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Post by connrock on Oct 9, 2007 5:11:08 GMT -5
Well I guess I've entered the "Golden Years".I'd like to shoot the idiot that coined that phrase!
Yesterday (Monday) my ankles and shins swelled up like balloons,turned bright red and burned like they were on fire.
Went to the doc and it's phlebitis!Too much sitting and inactivity!!Arteries are fine though so it's a superficial type of phlebitis anyway.
I won't be on the board much for a while cuz sitting is a big no no.I won't be doing any silver jewelry either and boy does that anger me!
I haven't been retired for a full 3 months and this has to happen! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!
For those of you who respond to this I'd like to ask for 2 things.First your prayers and 2nd that you will be patient with me replying as I won't be here for a while.
Thanks for listening!
What a wousy wetiwement this is going to be! LOL
Tom
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adrian65
Cave Dweller 
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,790
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Post by adrian65 on Oct 9, 2007 6:25:00 GMT -5
Oh, Tom, sorry to hear such a thing. I hope you'll be fine soon and, between a jogging and a weight lifting, don't forget to make some finger gymnastics here on the forum.
Hoping to hear better news as soon as possible,
Adrian
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RockyBlue
fully equipped rock polisher
Go U.K.
Member since June 2006
Posts: 1,719
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Post by RockyBlue on Oct 9, 2007 7:40:58 GMT -5
Hey Tom!
I know exactly what your going thru,i started having trouble with my legs and my Dr.said it was due to lack of exercise so i ride my exercise bike about 1/2 hr twice a day and it helped a great deal..Rocky
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Post by Condor on Oct 9, 2007 7:54:19 GMT -5
I'm sorry to hear this Conrock. I do hope you get better, or can at least manage it. We'll certainly miss you being around here. Since you may be giving it all up, wellllll, I......., you know...... Can I have all your stuff?  ??..... Just kidding. May the lord keep you in good health. Condor |
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Post by krazydiamond on Oct 9, 2007 8:06:52 GMT -5
that bites, Tom, so sorry to hear you can't sit on yer butt all day and surf the web, play with your rocks, solder your silver, play your guitar and generally enjoy your retirement. get out and walk!
seriously, hope you are feeling better soon!
KD
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Post by Tonyterner on Oct 9, 2007 8:29:25 GMT -5
Hi Tom, I guess its good that its phlebitis and not your meds. Well maybe good. Hope you can get rid of it quickly. We will miss you here and your silver will miss you at home.
Tony
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Post by Cher on Oct 9, 2007 15:05:27 GMT -5
Oooooooooooo Tom, you take good care and listen to the doc!! My mom had that, ended up in the hospital for over a week. I'll say prayers for you and send good thoughts your way.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Oct 9, 2007 17:43:45 GMT -5
prayers with you Tom
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Post by connrock on Oct 10, 2007 4:50:28 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for you kind words and thoughts.
I figured I could just pop in and out of here before Nurse Ratchet "arises" and catches me! I swear she has cameras hidden somewhere or she a psychic!
I snuck down to try to finish the cross I'm making for my son after the "Little Lady" went to work. When she got home the first thing she asked me is if I finished the cross!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I said YES!!!!!
Things look a lot better today but I better get "prone" before I get snagged again!!
God Bless All!!!!!
Tom
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maryann
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2007
Posts: 145
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Post by maryann on Oct 10, 2007 22:38:27 GMT -5
Tom - hang in there. This too shall pass - if you take care of yourself!!  Thoughts and prayers your way... - MaryAnn |
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karenfh
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2006
Posts: 1,495
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Post by karenfh on Oct 11, 2007 3:20:29 GMT -5
OK, Tom, here's an idea. Get a taller table, and stand and march in place while you either type or silversmith (OK, I don't expect that you can march while silver smithing, but you can sure march and type!). And, make sure you walk a lot!You might find some cool rocks, on your journeys.
Hugs and prayers to ya!
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Post by connrock on Oct 11, 2007 5:00:24 GMT -5
Things are looking up and I may do a little silver work today but we'll see how things go first.
Most of the redness and swelling is gone and I'm crawling up the walls.I don't make a very good patient at all.I never did and I guess I never will.I just have too many things I want to accomplish in what's left to my life and laying down with my legs up IS NOT one of them!
Thanks again for all your kinds words,thoughts and prayers!!!!!
Tom
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Post by rockyraccoon on Oct 11, 2007 5:25:32 GMT -5
tom i hope you get it under control soon. my prayers are with you!
kim
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huffstuff
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2007
Posts: 1,222
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Post by huffstuff on Oct 11, 2007 8:42:56 GMT -5
Tom, my husband suggested I hook up my tumbler to the treadmill (the treadmill has seen a lot less use since I took up this hobby).
