Dec. 16 - Day 8

December 15 - One Of The WORST Days Of My Life

The week started off miserably for me, and I don't think it's much of a stretch that it truly was one of the worst days of my life.  It had nothing to do with racing, but with a physical problem that came had to be dealt with.  Three weeks ago I felt a small nodule in my rear end.  Seemed like a pimple or something.  After nearly two weeks of it not changing I went to my doctor a week ago.  The good news she gave me was that it was nothing to be worried about, just an infected hair follicle it appeared.  She told me I could use warm compresses to relieve the discomfort and I replied that the good news was that I did not have any discomfort whatsoever.  That was last Wednesday.  By Saturday, when I was at Gulfstream, it had become a minor irritation that sometimes when I sat I had to shift my weight to find a more comfortable position to be in.  And by Saturday evening it was sore.  But I attributed that to continually walking and irritating the sore.  Monday when I took a bath I could feel some swelling and this appeared to me to be the infection.  I looked it up online and read that this was common and that typically these infections would disappear in a day or two, or you could visit your doctor and have it sliced & drained.  That did not sound good!  And honestly at the beginning of the day I honestly felt pretty good.  But by midafternoon I was beginning to take warm baths and use a warm compress to try and make myself more comfortable.  It was much more difficult to be comfortable that evening watching television, but still I wasn't that concerned.  But after a fairly uncomfortable night of restless sleep I was concerned I might have to take action.  I took a bath first thing after getting up and now I could definitely feel a large swelling.  Not good.  I drove myself to the Cleveland Clinic ER where I was fortunate to get right in.  The diagnosis was the same and the treatment was explained to me that either they would give me antibiotics and send me home, or the doctor would locally numb it, make a small incision and drain it; then send me home.  Then I saw the first colon specialist.  He said they would either do it locally and drain it, or they would get me into the operating room, give me light anesthesia, and do a surgical procedure.  Probably not spend the night, but at worst one night.  Of those two options (since apparently simply the meds was out) I preferred the local numbing with a drain and let's go home.  By now Kim was on her way since this was more serious than I'd originally thought.  Well let me give you this advice - if you ever are so unlucky to have this condition, if you have the option, take the O.R. where they knock you out!  When the surgeon came - a pretty young girl mind you, but I was in no mood to consider this at the time - just her probing to try and determine what to do, including putting pressure on the infected area (which had now begun to drain) was exceptionally painful.  But oh no my friends, this was NOT the worse.  The above photo was the aftermath of this process and I was trying to regain my composure while I don't mind telling you fighting back tears of pain.  But I felt fairly good (as good as can be expected) because the explanation of what was to happen was they would give me a local which would be a brief prick of pain, and they said it would hurt, then very quick burning sensation; but then I wouldn't feel anything.  I can deal with that I thought.  Well, even with the local - which didn't not hurt that badly - it was the worst pain I've ever experienced.  I was gritting my teeth throughout while biting down on my hospital gown, and under some much pain that my body was literally shaking.  The sweet surgeon continually apologized and told me I was doing great.  But after what seemed an eternity it was finally over.  After getting past the pain I slowly began to feel better and since I was yet to take any pain medication I drove Kim's car home.  I spent the rest of the afternoon taking pain medication and keeping weight off the area.  It did feel improved, I will give you that, but the entire experience had really drained me.  But I was able to keep occupied by handicapping the Wednesday and Thursday cards at Gulfstream.

Wednesday December 16 - Day 8

Today, while it was not nearly as painful, drained me again.  I had to be at the doctor's office at the Cleveland Clinic for a follow-up on the procedure from yesterday and honestly I was more than a little nervous that when the "packing" and bandage were removed that there might be more probing and pain.  But this doctor was very gentle and when she apologized during the exam I told her, I have a whole new definition for pain because after the previous day this truly was nothing.  I got out of there at about 9:45 am and walked to the building next door for an appointment with a specialist regarding my ongoing blood clot issue.  Kim joined me a little after 10:30 and the apt was at 11 am.  They, luckily, didn't touch me, but it was uncomfortable to lay on the exam table (but better than sitting) during the meeting & discussion.  By the end of the day I was really uncomfortable - but as much for my back & sides for all of the awkward movements trying to keep my bottom from being sore the previous day.  At about dinner time it was time to check the racing from Gulfstream.  Ironically the lone win on the day was the ONLY race I did not have an added money investment.  Quiet Force was wide when finishing 4th at 9/2 in the opener.  Tzi Our Destiny was second at 2/1 in the second; my bet of the day scratched out of the 4th;  in the 5th Alpine Sky was 2/1 but was not better than 4th.  In the 9th I liked Tapitation who was 3/1 in the program on the turf.  She was squeezed at the start and was dead last through a pedestrian :50/3 half.  I thought I was completely out of it, but he began rallying, split horses in the stretch, dueled along the rail and was JUST up on the wire.

He was bet down to 6/5 at post time so I barely collected over $10.  Still, just happy to have a win.  In the finale Percussion was a GP 40% Club play for trainer Jorge Navarro.  Was 5/2 at post time and a competitive third.