Yea!!!

I'm telling you folks, I'm as a happy as a bug in a rug!!! Yes, indeedy! Why? Well, I don't think I've posted about this (probably because I was embarrassed) but my feet, ankles and legs swelled up big time. They looked worse than elephant legs!!!

I was emailing with Hey Jules last week right after I received my compression stockings. Now, I'm well aware that I'm 52 and some people (ahem, Pilot James) might consider 52 OLD. However, I do not think of myself old. My "image" of myself is much younger! :D It used to be when I was in my twenties and thirties I probably thought of myself as still feeling like I was 19 with just a touch more maturity (Lol!) than normal 19 year olds. However, a number of years ago I was around a group of 19 yr olds and I thought to myself, "Heavens! Surely I am not like them!" Do I really think and act like them?" So I re-evaluated myself and decided that I feel like I am more in my early 40's. Lol! Probably James would say that even THAT is old! LOL! :D

All of that to say that when I emailed Hey Jules about the compression stockings I told her that there is absolutely nothing that makes me feel more old...way older than even 52, than wearing compression stockings!!! I have died a thousand deaths and yet, I'm still here on God's beautiful white snowy patch of ground in Utah!

My question to my doctor since I was beginning to feel much better from having the whooping cough is "what has caused this awful swelling?" He told me he thought it was a combination of coming off the prednisone medicine, the low pressure in my lungs from the whooping cough, and my high blood pressure med, Norv*sc. He decided on a plan of action which was to change my diuretic to lasix, elevate my feet and have me wear compression stockings. *sinking heart*

Well, it didn't work. I spent all of my time with my feet elevated...HIGH! And, the lasix didn't even begin to kick in for 3 1/2 days! It didn't seem to make a difference at all. By this time I thought I would be destined to go the rest of my life having legs that looked like they belonged to MUCH older people. I may not be the skinniest person but I have always had skinny ankles and feet. My goodness, I can't even buy "narrow" shoes because they are too wide for me. I have to buy "slender" shoes. You can imagine what a nightmare that is to find stylish shoes that are narrow enough to fit me! (Yes, sad to say, I do admit to some vanity.)

Anyway, back to my problem. I went back in (yes, I've gone weekly to have my progress checked) and it was decided to double my lasix. Well, whoo hoo! That seems to have done the trick! I'm telling you, I've got ankles, feet, toes... EVERYTHING! And they are SKINNY!

Since yesterday mid-day, I've not worn my compression stockings, nor have I had them on today and I STILL have skinny ankles! I'm very hopeful when I go tomorrow my news is good...no, better than good; GREAT! No more compression stockings. I can go back to being a very young at heart 52 year old wife, Mom, daughter, sister, and Aunt!