So the night before I leave, legs and feet swollen, I get back to my hotel room around 10:00pm, finish packing and decide to shave and shower because I have an early flight and am being picked up at 6:00 am to be driven to the airport.
While shaving I nick the back of my head, get shower done and put band-aid on the nick which is still bleeding and go to bed.
Wake up about 1:00 to go the the bathroom and when I return to my bed I discover the pillow case is full of blood.
Go to the bathroom, use my iPad as a mirror to see the back of my head and it's scary - blood everywhere.
I get a wash cloth and clean it up and all that blood came from that small nick - but it won't stop bleeding.
I spend the rest of the night holding toilet paper against the nick and it doesn't quit bleeding.
Finally at 6:00 my ride shows up and it's Petra and I have her come to my room and bandage me up for the flight.
Bleeding now controlled.
Off to the airport, check in, BUY BASEBALL HAT, to cover up the bandages and up,up and away.
Flight from Prague to London - I slept through the whole thing - go figure
Flight from London to LA - uneventful - didn't sleep much, but got up and walked around and stood in the back of the airplane a lot. Watch three or four movies and made it to LA at 3:30 in the afternoon.
AND WAIT I DID. The 8:00pm flight keep getting changed. 8:15 / 8:35 / 9:15 / 9:55 / 10:30
Yes, at 10:30pm we finally got on a plane and at 11:35pm landed in Fresno.
I started flying home at 5:00pm on Tuesday - [California Time] and many hours later 11:30pm Wednesday - I'm home.
Friday I saw my doctor and the nick on the back of my head has stopped bleeding and there is no sign of infection.
I was told that my blood level which is suppose to be somewhere between a 3 and a 2 was I was at 5.41 so we've reduced the blood thinning meds for a week and will test again next week. [Staying away from sharp objects in the mean time.]
Was told there is no danger of blood clots, but I must keep my feet elevated to reduce the swelling. And the compression socks are no longer an "option" - I am to wear them everyday!
Knee high socks - need to go buy some patent leather dress shoes and I'll be the spitting image of my grandfather wearing shorts and socks. - I'm old, I've arrived. It is what it is -
My doctor also recommended that I have surgery on my veins this coming fall.
Here's the best part - IT WAS WORTH IT: - Czech Republic - GREAT PLACE, GREAT PEOPLE, GREAT POSSIBILITIES, GREAT PURPOSE, GREAT PLEASURE
Feeling a little like the Apostle Paul, after making new friends wanting to return. Praying God gives my the opportunity to do it all over again.