Friday, September 9, 2016

I was sure...

that I would be writing this post from the hospital.  But the gods smiled down on me and I am writing from the comfort of my cozy little apartment.

Cellulitis is an insidious disease.  I think everything is fine and then Blam--- I discover the signs of it just above my ankles.  Within a couple of days I have large, open, weeping sores on both legs.  The trick is to keep these patches from becoming badly infected.  I can not manage that alone, so Oldest Son shows up twice a week to help me change the bandages.  This is in addition to helping me with the compression socks I have to wear all the time.  They are difficult to pull on in the best of circumstances and I don't bend all that well any more.  Lucky for me, he lives next door and is willing to help.  It is not a pleasant task.

I had an appointment to see my family Dr. yesterday morning.  Youngest Son took me there.  Because my feet are very swollen and shoes don't fit just now, a wheelchair was needed to keep my socks from shredding on the concrete and to navigate hallways and office rooms.  I rode.  Son drove.  He only whacked a doorway once.  I fully expected him to try a wheelie, but he refrained.  :)

The Dr. looked at my legs, told me to continue what I had been doing as far as treating them, gave me instructions on how to reduce the swelling, added yet another pill to my already full prescription list and sent me home.  I am not happy about adding more medication, but I will go along with it for now.  I am thrilled to be home and not in the hospital where I was the last time I had an outbreak.  Thing is, I really do not play well with others.  I love being with family but other than that, I am not one who needs to be surrounded by people all the time.  And a hospital setting is a particular kind of hell for me.

So...I am off to the kitchen.  I have a large stock pot in the fridge full of crab apple pulp waiting to be turned into jam.  And 10 lbs. of onions need to go into the dehydrators.

By the way, my bread machine works like a charm.  I have made three loaves so far...one for me and one for each of my boys.  The bread is delicious.  Oldest Son says it makes really, really good French toast.  Sometime today I will make another loaf for myself and maybe a couple of batches of cinnamon rolls.  I haven't used the baking feature, but am using the dough feature, putting the dough into pans and baking it in my oven.  Bread making has never been easier.  I just layer the ingredients, liquids first and then the dry ingredients with the flour on top and the yeast last.  Wish I had thought to invest in one of these machines years ago.  I didn't, but I am thoroughly enjoying it now!

Note to Chickenmom who wanted recipes:  I just used the basic white bread recipe that came with the machine, but I am sure any yeast bread or roll recipe will work just fine.  The instructions call for bread flour and bread yeast, but I just use all-purpose flour and regular dry yeast because that is what I have on hand.  Didn't seem to make any difference because the loaves raised nicely, baked just fine and were tasty.

18 comments:

  1. Stay off your feet...Please. It can't be good to stand so much. I know, I sound like one of your kids. I too dislike attention, but let the family care for you. You raised them, let them pamper you. Please. praying for your health. The hospital told your Dr, Good god man, never send her here again.....LOL

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rob...Actually, exercise is good for me. Sitting a lot is not so good. Aside from the arthritis, I have no pain. My kids are awfully good to me. They make my appointments to fit their work schedules so I am sure of being able to get to and from. They see to it that I have everything I need and they help out when I need them to. I am blessed.

    I'm thinking you are likely right about the hospital not wanting me back there. I am not a very good patient. I am a homebody. I get really cranky when I can't just go home.

    Thanks for the prayers. They are always welcome. And thank you for caring, my friend. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. v,
    i got a hospital bed from craig's list.
    use the buttons to raise legs at night. helps swelling.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I manage to avoid cellulitis until I bump my shins on something. Then it sets in. My doc's nurse jokes that I should bubble-wrap my lower legs. (At least I THINK she's joking!) lol

    ReplyDelete
  5. Deb...That is an excellent solution. For now, a stack of pillows is going to have to do.

    ReplyDelete
  6. That's funny, Gorges...The bubble-wrap part - not the cellulitis part. I have had no problems with it for over a year and a half and then, out of the blue - Wham! I can't complain much. There are folks who are dealing with health issues that I can't even imagine. I have it pretty good, all things considered. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. So sorry to hear that this has cropped up again. But so glad that you're home and that your sons are such champs.
    I get it though. I woke up feeling punk and with the thought "oh not now". I had a full day planned and had to stay in and resting all day. I'm pretty whiny about it actually - Ha! I know, though, that by resting today and maybe tomorrow that I should feel better in a few days.
    Glad to hear the bread machine has been such a hit! SJ in Vancouver BC

    ReplyDelete
  8. SJ...I know you get it! And I understand about being whiny. :) I should know better than to plan anything. Are you ready for this?

    This morning I was getting everything organized to make jam. Only to discover I was out of Sure Jel. Seems I had used the last of it in the strawberry jam and had neglected to re-stock. So the crabapple pulp went into the freezer.

    Took a short nap. Woke to find that the arthritis in my knees had decided to come out and play. Crap. There goes the rest of my day and maybe tomorrow, too.

    My hair is long - about halfway down my back. Spent about 20 minutes brushing a rat's nest out of it.

    I'm done. The universe has decided that I am to be quiet and behave myself. Hate when that happens! And there ends my crybaby whine for today. :)

    I know there are folks who are in much worse shape than me. But sometimes a good whine or even a rant gets rid of the frustration. This aging thing is not for sissies! My boys are champs, as are their sisters. So many adult kids ignore their aging parents and I feel so sorry for those parents. I know that I am truly blessed.

