This Will Be In A Book….

Posted: February 17th, 2012 under Life beyond writing.
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Yes, you should get a post every day the week before the launch.   But there’s a couple of little glitches.  And here’s the big one.   Wednesday night I came home from choir practice with a very painful big toe on my left foot.  “Oh, it’s just that I got a fold in my sock,” I thought.   No.  It woke me up this morning before 5 am (it was quarter to five when I finally looked at my watch)  hurting like the dickens.   Swollen, exquisitely tender, throbbing.

The words “happy camper” did not apply to much of today.   When R- woke up just before six,  and wanted to know why I was lying there looking miserable, I pointed to The Toe.    It’s just a paronychia (an infection originating in the space between the edge of the nail and the toe-flesh) , and normally something I could deal with more calmly.

But.   I’m supposed to be in San Antonio for a conference on Saturday, all dressed up professionally to be presented to college administration people to promote The Speed of Dark as a good “first year reading” book.  Which it is.    But I have to drive there (in weather that’s supposed to be iffy) and walk around wearing what I call “lady shoes” (not heels–but dress flats)  and nice slacks and jacket and not looking like someone whose toe feels as if someone’s pounding it with a hammer.   Because if you’re standing or walking on a toe that feels like mine felt this morning,  you will show the strain.    I was looking forward to this gig…and now I’m hoping the blasted toe doesn’t suddenly need to be lanced and drained while I’m alone in the hotel room.   Letting it form an abscess and then draining the abscess is standard treatment.  (Yes, I can.  No, I don’t want to.  I want it to quit hurting and go away. )  And meanwhile, the weather changed again, so of course a weather-related headache came and filled my head.

So today, at six fifteen, we were working on what could be done for The Toe.   What my mother did for ingrown toenails (much the same problem, though this toenail isn’t ingrown)  was stick my foot in a basin of hot water and Epsom salts.    I stuck my foot in a basin of hot water and ordinary table salt (also works) and R- hunted around on the internet to find out a) which bacteria was most likely and b) which antibiotic we had in the house was appropriate.   The hot salt water soak lessened the swelling (a little) and the pain went from “I may have to yelp”  to  “uncomfortable but bearable.”

I did a faceplant in the bed and slept for several more hours, then got up and went to work, periodically lying down with my foot elevated (at which point I dropped needles from whichever project I was knitting on),  and then did another hot soak in the afternoon.   Another good thing about the hot soak is that it encourages the dispersed infection to “point” (to actually come together and start expanding toward the weak spot–the skin softened by the hot soak–so it can be drained easily.)    If it points tomorrow, R- can lance it and I may be able to wear regular shoes by Saturday.    It might also shrink.   Or I may be in my clunky black shoes.

But tomorrow must include trip prep, and should also include at least an hour of birdwatching because it’s the first day of the Great Backyard Bird Count, which is a major census event in our wildlife management program.

Some physical things are annoying/interrupting out of all proportion to their size.   Toothache, for instance.   It’s really hard to ignore a toothache, even for a moment.   An infected toe–they really hurt, and they’re what you need to walk on, only if they hurt enough you don’t want to.    The broken finger that idiot mare Blue Moon gave me hurt, but was easily ignored after a few hours by taping it to the next finger–I was typing pretty quickly after that, on a manual typewriter.   The broken sacrum (idiot horse and idiot me combined)  was ignorable with a pillow on my chair and not playing line in a football team.   (Blocking practice with a broken sacrum is not a good idea.  Ram the top end of your spinal column–well, shoulder–into the opposing line and the shock runs right down your spine and explodes in your pelvis and your legs go to jelly and you fall on your face.    Who knew?  Coach was furious–what did I mean risking myself riding horses over fences? )

So–so far I haven’t given any character a paronychia.   And with only one more book to write in this group, I may not do it in Book V.   But someday, some character who really needs to be on his/her feet and 100% is going to be dealing with a miserable painful toe.   I will not suffer this alone: I’m going to share the pain with one of them.

