An extended weekend couldn’t have come at a better time.
OK, now hold on a second … before you go getting all over me about how I just went back to work and such, allow me to explain.
On October 28, I was helping a friend doing some demo work at a house. Well, truthfully, I was doing some grunt work and was thankful for it. But, like a dolt, I ended up stepping on a nail, which then pierced my shoe and my foot. I pulled the nail out quickly, pulled off my shoe and saw the blood. Lovely.
Alas, I kept going at it for the rest of the day.
The reason I took a second trip to the ER…
That night, I went to the Emergency Room. See, I hadn’t had a tetanus shot in more than a decade (maybe two), so it was probably time for one. The ER doctor came in for all of 20 seconds, looked, said I had a puncture wound (thanks, Doc!), to keep it clean and covered and check in with my personal doctor if things don’t improve.
Check.
Mind you — I told him all my medical issues in that time span, figuring an antibiotic would be smart. Apparently not.
Things seemed OK. Well, until that Saturday. That’s the day it all changed. I went to hop in the shower and my foot looked like a club. It was massively swollen. And it hurt. So back to the ER I went. The person who saw me that day, despite a needless wait, prescribed me some antibiotics. They seemed to work decently and when my personal practitioners office called me, I said it looked like it was getting better, so we left it at that.
That medicine ran out and a few days later, things got a little crazy again. The swelling (though, to be fair, not as bad) was back and some redness was there.
Oh, great.
So I call the doctor’s office that morning, trying to figure out how I can pull this off. See, I had just started the new job, It would be rather difficult for me to call in already. I didn’t need to be “that guy.” So, after spatting with the hospital on the phone, I decided to go to Convenient Care that night, which is in a neighboring town, but in the same network.
The person I saw that night decided this was of grave matter. Well, that’s the way he made it sound to me. See, I needed to take the next three days off — and he gave me a note. If I didn’t, I could be facing a long stay in the hospital. I told him, under no circumstances, would I be taking three days off just two days into a new job.
OK, well, then make sure I keep the foot elevated as much as possible. And here’s a new antibiotic to take. Stronger, I’m told.
Fair enough.
Things seemed to improve. The foot was looking much better. But, boy, was I tired. I’d sleep decently, but quite restless. I’d wake up beat. I’d get through the day, but felt like I was dragging at the end. When I was at work, I was fine. I was focused, that that probably helped. But outside of it? Tired. Real tired.
I was going to bed at like 10 p.m., which for those who know me, is very early, even if I have to be up early.
Last week, I only had to work Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday, I was scheduled to see my family doc. I went and, somehow, I wasn’t on an appointment time. I have a theory on that, but that’s better left off this. I made an appointment for Friday morning.
Wednesday night, I slept like crap. In fact, if I got an hour’s worth of sleep, I’d be shocked. That made Thanksgiving no fun. My stomach hurt. I was tired and grumpy. When family asked about my new job, I was snappy (sorry, all!).
I slept even worse that night. I woke up Friday with a rash on my arms, back and chest. What in the name of holy hell was going on?
(Now do you see why this break came at the perfect time?)
I went to the doc on Friday. Turns out, for the first time in my life, I’m allergic to something. And that something is the antibiotic I’ve been on. Great!
At least the foot was in much better shape! (He also noted I should have been prescribed an antibiotic right away, but it probably would have been good if I had followed up with him a day or two after the initial ER visit … point taken).
So, he tells me to take a little Benadryl. Turns out that’s not good for me either. I had hallucinations, which apparently is a rare side effect of Benadryl. Mark that down as something I won’t take again.
Saturday night, with a finally clear system (I think), I slept like a rock. I felt like myself on Sunday and am ready to get back at it Monday.
Things happen for a reason, I imagine. Hopefully the foot can now finally heal and I can move on from it.
What a crazy few days, though. And I didn’t even get to each much on Thanksgiving because of how I felt. But at least I’m back to normal now … or so I hope!
And, if all goes well, this won’t be a “to be continued!”
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