But it's February and we have had the a/c on for 2 weeks. The kids are wearing shorts regularly, and they've even begun to tan a little bit.
So how I ask, in the middle of such wonderful weather, have we spent 3 solid weeks being sick? Andy brought an upper respiratory infection home (thank goodness it wasn't the flu, but at least we could have thrown Tamiflu at that). He was put on quarters for 2 days. In his almost 22 years of active duty, that's a first.
Three days later Katelyn succumbed. It was the first time she's been sick since we brought her home. 21 months is a good stretch I'd say. United Health Care struck again when they wouldn't approve a trip to an Urgent Care off base. Our only option was the
The next day it was my turn. Naturally it was a Saturday so to avoid a trip to the ER, I called my PH doc. He listened to my pitiful self and soon I had steroids of my own, antibiotics, albuterol, and orders for doing nothing but sipping anything liquid, and rest. I was down and out for 2 solid weeks.
I've had sinus surgery, emergency ectopic surgery, an incision that opened up and had to be packed/debrided 2x a day, two c-sections, and various procedures and I always handle the pain pretty well. The recoveries aren't fun but...you survive. This URI took me for a ride though. I'm pretty sure by day 7 I was almost crying because I perpetually felt as though I'd just gotten off a spinning ride at the fair. I wasn't dizzy...just "swimmy" as I call it. By day 10 I was positive I'd never recover. By day 14 I was giving Andy instructions on what to do with my belongings.
I did all I could to help the process along, but man was that a long two weeks!
In the middle of all that, I also finally had my MRI on my knee. It's been buckling and giving out periodically for about 3 years. It's embarrassing that I let it go on so long, but let's just say I'm not a big fan of specialists. It never seems to end well when I see those types.
I finally saw the orthopedist and we went over my MRI. First of all he MIGHT be as old as Opie. He's new, and awkward, and while very smart, not an expert at relating to patients. I figure when he's done with puberty, he'll be better at that part.
His news was that my knee is such a hot mess (his exact words), that there's nothing they can do for me and they are sending me off base to a joint specialist. Of course I dug into the "hot mess" comment and learned that the cartilage lesion is so big, and the bones are so close, and there is a slight tear in the meniscus, and there is cartilage floating around, and you know..the bone spurs behind the knee cap, that well.. they would only recommend a knee replacement.
Excuse me? Did your 10 your old doctor self just tell me I need a total knee replacement? I just turned 44. I already have PH and Scleroderma. Now you're telling me I need the same thing my 80 something year old grandmother had to have? I already checked the "it's very rare and I've never seen this in someone your age" box. Don't I get a pass on that now?
Apparently not. Honestly I'm angry. And I feel cheated (again). And many moments this weekend of "it's just not fair." But none of that changes reality. At this point I'm praying that the joint specialist will have more encouraging news. Surely we can clean up the inside, or do injections for awhile. Or utilize some newer treatments I've read about like stem cell injections.
Here's to hoping I can see the joint specialist this century and that he will have better news. I'm so over being THAT girl. Medical stuff just isn't any fun and I've had my fair share and then some. I'd like to get back to "just" homeschooling, parenting, and the general craziness of our life. Yes please!
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