It's Not Supposed to Be That Way

About a year ago I got an infection in my right leg, over the shin. The doctor called it cellulitis, and treated it with antibiotics. It went away, but came back again, more than once. My doctor sent me to a vascular specialist who said the veins in my right leg were insufficient and that I needed to wear compression stockings and elevate the foot of my bed on blocks to keep my legs above my heart at night. I asked him how long I needed to do that and he said, “Until you’ve lost 50 pounds.” Well, I’ve lost 50 pounds, or really close to it, and I quit wearing the stocking about 6 weeks ago, although I still have the blocks tilting the bed. And guess what – the infection in my right leg is back. It’s not supposed to be that way.

I saw the doctor today, to show him my leg, and to find out why I am suffering from heart palpitations. Sometimes it just feels like something is kicking me from inside my chest. They come in bunches at times and just drive me crazy. (I keep waiting for the Alien to burst out of my chest.) The doctor could feel one when he took my pulse, and described it as a “skipped heart beat”. He did an EKG and it was fine, so he hooked me up to a portable heart monitor that I am wearing for 24 hours to see how often I have this problem. He didn’t seem too concerned. Apparently a lot of people get this and it’s no big deal. He said he could treat it with beta blockers if it really bothered me. Meanwhile, he said to go back to the stockings, keep my leg elevated as much as possible, and try to reduce the stress in my life, since stress is a primary cause of “skipped heart beats”.

I did 2 miles on the treadmill this afternoon. I figured I would test the heart monitor, but I felt fine. Now that I’m back relaxing in my chair, my heart is kicking up again. It’s not supposed to be that way.

OK body, I have a message for you: I lost 50 pounds. I eat healthy foods and I exercise regularly. You have to do your part here. You’re supposed to function properly when I treat you well.

Here’s a funny little poem by Dorothy Parker. Maybe she had the right idea.

Observation

If I don't drive around the park,
I'm pretty sure to make my mark.
If I'm in bed each night by ten,
I may get back my looks again.
If I abstain from fun and such,
I'll probably amount to much;
But I shall stay the way I am,
Because I do not give a damn.