Saturday, January 9, 2016

Fighting Off Leg Infection

One trend I notice is when life goes off the rails such as when the lights went out, about a week later I get a leg infection almost like clock work. My immune system gets utterly trashed by stress. I even was in bed until 2pm, yes I know this sounds "lazy", the last two days, but knew I was fighting something off. I get up and do things because I have to, one can't lay in bed all day and a person needs exercise but these leg infections feel like endless "punishment".

This one is still in "fight off" mode, so hoping it just goes away, from sleep and extreme rest, but having to go on antibiotics is no fun. I slept like a zombie for 12 hours and am in bed now, typing this slowly. Years ago these leg infections would take over like wild fire so they aren't as severe in putting me in the hospital, and are less frequent in number due to all my therapies. This is the first one in 7 months, since July but they are extremely draining.. I didn't miss a day of compression or Flexitouch. The other day, I did hurt the knee on less severe leg getting up wrong so was hobbling around on the worse one, which probably added pressure to this other one. I am going to just lay in bed today and rest.

Leg infections are the bane of the existence of those with Lipedema and especially Lipo-lyphedema. I probably have had 60 leg infections or stomach cellulitis infections during the course of my life. Some have been pretty severe. I read somewhere on line there are surgeons who re-route the Lymphatic system to drain more fluids off. Don't know yet if they will do this to Lipedema people but may look into it.  If we ever got some financial security, I would be traveling to see some ultra-specialists in a big metro city about 100 miles away. However right now the medical bills are growing just for the basics.

I went back to my MLD therapist last fall and had a few sessions. She said I needed to replace my bandages more often.. She didn't see me being able to take any more fluid off though some had come back. I was trying as hard as I could but remember I wrap myself and can only get it so tight. Wrapping everyday has worn me out. Sometimes I think to myself, well it's only two infections a year now and less severe ones and not one every 6 weeks but sometimes you want things to work out better you know?

5 comments:

  1. It's so sad how our culture teaches us that resting equates with laziness. With all the stress related diseases Americans are vulnerable to, we should embrace rest.
    I would be a hypocrite if I said I don't berate myself when I relax, because I most assuredly do. It's one of the worst messages that I took away from my childhood, that rest equates with laziness.

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    1. I agree too, resting is not laziness. With all the toxins and stress Americans need more rest then ever. I think many of us struggle with that inside voice of do this do that, you should, you should. I think it is one of the worse messages from my childhood too. It was part of my medical neglect too.

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  2. Peep, Please stay in bed. All day. When ever you need to rest. Having a chronic illness means there's gonna be periods of remission and periods of flaring. For me one of the earliest indicators is feeling very tired and that's before any manifest symptoms. At those times all's I have to do is imagine a pillow or see one and I'm asleep. What's the difference between falling asleep on the couch and falling asleep in bed? Comfort? You need to rest so choose your "spot" before it chooses you. ;)
    TW

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    1. Hi TW, I'm still in fight off mode, light pink on small part of the leg but very bad exhaustion. I stayed in bed all day yesterday except to get up to eat, do medication and watch one episode of Doc Martin and time online in bed, I think today will go along the same trajectory, maybe more sleep this time. Yes feeling very tired is a bad sign of illness. I even was in bed a lot before this started. I feared the stress of that power outage bringing a leg problem. Yes I can go to sleep easy too. I will be going back to bed soon now, and only been up an hour for medications and some food. Take care, I hope you feel better soon too. Yes all chronic illnesses do this, you are right. Thanks for your understanding. :) Even on here, Ill be looking at mostly pretty pictures all day maybe watch Peanuts videos or something very light.

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  3. I hope its getting better. But yes, just stay in bed. Stress brings out all sorts of things.

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