Bag lady goes

Ever since my left leg started swelling, back in June or July or some such, I’ve been massively restricted in what I can wear.

No skirts. No high heels. No smart suits.

So I came to feel like a bag lady.

Last Thursday I was going out to dinner to a very very smart restaurant with an old friend. I really didn’t want to front up looking like a frump.

I scoured the wardrobe and found a suit that used to be too small on top, but too big on the bottom. Since my body shape has changed substantially since then, the jacket was now too big (but wearable) and the pants more or less fit.

I got out one of my nicer silk shirts.

Then I went through my Imelda Marcos-sized shoe collection and managed to find some high heels that didn’t come over my instep at all. I squished my feet into them. They hurt like hell, but I only had to walk from car to restaurant and back, so I figured I’d survive the night.

It felt so nice to be dressed decently, even if I know I’ve become a weird, pear-like shape.

Bag lady returns

Even as I got dressed up for dinner, I was conscious of one small, strange thing: the right shoe seemed tight.

How could that be?

Within about 36 hours it was clear: my right leg has started swelling, too.

Shit!

I’ve developed all kinds of little ways to accommodate having one gammy leg. I don’t know about two! After a day or two, it was quite difficult to get up and down the stairs at home. Putting on socks just got harder. And both legs have started to hurt, inspite of the increase in pain killers.

So I’m back to being a bag lady!

I’ve started seeing a physio to try to drain the fluid out of my left leg. I see her again tomorrow. I’ll be interested to see what she says about having two swollen legs.