When I got up the next morning, my hand started bothering me all of sudden. I could hardly move it. I noticed it was starting to get swollen. Now what? I did not had that problem last night.
I was hoping it could get better so I can continue helping Dad today after school. But imagine if I try go through the day with this pain in school? That would be painful especially it's my writing hand.
I went to Dad who was still in his room. "Is this a bad time to see you?"
"No, what's up?" asked Dad.
"I just noticed my hand is starting to get swollen and it's bothering me this morning," I said.
"You can come in here so I can check it out," Dad put on his reading glasses while I came to sit on his bed. "I can see why your hand is getting swollen. You're starting to get a blister."
"That explains why it's bothering me," I said.
"I'm glad you came to me right away," said Dad.
"I don't get it. It was fine last night," I said.
"It can just happen," said Dad.
"I can't see how I can make it through the day at school," I said.
Sharon came by.
"Sharon, are you free?" asked Dad.
"Yes," said Sharon.
"Do you mind getting the ice tray out while I get a facecloth?" asked Dad. "Mary Anne's hand is starting to get a blister."
"Okay," said Sharon as she went downstairs to get the ice tray.
"I can see if your doctor can take you in," said Dad.
Sharon came back up to bring the ice with the hand towel on my hand while he was on the phone with my doctor.
After Dad hung up, he said, "He's free to take you in this morning. He suggested that I keep you home from school for today to be on the safe side. I'm going to alert your school before we leave."
"I'm going to take Aleve at the same time," I said.
"Okay," said Dad.
I went out there to take Aleve while he was on the phone with my school. Then, we left for the doctor's appointment. At the doctor's office, Dr. Wellington noticed Dad wasn't kidding when he saw my hand with a blister when he removed the ice from the facecloth. "Blister was causing your hand to swell. It was a good thing you noticed early enough because it could've been worse if you waited that long."
"I know," I said.
"I'll have to bust it before I wrap a bandage around it," said Dr. Wellington giving Dad back the facecloth. "But it may hurt a bit."
He got a pin to bust it, which didn't hurt, and put the wrap around the bandage.
"I just some ice on her hand while I was on the phone with you," said Dad.
"Oh, good. You should also put some more ice on it," said Dr. Wellington.
"How long should I use the ice?" I asked.
"For best results, I would say about twice a day or as needed for 30 minutes," he suggested.
"Can I unwrap the bandage or do you want me to leave it wrapped while I do that?" I asked.
"Either way is fine," said Dr. Wellington. "I'll write you a doctor's office to excuse you from Gym in the meantime. I'm still giving you a day off from school. You can give it to your Gym teacher tomorrow. Take Aleve if it's in pain."
"I just took the last one before we came," I said.
"We can buy Aleve on our way home from lunch just in case," said Dad.
"If you feel it's getting worse anytime, especially at school, you can either call or text me right away and I will fit you in after school so I can check it out," said the doctor as he gave me the note to excuse me from Gym.
"Alright," I said.
Then we left to pick Aleve on our way home. On the way, I said, "I was hoping to do dusting today."
"I'd just worry that your hand could get sore especially while helping me for long," said Dad. "I'll also excuse you from doing chores."
"Thank god I managed to sweep yesterday," I said.
"I agree it was a good thing," said Dad.
"I don't mind dusting," I said. "Not able to do anything could drive me nuts."
"How about this? I can handle the trash bag. It would be too heavy for you to carry it down," said Dad.
"That works," I said.
"But if you feel any pain, you can take a break to down come to rest it and I can take over," said Dad.
"Deal," I said. "Want me to bring the broom and dusting pan down when I'm done?"
"That would be fine. They're light enough," said Dad.
Later, at home, I was managed to do dusting. I was able to finish it when my hand was starting to hurt a bit, so I went downstairs so I can take Aleve. Thank god that helps me when I'm in pain anytime, especially when I get headaches, but it doesn't happen often.
"You can go relax in your room while I put some more ice on this facecloth, honey," said Dad as I went to go sit on my bed when he was getting ice ready on the facecloth and came in with it. "Here."
When he did put it on my hand, it burned a little bit, but as long as it would help, that's all it matters.
"I'm thinking I'll only use the ice and Aleve if I need to use it. Otherwise, I won't bother use any of that," I said.
"You got a decent point," said Dad.
I realized I forgot something. "Oh, I forgot the broom and dusting pan."
"It's okay. I can get that while you take it easy," said Dad. "Were you able to finish? I can go finish if it's not. I won't expect you to finish while you're in pain."
"Thankfully, I had just finished dusting when this pain happened," I said.
"Okay, good," said Dad.
He was able to get that and bring them downstairs.
"If I'm in good shape, I'll help out with the wallpaper," I said. "Hopefully, I'll manage it."
"I can always get someone to help if you can't," said Dad. "I'll just let you help out when you have good days."
"Sounds good," I said.
Later, when Dawn got home from school, she said, "How did you made out this morning?"
"The doctor busted the blister with a pin, which it didn't really hurt, before putting the bandage on my hand," I said. "Dad almost didn't want me to finish. He's just concerned about my hand being sore after helping out too long. I still wanted to help while I'm not in pain. But I was able to do some dusting. He offered to throw out the trash bag since it would be too heavy for me."
"Makes sense," said Dawn.
"Dr. Wellington is excusing me from Gym until it gets better," I continued. "He wants me to stay on ice and take Aleve for pain."
At dinner, I said, "I don't think I'll help Dawn out this week. I'd be afraid my arm would be in pain while I help out. I'd be afraid to break anything."
"I understand," said Dawn.
"Sharon or I can take over," said Dad.
"The other girls and I can take over to do the wallpaper," said Dawn.
"I'll try to help out if I can," I said.
"If not, don't worry about it," said Dawn.