Hey, do you have an exercise bike? Run your equipment with pedal power, and you could kill 2 birds with one stone!
Hope it's getting better. Go take your little buddy for a walk, maybe that will cheer both of you up.
Amy
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Post by connrock on Oct 12, 2007 5:51:41 GMT -5
I did a LOT more yesterday but no sitting. Mostly tried to organize things but that isn't one of my stronger points.
All of the swelling,redness and pain is gone but I'm still leery to sit and do some silver work.I get too wrapped up in it and forget about the clock!
Thanks again for being so kind and thoughtful!
Tom
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Post by Lady B on Oct 12, 2007 9:00:05 GMT -5
Hi Tom,
I am so sorry to read what you've been going through. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Here's a couple of tips I have shared with my patients who were recovering from phlebitis or DVT...
1.) When sitting or lying down, you can help pump the blood up through your leg veins by moving your feet back and forth in a peddling motion…10 to 15 gentle pumps per foot. (These are called “ankle pumps”.) Avoid standing “still” for any length of time. Move your feet. Rock gently back and forth on your toes if you have to stand “still”.
2.) Except when you are sleeping, don’t do any one thing for too long a period of time. Veins depend on the power of arteries and the action of the muscles around them to move the blood along. Gentle frequent exercise is very important for safe circulation. If you are lying awake, or sitting with your legs elevated, every thirty minutes or so slide your feet along the support surface as if your feet were on some sort of tracks…10 to 15 gentle slides per foot.
3.) Use a restorator (the little pedal devices you can pick up at most of the larger chain-store Pharmacies, like CVS, Walgreen’s, etc.) 3 to 4 times a day for up to 5 minutes of pedaling. Start slow and low and build your endurance up in 30 second increments.
4.) During the acute phase of phlebitis, set a bell-timer when you want or need to do an activity that has your legs in a gravity-dependent position, such as sitting or standing. No more than ten minutes should elapse between ankle pumps or some other positional change that will assist blood flow.
5.) Listen to your body. When your legs start to ache or your toes are tingling you need to help your leg veins out with some gentle pumps and oftentimes, some elevation for a while.
6.) Don’t be afraid to walk. Walking is one of the best exercises for phlebitis even though your legs are “down”. Walking exercises the heart, which pumps the blood into the arteries, which pump the blood into the muscles, which “pump” the veins to move the blood very rhythmically through weak spots. If you can get to an indoor pool (like the ones offered at local YMCAs) take advantage of using the pool for treading water—the best resistive walking exercise for phlebitic legs.
Not only have I shared this with countless patients, Tom, I had to follow my own advice. Thirty-five years ago I had a deep vein thrombosis in my left leg. I still do my ankle pumps and walking and avoid long stretches of prolonged sitting still. Phlebitis is nothing to sneeze at but you can expect a good recovery and a good return to getting into mischief! ;D
Kate
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Post by connrock on Oct 12, 2007 17:28:05 GMT -5
Thanks Kate!
I've been keeping MUCH more active in the past week.I have done a bit of silver work but mostly I'm trying my best to get some sort of reason out of the mess I have here which keeps me moving around all the time.
I do sit at the computer but exercise my feet and legs at the same time,,,,it's hard to remember to do it!!
Thanks again,,,,,,
Tom
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Post by cpdad on Oct 13, 2007 16:55:05 GMT -5
damn tom...ya go and retire and things start goofing up on ya...that sucks...keep on keeping on...got ya own the thoughts list...kev.
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Post by connrock on Oct 14, 2007 4:57:18 GMT -5
Thanks Kevin!
I guess the shock of just sitting for hours melting silver was too much for my body.I went from doing "aerobics" in work to a flat stop and that did it!I've been keeping on the move pretty much now and the best way I've found to keep moving is to tell my wife if she gets any "bigger" she'll need a back alarm! If that doesn't rile her up I ask her if she applied for her own zip code yet!That one never fails!!! LOL
Thanks again Kev,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Tom
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luv2hound
freely admits to licking rocks
I try & I try, but dang it! Those rocks just keep ending up in my pockets
Member since June 2007
Posts: 890
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Post by luv2hound on Oct 14, 2007 22:29:22 GMT -5
Tom, I'm runnin way behind reading the board. So sorry to hear about your leg problems. I sure hope you're keeping up those leg movements.
When you do your silver work if you get wrapped up in it and lose track of time (I do this all the time when working with my rocks) get a kitchen timer and set it when you sit down, then when it goes off get up and move around. This will help you to remember.
Your in my thoughts and prayers for a a quick recovery.
~~Mitzi~~
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??..... Just kidding. May the lord keep you in good health.
Thoughts and prayers your way...
