My husband is the one who does the housework, laundry and grocery shopping. He might say it's because I'm always "sick" but I know he looks for things to keep him busy since his retirement several years ago. The other day, he started limping all of a sudden. His foot hurt badly. This foot has had several surgeries and is a mess. It has a metal plate in it that has broken into 3 separate pieces. We always worry if something is wrong with this foot because it could be serious.
I called his orthopedic surgeon's office and they told me they could see him in 3 weeks. Well, this is not something that can wait. His ankle was red and swollen and I was worried about an infection. Well, then they could see him in one week. I said not good enough. The dr only worked the rest of that day (Thurs) and was off Friday. They said "be here in 20 minutes" or we will see you next week. It is 10 miles and my husband can't put weight on that foot, plus he was sitting in his longjohns. I said "you want me to drive 100 mph there so I can be there in 20 minutes?" She answered me but I forgot what it was. We ended up there more than 20 minutes later looking like two newly landed refugees.
Well, they drew fluid off his ankle and sent it to the lab to be tested. The next day, we got the results. He has gout in his ankle. It is very painful and he is on crutches and taking pain pills. He will go to our GP on Monday for followup. In the meantime, I am the worker around here. I have to be his fetcher, take out the garbage, go shopping tomorrow, MAKE MEALS etc. The first day I was exhausted to the max. He is feeling better now 3 days later but still not walking without crutches. We just got some snow and it will be hard to maneuver him with crutches getting him out to the car. Our garage is not attached to the house. He appreciates me doing these things as I've always appreciate what he does for me. He tells everyone "taking care of me is his job." I hate that because I am not an invalid. He is a hard guy to keep down. I want you guys to feel sorry for me in my new role. Lucy
:P :POh, poor Lucy, Whoa is Lucy, Why do things always happen to me, says Lucy. HaHaHeHe, you wanted us to feel sorry for you so I did and am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seriously Lucy, all I can say is that is a darn good thing that this didn't happen when you had your knee surgery. It is always something!! My hubby has had gout about one year off and on and this past summer in June he got it in his big toe bad. He was in and out of urgent care and docs office cause he had such pain.
His toe was swollen up and bright red and if you breathed on his toe he would have worse pain. They tried about 3-4 different courses of steroids plus 2 other drugs without any luck. Finally put him on Uloric which causes the body not to produce the uric acid that causes gout. It took about 2 months before the pain became less and sometime not at all.
I sure hope your hubby can get over his. My hubby ended up getting it in his toe, one elbow, one knee and one shoulder. He had the lumpy crystals in all these areas. It is a miserable disease. Used to be a rich man's disease in past centuries. Now I think it is a sick people's disease from all the blood pressure meds---which makes it a poor mans disease now.
Take care of yourself and him!!IRish ;D
Yeah, Irish, I'm only 3 months out of total knee rep myself. I hauled 3 baskets of dirty laundry down the basement stairs! I will do them as I please, maybe 1 load a day. Hubby had gout in his early days and it has ruined his feet including his big toes. That's what all the surgery on the one foot was for, but it just made things worse. Odd how this showed up again after so many years and yes he has taken blood pressure meds for years. Lucky, going in now, we at least know what it is and the orthopedic doc did xrays and showed us. He recommended our GP for care. He doesn't want to mess with someone with gout. lol.
Lucy, Sorry to hear about the extra work load. Can you stuff him full of dark cherry's? The centuries old treatment for gout. I hope that he feels better soon.
http://www.chakraforce.com/LEDlist.html#Gout
http://www.chakraforce.com/Tonations.html#182.
http://www.chakraforce.com/Salt.html#Gout
GOUT (Uric acid or arthritis in joint).
Supplements: Orotic acid.
Vitamins: B Complex* - C* - E*
Minerals: Calcium - Magnesium - Potassium.
Herbs: Primrose* Corn silk* - Safflower* - Meadowsweet.
Notes: Eat a few cherries daily. Avoid obesity, excess protein, fat, and salt. Don't smoke.
Lucy oh you poor dear girl. Whatever will become of you and your time. Oh L u c y y y yyyyyy!!!!
Was that good enough? ;D
Hope he feels better soon, and both of you take care.
susanep :)
I hope your husband get better quickly. Try not to do anything to hurt your knee replacement. If things don't get done they just don't get done. They'll always be there later. Maybe you should ask someone to come and help you one day a week.
I'm sorry all this is happening :(. I would send you some of my spoons if I could!
