OT August Chit Chat

[nuthatch]

Rose - I was also blistering and weep lymph fluid for days if I get the slightest break in the skin of my legs. We have two cats and occasionally one of them will accidentally catch me with a claw. No blood, but lymph fluid will drip from the tiny invisible puncture for at least 3 days. I slather it with neosporine ointment and place a panty shield over it to keep it from dripping all over. I have to change the panty shield several times a day as they get saturated.

This past year I hit my ankle on a wheel lock of my shower chair as I was being moved. It made a small cut which bled for a few seconds, but then did a fast drip of lymph fluid for more than a week. It required full size poise pads with numerous changes a day to contain the flood of lymph fluids. Despite the soreness of the cut, my legs felt so much better! I joke that I just need a tap, like a beer tap, installed!
Since I've been wearing the Juxtalite wraps I have not been getting the blisters plus they protect the skin too. They are made of a neoprene-like material that breathes and are easy to put on or take off.

My daughter is director of the Upward Bound program at the local college where she lives. One of her former (teenage) students was born with lymphedema in both legs. While I've been dealing with this for nearly 20 years, that poor child has a whole lifetime to "chase" it.

Hope you can find something that works for Jon.

Joan

[nuthatch]

Virginia - Glad to hear your brother is past the surgeries. I would guess he's been on some pretty heavy pain meds which has to be taken into account, not to mention the psychological aspect of all he's been through. It's all going to take time to recover from. He's lucky to have a supportive family, especially his sister!

I don't recall you mentioning having a sister, are you the only girl in your immediate family? I know you have at least three brothers. I was the only girl, but have four brothers. I never gave it a thought, but now I wish I had had a sister when I see how close my girlfriend is with her sister. It's just a different closeness with brothers.

Hang in there, Virginia. Hugs.

Joan

[Cherie]

Have cardiac ECHO tomorrow morning to see if there is something cardiac that shows up that could be causing the edema and shortness of breath and fatigue and then on the 31st I have a 4 hour Nuclear Stress test. Had that one done 15 years ago and it showed a small defect in the center wall of my heart. We will see if it has changed. Overcast and 70ish here today. Blessed relief.

[Virginia]

Cherie, I am happy to hear you are having these test done now. With the symptoms you are having I would think they would be necessary to see if they can determine what is wrong. I will be thinking of you during this time. I hope nothing shows up, but on the other hand if it is something that can be taken care of I hope they do find it and that you will feel better when it is all over.

Nuthatch, I am only girl with 3 brothers. I always wanted a Sister. As you said the closeness is just different. I don't think I would feel nearly as alone if I had a Sister. Also, there is someone to talk to about things that you don't talk with your brothers about. I think that is a little more true when you have lost your Mother, and also when you are single. As you know, I love the boys, but they just roll their eyes sometime when I talk to them about some things.

[Virginia]

Talk about being alone, this lady might as well have been. Cherie, I think this happened in your part of the country. A man was sailing his 30 foot sailboat from Newport to East Greenwich. The wife fell overboard and he didn't realize it for hours. I kind of laughed after I found out she was alright. However, I can see how it could happen. My friend had a 37 ft sailboat and we went out on it a lot. I use to go down under where the kitchen and bath and bedroom were located when it got so hot up top that I could not take it. If I had fallen off I can see where he might have assumed I was downstairs, however at some point I think he would have stuck his head down there to see if I was alright. Scary!

[Sunshine]

IVIG all day tomorrow, so won’t be here much

[Virginia]

Sunshine, I thought you just did this recently. Hope you get a BIG boost!

[Cherie]

My eldest has been without Internet for the past 2 days and could not get a mobile hotspot with her phone. Has had technicians at the house each of the last 2 days then had to get the last few hundred items tagged and scanned into the computer and online for a twice a year consignment sale she helps to coordinate that starts Friday. To top it off she had two extra kids for the day. I offered to bring dinner over or have them over for dinner and she accepted the offer to come. Turns out the other 2 children are my other daughter's kids so we had dinner with all 4 grandkids and our eldest daughter!!! Veggie burgers for those who do not eat meat and sweet sausage and grilled chicken for those who do. Corn on the cob, quinoa and brown rice, a huge green salad, stir fry seasonal vegetables, a pineapple and a honeydew melon. Almost no leftovers. We then walked down the street to a place that makes 30 flavors of ice cream and frozen yogurt for the kids to get dessert. All getting so very big.

[stillstANNding]

That sounds like a good time, Cherie, and a lot of cooking.

ANN

[Cherie]

That sounds like a good time, Cherie, and a lot of cooking.

ANN

Heather cut up the melon and pineapple and husked the corn and threw together the salad. David cooked the sausage and chicken, I did the quinoa and brown rice and veggie medley and steamed the corn. It was a joint effort. Just emptied the dishwasher and loaded it fully again and the kitchen sparkles.

[Virginia]

Nothing like sharing the work and the help! Things go so much faster and since it is all family everyone knows their way around.

[Virginia]

I may get a reduction in my cable, phone, internet bill. My youngest brother talked to someone and he said he would get it down from $193.30 to $161.00. Lets see if it happens. Would be nice.

Cherie, let us know what you find out today.

[Howie]

Virginia, for me to pay that much for Internet, TV, and phone, I would have to stop eating!

[Sunshine]

What a memory maker Cherie!

Virginia, I do IVIG every two weeks, 8 hour sessions each time.

[Virginia]

I understand Howie, but I got to have something to do. I get bored.