Sore Arm

[SHHR]

I've been flat covered up for a few weeks now. I've been trying to get a complete pontoon upholstery and carpet done for the Memorial Day weekend coming up. I was supposed to leave Tuesday night with a group of guys for Florida on a hunting trip too, but had to back out because of deadlines. Now this; On Friday night My left elbow was stinging a little like when you scrape it, no big deal as I've been crawling all over these boats and cutting tables  to try to get them done. The problem was I couldn't see any scrapes on my arm at all. Saturday morning I woke up with a little more pain and there was a lump just below my elbow and I thought just great I'm getting a boil. I worked all day before going to the kids end of the school year awards banquet that evening. Sunday woke up and was even worse. My whole elbow was inflamed, swollen, and very sore. Today the pain isn't too terrible, but the swelling resembles a soft ball in size. I'm still working trying to knock out these boats. My wife came home at noon today and came to the shop to see me. After seeing my arm she insisted I see the DR. and went right in and called for an appointment. They got me in early this afternoon and I discovered they're now treating me for MRSA. The DR. isnt 100% sure that it is, but since it's not draining and he doesn't want to open it up yet, he's treating me for this and any changes I must go back right away. The bad part is I lost a whole afternoon working, plus tomorrow morning I am taking a test for a maintenance position at a local power plant. They actually contacted me about this and the pay is phenominal plus they pay all of your insurance. I'm not giving up the shop, but due to discovering some problems recently with my wife's thyroid, I'd be a fool to turn this position down and run the shop part time. Sorry for the venting, but this arm deal just pushed me over the edge. Now it's time to contact customers to ask for another day or two on deadlines. UUUGGGGGHHHHHHH!
Kyle

[bobbin]

I'm sorry to hear that, Kyle.  There isn't much worse than being "under the gun" and not feeling well. 

Good luck with your test at the power plant.  Insurance coverage is nothing to sneeze at it and it sounds as though it might be a handy thing with kids, a wife, and sore elbow.  MRSA scares the hell out of me.  In Europe they are required to post MRSA infection rates in each hospital... not so here in the US of A.  Do what they tell you, try not to sweat it too much, and know that the boats will probably float without new upholstery or canvas!

[Mike]

Boy that sucks i hate just hatr deadlines i get sll stressted sbiutthem i knkw its bad for me ive got kne i susposed to do before june and timds runnng out on e i finnish a top and little. Oat cover tomorow i hope i can start it

[DBR1957]

So what happens if you get the pontoon boat done but develop a permanent
elbow problem doing it? That can prevent you from getting another job. Not to
mention the stress involved.

I make no holiday promises and nobody's boat is more important that my health.

Let's face it, the boat didn't get to be the shape it's in last week. This happens
over time and usually the customer has lived with it for awhile. Then all of a sudden
it becomes your emergency.

#1 priority, take care of yourself!

[gene]

I'm a furniture upholster, not a doctor. But I did play a doctor several times in my grade school years.

MRSA is usually an immune deficiency related kind of infection, isn't it? It's difficult for healthy folks to get it, although it is possible. If you smoke, are overweight, do not exercise, eat a lot of bleached white flour and sugar and salt food stuffs, then MRSA can be a real risk.

My first thought was a spider bite.

It is difficult to take care of ourselves when we feel that we must put work first. This is a good place to vent when you know that those to whom you are venting have probably been in similar situations themselves.

Good luck.

gene

[JuneC]

Ouch!  That sounds painful - and dangerous.  Back off the throttle a bit and pay attention to your health.  Good luck with that test!  Sounds like a good move if you can land that job.  Health issues with no insurance can be a serious threat to your family's well-being. 

June

[timtheboatguy]

Like the wife always says- "you need to make time to rest and take care of yourself" yet most of us don't at least not in this trade. I just finished a pontoon complete reupholstery job late last week. The customer had been breathing fire down my back to get it done so I had been working long days and nights and now that it's completed I'm still waiting for the final payment and for the boat to be picked up.

I am changing my policy to "It will be done when I am finished with it!"

