Update on the Hotdogman

This has truly been a lost summer for the Hotdogman. On Memorial Day weekend, my knee swelled up like a cantaloupe. I went to the ER and was diagnosed with Lyme Disease. The knee was swollen and immobile. I was told to stay off it and keep it immobilized while taking antibiotics to control the Lyme.

Once the swelling went down, nearly a month later I got an MRI and was scheduled to see an orthopedist on July 6. On July 5, I had major chest pain. I thought I had broken a rib. I went to the ER and was found to have a MASSIVE pulmonary embolism. This is a blood clot in the lung caused by a blood clot in the leg breaking loose and traveling to the lung. The admitting doctor said people who have embolisms that big usually show up at the hospital already dead! I was lucky to be alive.

I spent 36 hours in ICU and a total of 8 days in the hospital. I will be OK, but I need to take blood thinning medication for the foreseeable future.

My knee has torn cartilage and it is still swollen and painful. I can't get it fixed because I am on the blood thinners. With a little PT, I should be able to get around OK. I am shooting to go back in a couple of weeks, I am itching to get back to the Hot Dog Truck!