally allowed in the bedroom, but he rightly surmised that I was feeling crap but confined to the bed and that the addition of a purring bundle of fur would calm me down. It was a very sweet move.

waitin' all day for a doctor's phone call

It took my doctor until almost 5:30 to finally call me back. I talked to nurses all day long, though, as when I didn't get called immediately at 1:30 I started badgering the fuck out of them. No nurse gave me any indication of, "GET THEE TO THE ER," and no offense to you all and I love you and know you want the best for me but they are the ones with experience in this kind of thing, not you, so if they say just to sit on my butt and wait, I will.

There has been no blueness or coldness today. Pain, yes, and some swelling, but nothing like yesterday. If it HAD come back, I WOULD have gone to the ER. I promise.

Once I finally got ahold of the freakin' doctor, she was not much use, but I guess some. The problems arose from the fact that she didn't call me until AFTER 5PM, and therefore me telling her things like, "I have six pills left. This will last me until tomorrow. Give me more," doesn't work because (1) she can't call in refills for opiates and (2) it being so late in the day, she couldn't leave a prescription at the front desk for me. So instead, she's mailing it to me. Let's see, goes out in the mail tomorrow morning, then long weekend, so at best I will get it Tuesday... that's still multiple days without anything stronger than OTC ibuprofen. Which won't cut it.

Oh, and as far as the appointment with the orthopedist that is currently set for Jan 29, she's not sure she can get me in there sooner because "everyone trying to get in right now is in the same shape as you. The only time they give people immediate appointments is if there's something like a broken bone." Maybe I should break something just to get some goddamned care.

So I'll be in unknown pain, on crutches, impaired in my ability to carry out my fucking everyday life for another two weeks because I'm not considered important enough to fix immediately.

Can has Canadian healthcare, please?

waitin' all day for a doctor's phone call

It took my doctor until almost 5:30 to finally call me back. I talked to nurses all day long, though, as when I didn't get called immediately at 1:30 I started badgering the fuck out of them. No nurse gave me any indication of, "GET THEE TO THE ER," and no offense to you all and I love you and know you want the best for me but they are the ones with experience in this kind of thing, not you, so if they say just to sit on my butt and wait, I will.

There has been no blueness or coldness today. Pain, yes, and some swelling, but nothing like yesterday. If it HAD come back, I WOULD have gone to the ER. I promise.

Once I finally got ahold of the freakin' doctor, she was not much use, but I guess some. The problems arose from the fact that she didn't call me until AFTER 5PM, and therefore me telling her things like, "I have six pills left. This will last me until tomorrow. Give me more," doesn't work because (1) she can't call in refills for opiates and (2) it being so late in the day, she couldn't leave a prescription at the front desk for me. So instead, she's mailing it to me. Let's see, goes out in the mail tomorrow morning, then long weekend, so at best I will get it Tuesday... that's still multiple days without anything stronger than OTC ibuprofen. Which won't cut it.

Oh, and as far as the appointment with the orthopedist that is currently set for Jan 29, she's not sure she can get me in there sooner because "everyone trying to get in right now is in the same shape as you. The only time they give people immediate appointments is if there's something like a broken bone." Maybe I should break something just to get some goddamned care.

So I'll be in unknown pain, on crutches, impaired in my ability to carry out my fucking everyday life for another two weeks because I'm not considered important enough to fix immediately.

Can has Canadian healthcare, please?