This week sucked. And by that I mean that it has been really really really truly awful, to the point where not much could make it worse than it already has been. Actually, that's not true. It can't get any worse because it's about to end, but that just means that next week is going to start on the same bad note that this week is ending on. The week has been awful to the point that I just want to leave a trail of expletives at the start of this post. But I won't do that, because there is a little old lady in the bed across from me, and for some reason I can't type all those horrible words while she is looking at me. So, lets all hope together that next week will get progressively better. I really need it to get better.
This is the point where I'm supposed to get in-depth about what's going on, but that's not going to happen. Typing this out so far has taken a vast amount of effort and concentration (and given me a headache), so I'm just going to copy and past the message I posted on the external fixator support group I am part of (because even after external fixators come off, you're left with a host of post-fixator problems that any present/former framie can relate to).
If anything doesn't make sense, I apologize in advance. Actually... no. No, I don't apologize. Of all the posts I ever write, typos and confusion are justifiable in this one. If you don't like it, you try typing under similar circumstances!
Post to my support group:
"When it rains it pours. My next appointment with my orthopedic surgeon wasn't supposed to be until July 6th. I have been in so much pain, however, that I made an impromptu trip to my surgeon's office yesterday morning (June 8th). You can see the x-rays that were taken. My tibia is still broken and the surgery I had in February to treat the nonunion has officially failed. I am absolutely gutted. I have been dealing with this since I was thirteen (I am now twenty-five and working as a nurse). I struggled with chronic osteomyelitis for years before getting an external fixator in 2015. The fixator came of in May 2016. Since then, my tibia has failed to heal. I've had ten surgeries so far, and am now in the process of scheduling the eleventh one. Unfortunately, I have had some serious changes in the vision of my left eye over the last week. On Monday, things were a bit blurry. I went to the optometrist on Tuesday, was told I have astigmatism, and ordered glasses. Since then, my vision has rapidly gotten worse. Things have gotten blurrier, I am having double vision, and am unable to focus on things. I went to the ER after seeing my orthopedic surgeon and have been admitted to the neurology floor. One of the neurologists I saw in the ER said that my eyes are pointing in different directions. Other than that, my left eye looks fine, so the neurologists believe there is something wrong with the optic nerve or in my brain. I have had a CT scan and am waiting to have an MRI scan. Several potential diagnosis have been suggested, some minor and other quite serious. We can't schedule surgery to try to fix my leg until the issues with my vision are sorted out (or I at least get a diagnosis). I am exhausted, disheartened and very scared. For the last few months, I've felt like I can't handle the situation with my leg anymore. Ironically, now that I am having vision problems and awaiting a diagnosis for that, the issues with my leg seem much more manageable than they have in a long time. I would give anything to just have to worry about my leg."
So... yeah. My leg is still broken. The previous surgery failed. And now my vision is all messed up - double vision, blurriness, inability to focus, eyes not working together as they should, dizziness...
It's definitely justifiable if this post doesn't make any sense.
Oh, and here are my x-rays.
TLDR: In hospital. Leg is still broken. Need more surgery. Vision in left eye is messed up. Neurologists concerned. Waiting for MRI scan of my brain. Hopefully get a diagnosis after that. Can't have surgery until vision issues dealt with. Oh, and can't have the nice yogurt because it has kiwis and I am allergic to them. Drat!
I’ve been wondering how you were doing since your last post in Feb. I’m sorry things aren’t getting better with your leg. You certainly don’t need the added worry about your vision. I can sympathize with having an elderly room mate.... I had a senile women next to me who kept calling out during the night when I had my surgery for my ankle. Sending positive thoughts your way.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kate =)The situation with my leg is very disappointing and the vision issues add a whole bunch of extra stress to it. I'm waiting for an appointment with a neurologist right now, and my family doctor wants the neurologist to refer me to a neuro-ophtalmologist. My optometrist changed the prescription for glasses I got last week from a simple lenses to fix astigmatism in my left eye to lenses for both eyes that have prisms in them because everything close up is completely blurry and double. I have to squint really hard to read anything.
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI have been worried and sending prayers of healing.
I should have posted several updates. I've just been trying to avoid dealing with things and focus on other parts of my life. I was managing when it was just my leg, but the vision problems were completely unexpected. I could see perfectly, and 3-4 days later everything was all messed up. I never really understood what people meant when they said "a day at a time", but I get it now.
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