There has always been a rule in our marriage. This rule -- Karen's rule, of course, is that talking about one's "plumbing", is strictly off limits. But what about plumbing that occurs above the waist -- is that fair game? In this case, yes.
Thanks to an over-achieving lymphatic system, Karen has had a build-up of fluid under her armpit causing it to swell to the size of a baseball. This has been a painful, though not a totally unexpected development. The doctor warned us that she would need to have the fluid -- lymphatic fluid -- drained a few times. But in just a week's time, she has had it drained five times. The procedure involves plunging a long needle into the incision and pulling out the fluid. The first time Karen was lucky to have her surgeon, Dr. Tchou, perform the procedure. But only a day later when it filled back up again, she was less fortunate and found herself in the hands of an incompetent ER doctor during the Memorial Day weekend.
As we sat in the ER waiting (and waiting, and waiting) I wondered how often we might find ourselves here in the coming months. I resigned myself to the fact that this would become a familiar place and I should get used to it. Everyone has their own ER horror stories and based on our first experience in quite some time, my fears were beginning to be confirmed. Short staffed and with few available beds, Karen laid for a couple hours in 14E, not in a room or even an area with a curtain...nope, on a gurney pushed up against the wall in the hallway. Take a number, lady! The doctor provided even less confidence. Unfamiliar with this type of recovery complication, he first tried to remove the fluid with a syringe. Finding this inadequate, he then applied the weight of his whole body onto the mass of fluid until it squirted across the room. Yes, there was some temporary relief, but it was clear he had probably done more harm than good and Karen quickly fled the ER.
The fluid continues to build up painfully under her arm and, as a result, Karen's doctor has directed her to make the 2 hr. trip by train to Penn to have it drained. We hope that the fluid is soon absorbed by her body and that this too shall this pass. In the meantime, she'll continue to need some Roto-Rooter treatment..."and away go troubles down the drain."
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This story reminded me of when this exact thing happened in my doctor's office and the fluid shot straight at HIM! We both had a good laugh and I felt worlds more comfortable after that! A week later I attempted the same pressing against the baseball sized fluid build up myself, while hanging over my bathroom sink. I thought the fluid would just shoot out and down the drain but no! It shot straight into the electrical outlet above the sink and set off the GFI alarm! I didn't now where that loud siren was coming from but when my husband came running up the stairs and saw his naked wife laughing and in much pain relief, we too had a good laugh together! Why is it you don't read about this stuff in the cancer books?
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