Cellulitis and Bursitis (Nov 2020)

Around 3 PM on Tuesday, November 3, my elbow started hurting when I sat to type at my computer. I was resting my arm on the table so it was pressure on the elbow. I looked at the elbow and it seemed normal. I couldn't figure out why it hurt so bad when there was pressure on it. 

11/5

11/5

A few hours later I couldn't extend and bend my arm to it's fullest. I showed Beth.  I didn't know what was going on. I hoped by morning it'd just be better.  I took Advil but it seemed to do nothing. 

Well that night's sleep was horrible. I couldn't sleep. I was in so much pain. I was wincing in pain and trying to find a spot to sleep to get comfortable. I could not. It hurt so bad.  I got ice and took Tylenol and then I was able to sleep. 

Once I got Ella started with school, I called the doctor. My doctor was booked so I saw a different doctor in the practice (11:10 appointment). He thought it was bursitis but he wanted an ortho consult. He did say to take naproxen. I waited in the room for over an hour because he couldn't get ahold of someone in orthopedics. Then he finally got in touch with someone else. Who he wanted was in surgery.  She wanted to see me. I went home and returned an hour later (2:10 appointment). 

This doctor was so nice.  She said it was cellulitis. She used a marker to outline the red part. She prescribed antibiotics. She said within 24 hours it'd go down a lot and we'd know. 

I woke up Thursday and my arm was red beyond the marker line instead of better.  Since it was worse I changed my video visit to in person. My phone kept color correcting redness so I didn't want her to think it's better than it is. 

She prescribed another antibiotic. So I was to continue taking the old one and also the new one.  It would for sure get better in 24 hours. 

It did not.  It expanded in some areas. The redness did go down in some other areas.   I took pictures a few times. I started a cellulitis google album and shared that with the doctors on Thursday night and added more on Friday.

11/6 I drew a new line since the photos were hard to tell

11/6

So Friday at my follow-up (which I chose to be in person and not a video visit), they did a procedure. She said it was cellulitis and bursitis. She stuck me with a needle to drain even though I was barely swollen. She said there were a few options with what would happen based on what they drain. But once she drained, she saw it was infected. She said they'd do a procedure to go in and scrape it out. She was in a rush since she was supposed to be in surgery in 10 minutes.   She said she's prescribe me pain meds. She ended up not. I called but she was still in surgery. So then later near 6 PM I finally could go get the pain meds. I did pick up Miles from school and it hurt so bad that I was moaning and yelling in pain while I tried to put on my seatbelt. Since I was driving with 1 hand there was no way I was going to not wear a seatbelt.  (I was told they liked how I took pictures from multiple angles and it helped.  I did draw on one with a pen tool to show how the redness expanded.) 

I checked an after visit summary and it called it Septic Olecranon Bursitis. Google tells me that type is uncommon.

I wasn't sure what prescription she was giving me until I picked it up. I got oxycodone. I guess that's when you know it's legit and just not all in your own head that the pain is so bad. 

So in 3 days, I went to PAMF 5 times. 4 appointments and once to get my prescription!

11/7

I have to keep my arm in a splint. My hand got swollen. I elevate when I sleep. 

Dave was too creeped out by unpacking the wound so Gio came over to do it. She had to pull out gauze that was like a shoe string.   She came Saturday at 2 to do it.   She rewrapped my arm too.  It got swollen and too tight almost right away. 

Rewrapped (typo when I labeled in Instagram)

11/12/20

I had to change the dressing twice a day. Dave helped the first time. 

Sunday night was the first time I seemed to have slept a little.  I started holding a pillow with my arm against my body to stabilize my arm more. It helped. 

Monday I had a follow-up appointment with the PA. She ended up getting the specialist to consult. By Monday my hand was very swollen.  I got a sling.   I had questions to ask but somehow moving from thing to thing and learning more stuff, I forgot so then I sent an email. I need to wear my arm in the splint for 2 weeks. I did get a sling. I asked for it. The sling helps. 

(There was probably a lot more to say here. I forget now that it's a week later.)

Liam got sick on Wednesday and it was a rough week when he was sick always wanting to be held.

I had another follow-up appointment on Friday (11/13). I had to change it to a video visit since Liam has had a fever.  She said I was healing well.  I need to follow-up in 2 weeks. 

Changing the bandaid ended up ripping off some skin a few times.

Slowly over the next week, I could take less medicine. Sometimes it wouldn't even hurt. But by the end of the night every night, it would hurt and I'd take medicine. (As of 11/21. My next appointment is 11/24) 

I have an album with more pictures.  It really sucks not being able to do stuff. I miss functioning.