This time last week, I was in full freak out mode. In a moment of complete and utterly ridiculous melodrama, I wrote a post declaring (in between the lines) I had months…days…minutes to live. After reading it and concerned our family might join my freak-outedness, my husband asked me to revise it. I did. The symptoms were numbness and burning in my hands and feet, severe swelling, and itching on my extremities; I barely noticed the latter because the former felt like mini firecrackers exploding out the ends of my fingers. <— not a melodramatic over-exaggeration…!
Anyways…………..
On Sunday, because I don’t have an internist or family doctor (don’t judge me…when I moved to Tennessee EVERY confounded doctor I tried to make an appointment with was NOT taking new patients…so I’ve always relied on Docs in Boxes…), a friend/doctor insisted I come see him the next day. He could see the fear in my eyes and my gargantuanly swollen hands and feet. He couldn’t see the itch.
I told him I’d come but I didn’t need a physical exam and most certainly was NOT taking off any clothes or coming close to a hospital gown. He rolled his eyes and gave me that sad, tired doctor line, "Honey, you don’t have anything I haven’t already seen…don’t flatter yourself," but I held my ground.
Okay, he didn’t even come close to saying that, but I bet he was thinkin’ it.
It’s important to know he was my FRIEND first, his wife is a friend, and he leads worship in our Sunday school class. I figured if we needed to do anything "invasive", he’d refer me to one of his partners.
When I arrived for my appointment on Monday, he greeted me with a smile, introduced me to his nurse, casually motioned for me to go ahead of him to the exam room, and said he’d be in shortly.
As I walked into the room, it was clear he had "prepared" for my visit:
Nothin’ breaks the ice like lu-bri-ca-shee-oooown, yes? As the surprise wore off inside the room, I could hear him laughing outside the room.
Needless to say, I burned the gloves, gown and companion "tools" in effigy on his front lawn.
Oh, and my diagnosis? Anemia…after testing for everything else on the planet, looks like I’ve just got a case of bad blood.
(Thanks to those of you who’ve continued to ask how I’m doing! I like YOU best of all!!! 😉 )
Your friend has a good sense of humour! Glad you got a diagnosis and I guess you will begin to feel better once the treatment kicks in.
I think I love him. I wish I could have seen your face.
Giggles that was funny! Im glad to hear you are not at deaths door though! You know one of my daughters has those same symptoms all the time and they blamed it on allergies. She was a bit Anemic when she was younger but never had those symptoms, I wonder if its related? I will have to investigate further.
Oh that is tooo funny! 🙂
LOL! I wish I had your doctor, sounds like a keeper.
Oh my Robin, that would have given you a scare! I’m glad it is nothing more serious and that you feel better soon!! (At least you kept your sense of humour through the episode 😉 )
Your symptoms did seem like a reason for concern. Are you eating lots of spinach, raisins, and red meat? Thank you for this post…I have been thinking about you. Take care.
Too funny.
Can’t wait to meet you at She Speaks! Can you believe it’s less than 3 weeks away?
Hopefully your ailment will be healed… eat some red meat and spinach.
Chris, symptoms are almost gone…and today I told my “friend/doc” I blogged him…I wonder if he’s read it yet!
Chilihead, ME TOO!
Karisma, let me know…now I’m wondering!
Carrie, I told him you said that…he was kinda worried what I had said, lol.
Annette, one thing’s for certain: I ALWAYS keep my sense of humor. Always :).
Molly, more iron-rich food, yes; at the moment, no red meat…possibly a later explanation….
Lysa, I’m fired up, too :). It’s gonna be fun, that’s for sure!
I’m so happy to read that you figured out what was wrong! The firecrackers out the fingertips may have done me in, so I can understand your concern. Hope you’ve discovered some effective ways to improve your blood!