I
have a playful, available, helpful, motivating, energizing, faithful friend. The kind you didn’t know you needed
before you met, but can’t live without. The friend that saves you from yourself
when you’re stuck without information, the one that picks you up out of the
depths of trouble and sets you on higher ground where at least some things are known.
Good
old Google! When I’m uncertain, and
grasping at straws for direction, Google offers what every detail junkie wants:
information. To clarify though, I’m
not the type to crave an understanding of everything (which is
impossible anyway). In certain
instances I am quick to give place to the reality of mystery that requires, and
grows, faith.
However,
in regard to yesterday’s posting about my husband’s unprovoked hematoma and
debilitating Achilles pain, Google came through for me (under the direction of
divine guidance, I’m sure). In the still of the night, at 2:00 a.m., a web site
finally offered a reasonable explanation: “Bleeding that causes pooling of
blood below the skin is not always related to trauma…people may show signs of
leg or foot hematoma despite lack of physical injury…this is attributed to
blood clotting disorders due to intake of anticoagulants (blood thinners).”
There
you have it. A blood clotting
disorder caused by blood thinners! This almost positively confirmed my hunch
that the whole disturbing mess, which kicked off some serious discouragement
and anxiety, was probably a side effect of drug therapy. My husband already bruises at the
slightest bump because of blood thinners (think purple leopard, it’s quite the
look), and his cuts and scrapes bleed forever. One nick with the razor while shaving took three days to stop bleeding, which became a nightmare for a certain white pillowcase and its laundress.
And so, since his symptoms were relieved this morning after last night’s icing and heating, icing and heating, we will talk with the heart failure specialist about this hematoma incident at a forthcoming appointment. Perhaps the dosage of blood thinner can be reduced.
On
a personal level, my continuing goal is to neither overreact nor underreact to
challenges as they arise on this ongoing heart journey. It’s tricky business to maintain balance while feeling our way along the tightrope, sometimes blindfolded. Thanks, Google, for
partnering with us, for bringing internet access to that tightrope! What a good, intelligent, inspiring,
supportive, accessible, devoted, investigative friend you are.
(P.S. Thank you, R.W., for praying us
through this incident.)
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