June 30, 2008: 1 week gone

1 week (almost) since the tape was removed from each arm for the nickel allergy test. The marks are still there, but disappearing slowly but surely. A week from today, I'll be starting another test, that time a patch test on the back, I believe. The picture is what my right arm, which had more of a reaction than the left arm, looked like yesterday (or was it Saturday?? I think Saturday or maybe even Friday???!). WHo knows ? But this is what it looked like then. The photo has a date so figure it out by yourself:)

June 25, 2008: The appointment

I went to my appointment yesterday afternoon with the PA at the orthopedic office. Turns out Dr. Schweitzer wanted to see me too. Both confirmed I had a reaction to both disks and I was told to call an allergist for more testing. So I did, when I got home, only to find out that it is actually a dermatologist I need to see. So I have an appointment on July 7 for the test at a dermatologist in Ridgefield. I go back for the follow up on July 9. Thankfully, it's not going to be a 1 week ordeal again. Because of the July 4 holiday weekend and the fact that the dermatology office is closed on Fridays for the summer, I have to wait until then for the testing. The dermatologist office will send the results onto the ortho. office and from that, they'll hopefully find a knee I can actually have without being allergic to it!

June 24: The nickel test is over

The tape came off last night at 6:30. Not a pretty sight. We first thought the redness was from the tape but come this AM, we've decided the redness is more likely a reaction. The redness is more acute on the titanium side than the cobalt side. So I decided to call the doctor's office and now have a 2PM appointment with the physician's assistant there to show him/her. I even put some photos on a CD to take with me. The top picture was taken within a minute of the tape removal last night. The middle picture is of my right arm this morning (titanium disk) and the one on the bottom is my left arm taken a couple of hours later (cobalt disk). I'll report back later on what the PA said.

I also called the surgery scheduler and left a voice mail saying the hematologist wants me asleep for the surgery. She may or may call me back or maybe I'll stop in to see her while I'm there.

June 23, 2008: Hematologist appointment

I had a 9AM appointment with my hematologist today and I didn't leave the hospital until 10:30! I mainly waited and waited. When I finally got to go into the patients' area, I was sent to an infusion room as all the regular rooms (the non-oncology) I go to were occupied. So the nurse drew my blood, went through everything there. Once she was done, she opened the curtain and there was a lady in the next chair getting chemotherapy. She and I talked a little. She has pancreatic cancer. Then I finally was moved to a regular one where I had time to read about 5 magazines before the doctor came in. He is fine with the 50,000 count that the knee replacement suggested was the minimum safe count. I told him about the spinal and he agreed about not having it (he said he wouldn't have it) and said I should sleep through it. Count was 72,000 (I think)--in the 70s which he said was my norm so there was no problem with that, and he reiterated I am Rh+ positive so I could have WinRho if I needed to boost the count. I have to go back 1 week before the surgery for a count and from the count, he'll decide whether or not to treat me, if necessary, and if necessary, with what. That would be decided then.

June 21, 2008: Happy Birthday, Andy!

Today is my youngest son's 22nd birthday. He arrived at 10:08AM, 4 weeks early. Due July 20, he was scheduled to be born (I knew I was having a csection) 4 weeks early, at 6 lbs. 1 oz., not tiny, and had to trouble. He stayed in the NICU for only 6 hours and then sent to the regular nursery after that. And now he's 22, is a recent college graduate, and is working and living in the Boston area! 22 years flew by!
Meanwhile, I am so sick of this nickel allergy testing to be over with. The tape, the disks, the incovenience are driving me nuts. I haven't taken a shower since Monday night, although I've taken some crummy baths! Washing hair in the kitchen sink isn't fine=makes my neck ache for a day afterwards. Sleeping with the tape unraveling isn't fun. Not taking allergy medication isn't fun. Yesterday I went to work and the lady in the dresses, where I was to spend the afternoon, thought I wouldn't be able to handle putting away the dresses alone (I'd be alone) because I can;t carry things on my arms because of the tape. So I got moved to anotehr department (and went to 1 more, and actually ended the day back in dresses for 1/2 an hour). I am scheduled to be in dresses again today. And guess what, I am alone and I have to open the register or 2 or 3 or 4. And I've never done that before. I'm just working until 1:30. Then I'm coming home to go to sleep. I really don't feel like working but really need the money so I'm going. I can't tell you how much I'd like to not go in!The testing ends Monday at 6:30PM, exactly 1 week after it started.

June 18, 2008 A picture of the nickel testing

I forgot to post this picture last night so I'm doing it now. I thought I felt a few little twinges of stuff going on under the Cobalt disk during the night but it didn't seem to materialize this morning. I had to go to the store this morning and get more tape, though. 2 rolls better be enough!

June 17, 2008: And so it goes

The tape holding the disks for the nickel allergy testing doesn't want to behave. It tends to get stuck on material, furniture, whatever it comes in contact with!
Meanwhile I found an interesting article on a web site:

eMedicine - Immune Response to Implants : Article by Steven I Rabin

Meanwhile, I haven't had any itchy or red reactions to either disk but it hasn't been 24 hours even yet since I put them on. 6:30PMish will mark 24 hours.