Warning: Icky stuff ahead.

Got up to take Boy #2 to school today. Since the weather has been so nice lately (as in, we’ve skipped spring and moved directly into summer) I thought I’d walk in the mornings, especially on the days when I have to pick him up after play practice. So I put on my clothes from yesterday (standard practice when I’m going to shower later), including my socks. But I noticed a stain on one of the pair I used yesterday. At first, I thought it might have been one of the cats; they’ve been known to spray whatever when they get into a territorial contest. But (ickiness) it didn’t smell like that. So I picked up my pair from the day before (I am a terrible housekeeper) and noticed the same stain on one of those.

Finally the penny dropped, and I looked at my feet. Found that I had blisters between the last three toes on my right foot, and at least one was oozing. I thought it might have been due to my shoes. I switched over to my Propét tour walkers two weeks ago or so and there might have been some chafing due to the different size of the toe box. Whatever the cause, I put on some more socks, and headed out to drive Boy #2 to school. No way was I walking with my toes like that.

I showered when I got home, and examined my feet again. The blisters (if that’s what they are) are definitely between the toes, and not on the outsides. I smeared them with antibacterial ointment and bandaged each individually, then went back to my old shoes. My plan is to find the small gauze pads I had to use on my diabetic ulcer and use them to separate the toes and absorb moisture. I may have to change them more than once during the day and wash between my toes as often, making sure I dry them carefully. But until they’re healed, no walking to and from school. Fortunately, next week is spring break. That should give them time to heal.

But it has taught me a lesson: check my feet more often, especially since I can’t feel these kinds of things!