I had planned to write three posts tomorrow,  to carry you through the last few days, because I don’t know if I’ll have time to write them at the conference, but…now I”m not sure I’ll have time tomorrow, as that’s become (in my internal schedule) a frantic mix of finding, deciding, washing/ironing/packing/cleaning out the car/cleaning up myself…and treating The Toe.  I’ll do my best.  Apologies if I don’t get all the posts out on time.  And apologies for a post that’s really–by my own standards–off topic.  (Except the bit about using life experience in writing…that’s on topic.)

25 Comments »

  • Comment by John S — February 17, 2012 @ 1:07 am

    1

    Hope you feel better.

    Speed of Dark really would be a good book for early English classes, now that I think about it.


  • Comment by elizabeth — February 17, 2012 @ 1:14 am

    2

    Speed of Dark has been used for community-read programs and “all-university-read” programs–it is a good springboard for discussion. We hope it will be used more. But if you see any photos from this conference and I have a peculiar fixed grin…blame the toe. (Or the photographer. Some are good at getting people with their least attractive facial expression.)


  • Comment by Beth — February 17, 2012 @ 1:34 am

    3

    Sending get-well wishes to your toe.

    I’ve gotten several book clubs I’m in to read Speed of Dark — it’s a good combination of well-written and thought provoking.


  • Comment by elizabeth — February 17, 2012 @ 1:42 am

    4

    Thanks! Appreciate your help. And the toe will get well eventually…though I really should go to bed now, while it’s relatively quiescent and the Excedrin has knocked the headache down some.


  • Comment by Anneli — February 17, 2012 @ 1:46 am

    5

    I hope your toe gets better in time for the conference!
    Wouldn’t it be nice sometimes to have a paladin or a potion around? I play a healer in EQ (similar to WoW) and sometimes I wish some of the skills would have rubbed off on me after all those years of playing. An ill toe, a headache…. ask for help and it’s gone. But no 😉 On the other hand, I can imagine a grumpy healer thinking “You could have let me take away this, at least!” when not being granted the power.

    Went to the local bookstore to see if/when they have the book. No, they did not, no they were not (!!!!) – but I could order it if I wanted. But it sounded like their chain has started to sell it (I live in Sweden). After work, I will go hunting!


  • Comment by LouiseH — February 17, 2012 @ 2:19 am

    6

    Poor Elizabeth, if only there were a Marshall or Paladin available for a little healing. With what you’ve done for them, I think you’ve earned a little healing!

    If Epsom salts or ordinary salt doesn’t work, you could try soda (the stuff you use to clean with, i.e. white grains / crystals). It works a treat.


  • Comment by Naomi — February 17, 2012 @ 2:50 am

    7

    Courge as the French say, so sorry about the toe, get problems with semi ingrowns myself so sympathy blasting over from Belgium


  • Comment by Karen — February 17, 2012 @ 3:48 am

    8

    I’ve felt your pain before, and acknowledge it as one of the most exquisite bits of how-could-such-a-small-thing-hurt-so-bad. In my case, though, the problem was always (yes, it’s happened more than once) been caused by a poor self-pedicure, which left a tiny corner of toenail to dig itself in.

    I’m not a doctor (nor do I pretend to play one on T.V.), but is there any chance of trimming the toenail so that you can pull out the ingrown portion? That, plus almost constant epsom-salt baths is the thing that cured the problem for me.

    Of course, with a doctor in the house, you may not want any advice from someone who is so inept in her own foot-care, and if so, I’ll just shut up and wish you well!


  • Comment by Annabel (Mrs Redboots) — February 17, 2012 @ 3:52 am

    9

    Oh, poor your poorly toe – but the hot soaks are the way to go. And perhaps a drop of lavender or tea-tree oil on the place when you stop soaking? Both very healing; I’d be inclined to go for tea-tree, though, as it’s brilliant on feet!

    Hope it is bearable while you’re at the conference. And I so can’t wait for the e-mail from Amazon telling me my copy of ECHOES is in the post…. hurry up, Amazon!


  • Comment by Cricket — February 17, 2012 @ 8:00 am

    10

    Leave that shoe at home, add big white bandage and husband’s sock, and crutches. Or an old Birkenstock with some of the leather cut and a cane. It will keep the toe safe and as comfortable as possible, and people will be impressed with your professionalism in still showing up.

