Why?
Two words:
Black widow.
For those of you who are squeamish, I won't post pictures. I'll just let you use your imagination to conjure up an idea of what a black widow spider bite looks like. Let me tell you...it ain't pretty, fun, or conducive to blogging regularly.
Around mid-October, I noticed a small red spot on my leg. It didn't hurt or anything, so I just thought I'd bumped my leg on something without noticing. A few weeks later...it was throbbing. One of my new friends down here in Chattanooga took one look at it and immediately made a phone call to her doctor pretending to be me to get me an appointment.
The initial diagnosis was a spider bite, but the doctor didn't seem too worried, so she prescribed me an antibiotic and sent me on my way. Ten days later...my leg was worse. I went back to the doctor which resulted in another prescription for a second antibiotic and a second diagnosis. This time, however, it wasn't a spider bite, it was a Staph infection.
5 a.m. the next morning...hello emergency room! My poor roommate was awakened to a phone call from me gasping for breath in my room as I suffered through an allergic reaction to the second antibiotic. So off to the ER we went! (My roommate is awesome and a trooper...I'm so thankful that I live with her.)
After 4 bags of a third antibiotic, 2 EKGs, a chest x-ray, countless blood samples, and an overnight stay in the hospital...I was discharged with a prescription for a 4th antibiotic and the continuing diagnosis of a Staph infection.
Ten days later...my leg was still not better. Back to the doctor I went! This time, she sent me to get an x-ray of my leg. When everything came back normal from that, my dad had me come back home to Sparta to see my regular physician.
Diagnosis:
Black widow spider bite.
Finally....finally....finally....
My leg is getting better. Instead of antibiotics...I've been taking steroids which seem to do the trick.
Um...yeah, my life has been madness for about six weeks. In between all of the doctor visits and the hospital stay, I've been continuing to work and finish up applications for graduate school.
So...life is crazy. You never know what it's going to throw at you. I still can't really wrap my head around the fact that a tiny crappy spider turned my entire world upside down. I'm ready for some peace and quiet, but I'm also quite restless...
It's getting cold here in Tennessee, and you all know how I feel about cold weather. I need some palm trees and a drink with a little umbrella in my hand....all of this work I've been doing to fill out graduate school applications has me thinking about my future again and where I'm headed.
What to do...what to do? Is there ever a 100% correct decision? Can I just move to a tropical island, sleep in a hut on the beach, and watch the waves roll in?
I think not.
Overall, everything is okay. I get to see this beautiful bridge with flashing snowflake lights everyday.
I have some amazing new friends. My little bro is graduating from college in a week and a half...oh my goodness...and I'll get to see some of my awesome family members as we celebrate his achievement. Graduate school applications have been sent off, so I'm done with those unless I decide to apply to more...we'll see...
Life is pretty good....as is the Chai Tea Latte I'm currently enjoying.
Right on.
Peace and love,
Amelia
P.S. If I don't post again before Christmas...
Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, and a Happy New Year!