    I am absolutely loving the bread machine. I am not fond of store bread and prefer to make my own. This machine makes it so easy to do and I have bread that isn't full of fillers or preservatives. I may venture back into the kitchen after supper this evening and get it going again. I have a hankering for cinnamon rolls. With cream cheese frosting. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi, my husband has lympdema of both legs. He has to wear compression stocking everyday. His pt at the Va gave him this device to help put his stockings on. He can do it all by himself. If you have problems getting them on this is well worth the price...http://www.compressionstockings.com/jobst-compression-stocking-donner-and-application-aid-device-p-131.html?utm_campaign=nextag&utm_medium=product_search&utm_source= . Its called a Jobst Compression stocking donner and application device

    ReplyDelete
  10. Victoria...First, I sympathize with your husband. Problems that require the use of compression stockings are no fun at all!

    Thank you for the link. I have checked it out and it looks like it would be a great help to me. I have an upcoming appointment with a "wound specialist" to talk about the care of my legs and I will ask about a device to help me put the stockings on without assistance. I have found that when purchased through a health care facility, the prices on such items are generally higher than when purchased directly from a company, so I have bookmarked the link for future reference. I appreciate the help.

    ReplyDelete
  11. So so appreciate you and the time you take to write this blog.
    And, I'm still whiney. Woke up feeling relatively ok then I had breakfast and literally walked the dog 1 1/2 blocks (he & I are both on light duty right now, thankfully). And I'm feeling icky and am 'done'.
    But you're right. I'm thankful that I only have what I have and not something worse. I trust God won't give me more then I can handle - even on those days where I'm on the edge.
    So, today instead of canning peaches, I'll be reading a book and hanging out on my recliner. SJ in Vancouver BC

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks, SJ...I figure the blog is cheaper than therapy and I get pretty much the same results. :)
    It is OK to be whiney. I think a good whine is sort of like a safety valve that keeps my head from exploding with the frustration of knowing that I am no longer young and I just can't work like I once did. I am afraid that the "stiff upper lips" of my English ancestors have been lost through the generations. I try not to whine too much around my kids. I don't want them to start checking out nursing homes just yet!
    I believe the Bible says that God doesn't give us more than we can handle, but sometimes I wish He didn't think I was quite so strong. And about that time I think about my mother who was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in her mid-twenties.
    Washing my dishes and making some supper will be about the extent of my activity for today. I did manage to freeze some fruit for smoothies. Three cups of frozen fruit in whatever combination you like, combined with two cups milk in a blender. Sounded good to me.
    Hope you feel better real soon.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am interested in your bread machine. What make and model? Can you put all the
    fixings in and then walk away, or do you have to be near to keep adding stuff.
    I am looking to get me one.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anon...The bread machine is an "Automatic Convection Bread Machine, ABM 7500." It is made by "Welbilt Appliance Corp. of America." I had never heard of that company. I think it is an older machine that has been used only a couple of times.

    It has a rectangular pan rather than a square one so when I use the baking feature, the loaves will come out looking more like a conventional loaf. So far I have just used the DOUGH feature and then baked the bread in my oven.

    The instructions are pretty standard in that all the ingredients are put in the machine at one time. The liquids (warm water, milk, melted butter or oil, etc.) go in first, followed by sugar and salt. The flour goes on top. I make a little well in the top of the flour and that's where the dry yeast goes.

    The machine will mix all the ingredients together and then begin to knead the dough. When the kneading cycle has run for a couple of minutes, I check the dough. If it is too sticky, I add a little bit of flour - if too dry, add a small amount of water. That is the only time I need to check it.

    When the kneading cycle has finished, the pan stays slightly warm for the dough to rise. The machine buzzes to let me know when the rising cycle is done. So far, the process is about an hour and a half. At this point I take the dough out, form a loaf, put it in a bread pan and let it rise again, then bake as usual. If I were to bake it in the machine, it would be stirred down and allowed to rise a second time, after which the machine would bake it. I may use that feature during the hot summer months.

    There is a chart that tells me that if I use a certain amount of flour, that will equal a certain weight loaf. I have been using a 4 cups of flour recipe which equals a 2 lb. loaf. Using the chart I think I can use just about any bread recipe and by noting the amount of flour used, can set the machine for the right cycle. The machine isn't limited to just loaves. It can be used to mix and knead dough for hamburger buns, cinnamon rolls or just about any other form of bread. So far I like the results.

    Hope this helps.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Please, please heal quickly!!!! Thank you for the updates on the bread machine - seriously looking to get one.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thank you, Chickenmom...Today is better than yesterday. Pretty soon I will be back to my normal ornery self. :)

    I think the bread machine is probably the best purchase I have made in a long time. I am not a fan of store bread. I sort of worry about bread that has so much preservative in it that it doesn't develop mold after a week or so. By using the machine I can have homemade bread even with the physical limitations that make kneading dough somewhat difficult. If you get one, let me know how you like it.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I have never seen cellulitis, but it sounds horrid. I do know people who have it all the time. I buy bread machines, clean them, make a loaf of bread and sell them at least for cost of machine plus ten dollars. Since I am allergic to wheat, I may see about baking bread again. I just let it run through the whole cycle and have a hunk of bread, not really a loaf. I hate kneading. I also hate hospitals!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Linda...Most of the time I am just fine. I went for well over a year with no problems. But it is subject to outbreaks and healing takes time. I'm working really hard to get this outbreak under control and avoid the hospital. It isn't as bad as it sounds, for there is very little pain. It is painful only when it becomes infected and I have been able to avoid that so far.

    I have never had a bread machine before and I am really liking this one. Kneading has become difficult for me and the machine does a good job of that. I really like homemade bread so I'm pretty sure the machine will get a workout! I will probably let the machine bake the bread in the summer, but for now I like doing the baking part in my oven. It makes really good bread. :)

    ReplyDelete