    (I remember hot Epson salts at every meal when I was a teen. For the second surgery, the surgeon agreed a slightly weird toenail was nicer than clunky shoes every few months and destroyed a bit of the nailbed. No problems since.)


  • Comment by elizabeth — February 17, 2012 @ 10:19 am

    11

    This was supposed to be the post for the 16th, but I didn’t push the button until after midnight. Oh, well.

    Thank you all for good wishes for the toe. The toe is better. I can walk without limping (in socks or slippers. And I don’t think the red fleece slipper sock is appropriate professional attire (and isn’t supposed to be worn outside anyway.) It will be soaked several times today, since that seems to work wonders, and by tomorrow I should be able to wear the big clunky black shoes.


  • Comment by Keenan — February 17, 2012 @ 11:13 am

    12

    I say just wear whatever makes you feel most comfortable and claim to be “eccentric.”

    If that doesn’t suit you, You could easily play the “I’m your elder and get over it” card or the “I’m a woman and I’ll do what please card.”

    All joking aside, I do not envy your situation. I know that it’s a difficult line to walk when appearances are important. How much comfort can be sacrificed in the name of looking a certain way.

    I know all too well about having to be up and about with a foot in pain. I spent a year or so in casts, yes plural, and those funny Velcro boots after breaking my 5th metatarsal. It’s quite the heroic tale where I save my son from serious fall, but that’s best left for another time.


  • Comment by Rolv — February 17, 2012 @ 11:43 am

    13

    Good luck with you toe. And don’t kowtow to expectations of how a successful author should be dressed – or shoed. Use whatever feels comfortable. 🙂


  • Comment by Annabel (Mrs Redboots) — February 17, 2012 @ 2:42 pm

    14

    And I have just heard from Amazon that the book will be with me by this day week, which, if past experience is anything to go by will actually mean Wednesday or Thursday! Hurry up, Amazon, hurry up!!!!


  • Comment by joan hardy — February 17, 2012 @ 4:59 pm

    15

    Elizabeth, Just keep on soaking it. The last time I had a severe foot infection, caused by hiking the Appalachian trail during four days of record rainfall, I landed in a small town with a water emergency.

    No one thought to tell me before I washed my feet and blisters. The onset of infection was remarkably quick. The call to the doctor was most amusing. No pharmacy, no taxi. He told me to soak in hot water. Apparently, the use of salts has been clinically proven to add zero to the mix.

    I responded that the water was unsafe. He told me to boil it. I told him I was at an altitude of 2000 feet, and didn’t know how long to boil under those circumstances. After we sorted things out, and my friend extracted me, It took all of one day for all signs of the infection to disappear. Just be good. Keep it elevated and soak regularly. All will be well. I promise.


  • Comment by Moira — February 17, 2012 @ 5:19 pm

    16

    I also subscribe to the “comfort over social convention” argument. Many social conventions are ridiculous when you really examine them, and the notion of a professional dress code is a real hot button with me. People are most creative, efficient and relaxed when they’re comfortable – not to mention happiest. “Professional” dress codes (outside of the military/non-dress & manual trades) usually mean discomfort and inconvenience. This is evidenced by the fact that such clothing is mostly not worn at other times or in other places. How incredibly stupid.

    All of which was a longwinded way of saying “Ouch!” and I hope the toe gets better and behaves itself, Elizabeth.

    Watching for Amazon emails (and packages)!


  • Comment by Moira — February 17, 2012 @ 5:23 pm

    17

    Ah… previous post was supposed to have the 1st paragraph in “rant” tags, but of course WordPress removed the tags as code. LOL.

    Just my strongly-held opinion, folks, ymmv.


  • Comment by elizabeth — February 17, 2012 @ 5:28 pm

    18

    I have a container of Epsom salts to take with me and will take a steel basin as well (do not want to have to sit on the edge of the bathtub in the hotel room, or try to get my foot into the basin.) Their hot water, my basin and salts.

    It will get another one or two soaks this evening, and one in the morning before I leave. Experiment has shown that husband’s socks are looser in the foot than mine (the hand-knit ones not being ready yet) so I’ll be wearing those with shoes that are comfortably loose with much thicken wool socks. Should be doable.

