Referrals and Toenails.
If you follow me on twitter, you probably have some idea where I’m going with some of this.
This morning I got up much earlier than I wanted to on my last day of vacation and drove out to the student health center. The goal of the day was to check in with a physician to make sure that I wasn’t having a stroke. And, of course, to get a referral to a neurologist.
I arrived 45 minutes early (seriously Los Angeles traffic, you and your unpredictability can suck it) and thankfully they let me in early. The doctor (who was gorgeous, but not nearly as gorgeous as my live-in physician) asked a few questions and as soon as I said the word Chiari he was done. I believe his exact words were, “whoa, we don’t treat that here. How about a referral?”
So basically I drove 30 miles, one way, to get a referral. Which really, is fine. Except that when I called the neurology office to make an appointment, the referral hadn’t actually been sent. So I have to go back tomorrow. I really shouldn’t be surprised by this, and yet, I am.
I went home and lazed around the house for several hours. When Slappy got home from his 33 straight hours in the NICU, I fed him (not literally. I mean, I provided him with food. He has hands.) and tucked him into bed (yes, we’re gag-ably cute.). As I was leaving the room, I ran into the new desk chair mat. You know, the thick plastic kind with all the spikes? That kind. Ran into it with my right foot.
And I fell to the floor. Considering the pain, I expected that half my foot would be missing when I finally looked at my foot. But to my surprise, there was nothing. Hardly even any blood. (I might have even uttered something to the effect of, for all that pain, I should get a war wound). I went into the bathroom to apply a bandaid and realized that, holy crap, about 80% of one of my toenails was NO LONGER ATTACHED.
And then I died.
Seriously y’all. That shit HURTS. I couldn’t bear to pull the whole thing off (it looks like a loose tooth still barely attached) so I trimmed it and band-aided it. In case you wondered, being married to a doctor who is grossed out by toenails is WORTHLESS. It’s now bled through like 3 band-aids and throbs whenever it’s not elevated. And it looks CUTE too.
But, on the upside, this totally answers the question of whether I should I wear flip flops or tennis shoes to my first day of grad school. Because, I’d rather amputate my toe with a chainsaw, with no anesthesia, in my wedding dress, in front of a large audience, in a pool of acid, than put a shoe on.
Or, you know, something slightly less melodramatic. Whatever.








Welcome! I'm Katie, a 28 year old, full-time graduate student who just happened to have brain surgery in November of 2007 to give my ginormous brain a little more space. This blog chronicles my daily life, from relentless headaches to being a doctor's wife. Sit down, get comfortable and stay for a while.











OW
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Isn’t it nice when the Universe intervenes to make those little decisions for you?
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My live-in doctor is not scarred of toes, you’re welcome to stop by to get the foot amputated.
Yes, yes, I know. Maybe just the toenail amputated then?
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OMG. I just gagged. Toenails totally gross me out too. I hope it heals quickly!!
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Toenails don’t gag me, but having one ripped off certainly does. It happened to me in the shower when I was in Chicago for three months having radiation. Foot slipped, caught the toenail under the “stopper” that was in the up position. Hurt like hell for a few days and then, thankfully, abated.
Considering how much throbbing I experienced, I wonder why nurses don’t take my pulse from my toes instead of my wrist.
Ouch. And let’s say it again. Ouch.
Heal quickly. And get that neurologist consult quickly and effortlessly. For a change.
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Dude, ouch! The last time I really smacked my foot on something I had the same sort of experience. I glanced down and expected my toe to be bent in weird directions but it was normal. Until I really looked closely and noticed that a huger massive hunk of toe meat was hanging off the rest of the toe. You have my sympathies. I hope it feels better really soon!
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You are not being dramatic at all!
After 6 spinal surgeries (13 surgeries total), the worst pain I can still vividly rememember is my toe after being stung by a wasp. Now granted, I am allergic to bees, and the whole – why in the heck is my husband in Canada when I have to use the Epi-Pen for the first time and get myself to the ER so I don’t die from the wasp sting drama- which hurt like hell – didn’t help, but man I remember 2 am with my foot elevated above my head on every pillow we owned and it throbbed so bad I couldn’t sleep and this was even with my perscribed pain meds.
Darn toes!
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