I know it won't help much, but when you cook, cook double or triple batches. Freeze the extra in containers that can be frozen then popped directly in the oven to be reheated. I did a lot of this when I had to heal from my c-section with my second daughter. I had a 16 month old plus a newborn and it was impossible to sleep long, lift much or stand long. I figure cooking a ton is the same as cooking a little. I sat at the table while I prepped the ingredients, then cooked (I like things that cook themselves ;)) and cooled it. Ate some, refrigerated some for later, and froze the rest in family size portions.
Like Madison Granny said, maybe ask someone over once a week to help you do laundry and clean and have a 'cook for the week' day where you cook all the meals you'll eat for the whole week. Even cooking individual ingredients and then freezing them might be good help. Then you can just pull frozen chopped chicken or vegetables out and add to whatever you want to throw together. Also, don't underestimate the ease of a pot of soup! Leftover chicken, a bag of frozen veggies, some seasonings and bouillon or broth and just let it all simmer on low. Very easy and a big pot lasts a few days.
Don't have any advice about the other stuff, but I send you hugs and virtual spoons!!!
Lucy, I just figured out what you can do. YOu can order in pizza and chinese---just alternate days and then you can wear your clothes a week so the washing doesn't pile up.
If you do this he should heal just in the nick of time before you run out of clothes. Darn it, Lucy, I can't help myself tonight.I just have to tease you.
I really do feel sorry for your hubby cause I know what he must be going through. And, of course, you must really watch yourself so that you don't overdo. Thankfully, it is almost the end of February and once March is half over the battle should be almost won. Take care now and hugs. Irish ;D
Please forgive my foolishness!!! :P
Lucy
My hubby gets gout really bad in his toe, like someone said the breeze hurts horrible.
He gets Indomycim takes 3 a day and after 2 pills he's good to go///////////thanks God!
I will get you back Irish. And just so you know, Irish, I did 3 loads of laundry between last night and tonight. We will be able to wear clean clothes to the dr tomorrow when he sees the PA. Now, the trouble seems to have moved to his knee on the same leg - so I don't know if he has gout there too or just maybe hurt his knee because he is walking on crutches. This extra work has me tuckered out, but it will probably be good for the reading when I get on the scale. Will report tomorrow what happens. Geez, we have snow and ice which will make things slippery. We have only had 4 snows all winter and one was Saturday. Lucy
Lucy, my husband and I have a month's worth of underwear. It is easier to get more than to wash them; and it usually isn't necessary to wash clothes after every wearing. Can you pull up to the Walmart drive-through window when go to the doctor and ask for underwear? When my washing machine was in the basement, I would just toss the clothes downstairs rather than carry them.
I hope your husband feels better really, really fast!
Sharon
He was prescribed Zyloprim (generic name) and he used to take this years ago. Funny the gout returned after so many years and his knee is very sore now, not his ankle. Hopefully, the Zyloprim will help relieve some of the pain soon and he can began to get better. He doesn't make a very good couch potato, unlike me. Lucy
I hope that it helps him.
Hubby is doing better and the gout went from his ankle to his knee on the same leg as fast as lightning.
The zyloprim is doing it's good work and his knee and ankle are better. He normally gets groceries and I love it when he took this job over. Now, he thinks he is the grocery boss and we have a million boxes of Hamburger Helper in the closet. Mac and cheese probably 2 million. Told him to hold on the boxed goods for awhile. I went with him today so I could pick out some things I want, although he is good about getting what's on the list. Mostly, the list is his.
I don't cook except for a pot of chili once in awhile. Hubby thinks he is Julia Child and loves to cook and bake. I just move out of the way and let him do his thing. I got so tired pushing the grocery cart today, I had to go sit down and drink a soda I was so dry. He did all the grocery from the cart to the line work.
I am going to the sleep dr tomorrow with him so I can listen and tell them what happens when he is sleeping. He is so sound asleep, he wouldn't know is a semi truck was next to him. I am glad he is feeling better and hope spring will be here soon so he can work outside like he loves to do.
I am so glad your husband is feeling better. I hear that gout is very painful. My former GP thought I had it when my finger swelled just before my SJS diagnoses. My MILhad it in her big toe and she says it hurt really bad. I know what you mean about a sound sleeper my son is one. You could probably pop fire works right next to his ear and he wouldn't hear it. Oh to sleep like that. Again I glad you husband is getting better.
I want you guys to feel sorry for me in my new role. Lucy
LOL, that was funny. Nothing like coming right out with your motives.
I do feel sorry for you, poor sweetheart.
Mr Meow makes meals, often, because it is his slow season (heating and cooling contractor). In another month, he will be busybusy and it will be my turn.