    What the salt does, according to my medical person, is reduce the swelling a little more than plain water alone. That’s the only benefit (it doesn’t attack infection) but the lessened swelling hurts less.

    Packing is now ongoing.


  • Comment by Linda — February 17, 2012 @ 5:33 pm

    19

    Hope all goes smoothly. I just read Speed of Dark, thanks to a library which has more space than any of those at home. I too think it would be a great “all campus” or “all freshmen” book. I had no idea that such things were part of the merchandising of books.

    I liked the “real life” aspects of the book, as I spend a lot of time supporting people who deal with challenges not of their own making. I was quite taken with the moral/ethical/religious ways the characters approached the decision whether or not to accept treatment, and that there was not a “one size fits all” answer for everyone.

    I also appreciate your awareness of corporate manipulation of employees and the agony it can produce in a ever widening circle of individuals from the employees outward. Listening to idiot politicians
    excuse the damage caused by corporate greed and to self serving managers blame their victims makes me eager to promote any work which may open a few eyes.

    May the toe subside for your sake. I always thought authors were allowed to be “creative” about their dress … what a disappointment !
    Come to Vermont where “formal” means wearing a blazer over your cleanest jeans, and taking off the boots for indoor footgear!

    Good luck.


  • Comment by stfg — February 17, 2012 @ 7:28 pm

    20

    I see that it is doing better, but is there any way you could get antibiotics for that?

    I’m a family physician, and if one of my patients called me on a weekend with your story, I would most likely call them in something to a drugstore over the phone. Different physicians have different opinions about calling antibiotics in, of course, but if you have a doctor, it might be worth trying.

    You could also try an Urgent Care if things start to get out of hand again. They are much cheaper than an ER visit. I realize you may not have one near you, but when I google “Urgent Care San Antonio,” I get a long list of choices.

    I am committing the sin of giving advice on the internet, but I hope you don’t mind. 🙂 I hope your toe continues to improve!


  • Comment by elizabeth — February 17, 2012 @ 7:43 pm

    21

    stephanie: Um…retired FP in the house, and I’m on a suitable antibiotic, started yesterday morning. The hot soak (simultaneous yesterday morning with first dose) cut the pain by 70% within a half hour, and subsequent soaks have each had a helpful effect, though by now I think the antibiotic is making headway. Distinctly nicer looking this afternoon. If it keeps moving in this direction, I’ll be fine. If it suddenly does the throbbing red balloon thing, I’ll definitely go for help. Judging by today, it doesn’t want tight socks or shoes, and does want a hot soak several times a day, but I can walk without pain. Glad to have confirmatory advice from someone not retired.

    Now I have weather to consider.


  • Comment by elizabeth — February 17, 2012 @ 7:48 pm

    22

    Guys can get away with the T-shirt and black jeans look. Women over 65 who aren’t skinny women over 65, not so much, when dealing with university administration. Best to look sort of faculty-ish. I don’t mind, when my feet are OK. I have comfortable wool knit slacks (and non-wool Chico’s “travelers” knits if it’s warm), some nice tops and jackets. Putting on makeup is a bore, but again–I’m not 24 anymore and a little color here and there changes “I wonder if she’s going to keel over right there” into “Not bad…”


  • Comment by Daniel Glover — February 18, 2012 @ 10:49 am

    23

    I’ve had ingrown toenail issues since youth. (Since found out that this is family genetic issue.) First showed up while on a extended canoe outing when, of course, we didn’t have any shears along, only clippers. Just one more thought for how something like this may eventually show up in one of your stories.


  • Comment by elizabeth — February 20, 2012 @ 8:34 pm

    24

    Daniel: I didn’t know they could be familial. Thanks for letting me know.


  • Comment by Sharidann — February 21, 2012 @ 1:52 am

    25

    I had my share of ingrown toenails as a youth, till it was operated (painful but more or less permanent solution).
    What I did before that to bring it to the point of lancing was usually wrap the toe in a bandage of soapy water and then wrap a plastic bag around the bandage and seal it for the night. Next day it was ready for lancing… And no I didn’t enjoy the lancing at all…


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