Thursday my knee was swollen huge. This usually happens twice a year and I usually wait for it to get huge before I go get it drained. However; I just got it drained 3 weeks ago and it had already swelled up again. On my lunch break thursday I called my knee doctor (Carney) but he coulsn't get me in for 2 weeks so I tried to see the doctor at trinity clinic (Whitfield) but she was full until 3:00. So I had already built up 30 minutes overtime so I went and saw her at 3pm. She said since she just drained the fluid a few weeks ago she didnt want to do it again. She referred me to Dr. Wes Castle and made me an appointment for Friday at 3:30.
I took a lunch Friday and was an extra hour late because I had to run to mom's work and get the medical payment card she has, and get the insurance card from my brother then go home and get some shorts to wear to the appointment. I called to let the Lead know I was going to be late. When I arrived back from lunch the Lead told me she had sent an email out, she was not trying to pick on me but when you have an appointment you should not take a lunch too. It is not a requirement but it is considered to be the polite thing to do. She told me that the Director came by and because the Lead had let everyone go for lunch it left her by herself for 15 minutes and she had calls back to back. She had blamed it on me for taking a lunch and having a doctors appointment. She said she had to send that email out to cover her back. So at this point I am kinda furious! So I sent an email out to my boss and the Director telling them my story, and what she had told me.
I finally leave for my appointment and get there about 3:20. Of course this would happen on my already bad day... I missed the appointment. Instead of 3:30 it was at 3:00 and the doctor had already left. So my knee is huge still no one can drain it unless I go to the ER (which I am stubborn and wont go). I got the appointment rescheduled for today at 8:30am.
So today at the appointment Dr. Tobola (which looked about 5 years older than me!) did the main assessment, then took X-ray's of my left knee and then right to compare. Just by looking at them she said I have Arthritis of my left knee, and some unusal extra bone growth. She drained my knee and it had gone down a ton! I was shocked she got 30 cc of fluid out of it (usually they get about 60-80cc of fluid) she also got a bunch of blood lab work, and is getting me scheduled with an Rheumatologist, and to get an MRI next week. There might have to be a surgery, but I am just taking things one step at a time. The blood work should come back in a few days so I'll know more then.
I came into work this afternoon not looking foward to the response of the email I sent Friday to the Director. It was suprisingly nice and she told me I needed to take care of my knee and that she was in no way upset with me! (THANK GOODNESS!) So hopefully everything will work itself out.
