Monday, April 30, 2012

My Bum Toe

I am one of those people that always has random ailments.  Or maybe everyone does, they just aren't as big of a baby as I am and don't complain about it.  Or write blog posts about it.

A few months ago I started getting these weird shooting pains in my left big toe every time I exercised (which I did for three weeks or so.  Now that's done).  It probably didn't help that I was wearing the same sneakers I had worn when I went to Australia six and half years ago.  I AM SERIOUS.  That's how little I exercise - six years, same sneakers.

In any event, I noticed it was hurting, but then my life kind of fell apart.

I stopped thinking about my big toe.  And stopped thinking about my health generally.

Things just started to fall to the wayside.  Exercise (okay, I wasn't really doing that anyway).  Eating three meals a day.  Eating vegetables.   My one weeknight a week wine policy.  My no regular soda policy.  My no caffeine policy.  My vitamin intake.  My sleep schedule.  My leg shaving habits.

The truth is, I just haven't been taking very good care of myself.   I haven't had the time to.  Or the energy to care.

But last week, when I took Casey to his 18 month appointment, I realized I probably needed to check in with myself too.

So I went on a doctor appointment scheduling spree.  I went ALL OUT.  We're talking gyn appointment, endocrinologist appointment, dermatologist appointment, annual physical, psychiatrist appointment, and dentist appointment.  Appointments, appointments, oh my!

Oh yeah, and my bum toe.  That's what this whole post is about, right?

A few weeks ago the shooting pain turned to numbness.  So now the tip of my left big toe is numb. Which isn't the worst thing in the world, but what if the numbness eventually spread from my big toe to the rest of my body and then I would be one of those people that couldn't experience pain and I'd have to wear eye patches while I slept so I didn't scratch my corneas?

I wasn't sure who exactly to make an appointment with, so I chose an orthopedic surgeon.  As I write that, it looks even more ridiculous.  But that's who I saw.  I went this morning.

And can I say it was the BEST DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT EVER!  The appointment was at 9:00am.  I was leaving the office by 9:12am.

Let me tell you, this big toe numbness is SERIOUS BUSINESS.

Apparently I bruised my nerve when I jogged in 6 year old sneakers.  Perhaps someday the feeling will come back.  Perhaps it won't.

Whatever.  If the worst thing I have to deal with in life is a numb left big toe, I should thank my lucky stars.

One appointment down, 6 to go.  I'm on my way.

6 comments:

  1. Um, this might sound snarky - okay, it WILL sounds snarky - but you might want to discuss the possibility of being a hypochondriac with the psychiatrist. ;)

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  2. I can't tell if your comment is actually snarky, or if it is just poking fun, because you have the little eye wink smilely face at the end. (Oh, the perils of electronic intention!).

    I go through phases with hypochondriac tendencies. However, right now is not one of them. Numb big toe = real. How long would you go with a numb big toe without seeking a 12 minute medical consultation?

    All the other appointments are checkups that I am supposed to do on an annual basis. (Physical once a year, dentist appt twice a year, derm check once a year, pap once a year - have you scheduled yours???). I am about a year late on most of them, so am actually pretty proud of myself for doing them all right now.

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  3. I was just poking fun... (though the orthopedic surgeon did kind of amuse me; made me think you were contemplating having the toe removed).

    And hey, I am the opposite. I haven't seen an obgyn since my post birth 6 week check. My "baby" is almost 4.5. Not proud of that, I just really, really, really hate going to the doctor; particularly the obgyn.

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  4. new sneakers are so in your future. And don't forget to ask for a vitamin D test with your physical - mine was low!

    amanda
    www.hillpen.com

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  5. Good for you for taking care of yourself. I randomly went to the dermatologist when taking my daughter and now I'm getting all these things cut off! Argh. Was a wake up call that I need to take the time to make those appts.

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  6. So funny - my big toe is numb too! Has been for a month now. I hadn't bothered to go to a doctor- now I feel like I don't have to - you have diagnosed me!

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