July 24: New thing, minor, but representative

I didn't mention in my last two postings another thing that happened about 10 days ago. I was studying, went into the kitchen to get a cup, banged my right hand on the cabinet door. Just misjudged while I was reaching up, slightly painful wack. I didn't think anything of it until I looked down a couple hours later and saw the middle finger knuckle was huge and bruised. Hey, that's what happens when you take coumadin.

But then it kept hurting, had a strange lump. But it moved perfectly fine, and I had the test coming up. So I waited, maybe it will just go away? It didn't, and it's my right hand....

So I saw the hand doctor today. That little whack caused my thin blood to leak into the capsule that surrounds the head of the tendon and sheath. He says it happens with heart patients on blood thinners. But since there isn't much blood flow to that area, the blood stays there for a long time before it is re-absorbed. It's going to be ok, but will take a while to resolve: 4-5 months.

Is this a big deal? Comparatively speaking, no. It aches some, but, comparatively speaking, it's not that bad. But this was a little whack, while at home. It's kind of sobering how little it now takes to cause problems.

For those that kept wondering why they didn't just replace the valve in the first time, this is why. This is why they kept trying to repair it: over and over and over and over (first surgery = 3 attempts at repair) and why a mechanical valve was the last resort.

Thanks to Deneen, J.T. and Barbara for their supportive comments. Laurie