Medical Whack-a-Mole

Last year, upon observing the puffy varicose veins on my legs, one of my grandkids pointed out that my skin looked like Lasagna. After studying it for a couple of seconds, I had to agree.

My veins are particularly gnarly and, if it’s hot and I’m on my feet, they’re really gross. I ignored them for all these years and, to protect the sensibilities of others, I mostly wore long pants.

On Monday, my new Day 3, the largest of the veins on my left leg had a knot. The doctor sent me to have an ultrasound and confirmed that I have two brand new blood clots. One was superficial and inconsequential, but a second in my calf was more concerning.

Apparently, blood clots of this type are combated with blood thinners, so they started me on a twice a day shot in my belly.

The next adventure was a result of a test finding that I have E-coli in my stool.   Chances are good that I’ve carried the bacteria in my gut for many years and have been unaffected. (Remember me bragging about my superior gut strategy in the July 5 blog?)

The problem is that I am currently on a wing of a hospital that has a dozen other patients with severely compromised immune systems. They may not have E-coli, so to protect them, I am now in isolation. I am not allowed out of my room.

Fortunately, it’s a nice room. I have three windows, one of which is to the outside. I have a private bathroom with a shower. There are cabinets and drawers for my stuff and a pull-out chair/bed for Anita.

I brought a keyboard and my guitar. I haven’t played much, but yesterday I recorded the beginnings to a new song on my phone.

A new song? I’m so glad you asked!

Obviously, everyone is different, but my process is that, whether it is on the guitar or the piano, I’ll play chord progressions. Sometimes standard stuff and sometimes more elaborate. Every once in a while, something will catch my ear. Either I’ll start humming a melody against the chords, or the chords themselves will demand a replay.

Once there are a few measures of something, then it’s on. I start looking for the rest of the song. This is where artists can get a little weird. And, yes, I drink the cool-aid.

I’m trying to find the song, not write the song. I feel that it’s already there and it’s my job to ferret it out. I put the song together musically a piece at a time. Usually the verse starts the action. Then, we’ll need a chorus. Occasionally, there will be bridge.

During this process, I sing gobbledygook instead of words. Sometimes while singing gibberish, a theme or a story will present itself, but sometimes it’s a long and tortured road. I have songs from 40 years ago, that have never escaped this phase.

Anyway, this little ditty that sprang up, is now in the queue.

Back to the health thingy…   Earlier, I mentioned some unforeseen complications, but otherwise things are really going well.

According to the lab reports, I am at the low point and I feel good. I sleep a lot, but all the dire warnings about nausea and mouth sores and flu symptoms have been avoided.

I am knocking on wood, knowing that I’m not done, but things are good!

Jay