Hope your arm is feeling better!

[Mike]

Ha i avree im voing to  hange to it will probly be done   BUt no promises
Good luck eith the job!

[SHHR]

Gene, your right on, I thought it was a spider bite first too. About 7 years ago I had a brown recluse get my hand. The doctor cut it open and let it drain and was on an antibiotic for a few weeks. After the meds got out of my system another spot came up on my arm and so on. When one cleared up another came out. The Dr. swore my house had to be infested with spiders. Several times I would just treat it myself and this went on for almost a year. I finally called another Dr and told him the deal and what I thought it was. He agreed and what looked like happened was the first was a spider bite, but I picked up MRSA while at the first treatment. He got me on the right meds and I cleared up wih it never to return. I have no idea how I got it this time. I don't smoke or drink, but could lose some weight. From what I've read MRSA is basically antibiotic resistant. A regular antibiotic will clear up a wound, but the MRSA stays in your system and will come out later.

[Mojo]

I have them on my neck before and they can be painful as heck. I hope it gets better and you can knock your schedule out in a hurry.

In regards to your elbow, if I can be of help, let me know. I have cut open hundreds of people and never lost a patient. of course this was in the morgue but still, I am damn good with a scalpel. And I will even use Lidocaine. :) If you prefer I can practice on Mike, Dennis or Gene first.  8)

Hope you heal up soon Kyle.  ;D

Chris

[SHHR]

When I had it reoccurring before years ago like I mentioned before, it got to where I was opening them up myself to drain instead of paying the Dr. Yeah it's hurts like hell, but as soon as the pressure is relieved it feels so much better. I thought about laying it open. I probably have some used razor blades laying around my table ;D maybe an 18 ga. 135x17?
Kyle

[Mojo]

The bad part about it Kyle is that you cannot use lidocaine on them. It has little to no effect because of the infection.

I hate those things and always get them on my neck, most times when I am on chemo and my immune system is way down.

There is a suave they sell at Walgreens that you can apply and will bring the cyst to a head. I forgot the name of it but the Pharmacist can tell you. I used it for the first time and it worked great.

Chris

[bobbin]

Maybe it's too early to ask, but I wonder how your test went?

[SHHR]

I think it went ok. It's a several part test with segments on Assembly, Mechanical practices, Diagrams, Reading comprehension, and Math. Each section has ridiculously short time limits. I only finished completely the Mechanical part, and the Math part while leaving a few unfinished problems on the other parts. I felt horrible about that, but have since been told by several that it's basically designed for most to not finish, but rather they're looking for correct answers. In that case I feel pretty comfortable. The test was taken Tuesday and they said they must be mailed to Washington D.C. to be graded then the results would be sent back to the power company, then to those who took it. I was told the results may take 2-3 weeks because some in the HR  department are on vacation next week, so now it's a lot of waiting. I've been running slow all week with this arm. The swelling has gone down, except right where the main spot is below my elbow. Yesterday I had to go back to the Dr. when I bumped it on my cutting table and it started to drain, also it's located right on the spot where a Dr. will test your reflexes and the nerves run down your arm. My hand started going numb from the pressure on those nerves. They opened it up with a BIG needle and I about sprung a leak somewhere else! :o. They couldn't get anything else out so they declined to numb it and open it up with a scapel. I did have to get a pain med for this one yesterday. I've worked before on Lortabs, but this one knocked me out completely yesterday afternoon. my wife called the customer of the pontoon for me since I was doped up and babbling like a fool and that seems to be ok. I woke up about three this morning and went out to finish a Harley seat I had a quick repair to do, and resumed the pontoon stitching too. The arm has been aching a bit, but the swelling has really went down today. I'll probably work this evening a little more then take some time to crash in front of the TV for a change before bed. Back at it in the morning.

[bobbin]

The test is done.  You did your best and as with any test they are looking for correct answers.  But! as I learned in geometry, they are also looking for sound reasoning.  So "proofs" are important. 

Good thoughts to you and I have every confidence you did all the "book work" with competence. 

Try to suck some enjoyment from the weekend, OK?