Viral Infections

[Charlie B53]

I can't say that I have never had one before, I really do not know.   But I can't say that anymore.   I have been having a serious problem with my right ear.  Six weeks ago it started hurting very badly and I called my PCP, of course she wouldn't have an opening for a few weeks, told me I could come to the ER if I felt it was that bad.  Since it had been a few days and getting worse I kept on her Nurse to find time.  She finallly called me and gave me an appt the next day.  I went and ended up seeing one of the ER Dr Ladies working extra hours in Clinic.  Fine with me.  She order an antibiotic ear drop.  I questioned this as by now the ear was totally deaf and completely filled with a white creamy discharge, how would that ear drop get even near the ear drum.  She tried to assure me that it would be fine.

I carefully kept cleaning the canal and applied the drops.  It didn't get any better.  In fact, it just kept getting worse.  That little man with a small hammer that was hitting me with every heartbeat?   Well, he may have started out as a little boy, but he grew up,  And got a much bigger hammer.

A week later I didn't bother calling my PCP, I went straight to the ER.   The Gentleman Dr looked and immediate ordered a Z-Pak antibiotic.  Told me it was NOT an external infection.  By now there was minimal discharge so he could see very clearly in there.  Over the next week the Z-Pak did make some improvement,  It put out the intense burning, the searing pain.   But that little man with the hammer.   The continued work out developed an even stronger arm, and he got yet a larger hammer.  My heart skips beats.  1 in 16, or less, depending on how tired I get or how much caffeine I drink.  Sometimes it's as often as 1 in 3.  Every skip is like a momentary relief.  It was soo good.  Except it enabled that little man to that a breath, and get a better grip on that hammer.

It has been a month now.  Repeated calls andemails to my PCP that something seriously is WRONG.  The earliest appt I got is Mar 31,  This is like Mar 1.   Whatever the dates were, I ended up in the ER again, Monday, about 30 days after the second time.  The ER Dr made the referral to E.N.T. I now have an appt for Tuesday next week.  Great.  T, W, Th, the hammer kept growing, the pain extended out back and down from the ear into the muscles of my neck.  I could barely turn my head.  Much less cough.  I stayed in bed most the time I was simply exhausted as it was difficult to even sleep at night.  The pain kept waking me up within an hour.  Pace the floor for 20 minutes, lay down and fall asleep.  Wake up in pain, Pace, repeat, for days.

Late Thursday evening I had to get up to go to the bathroom.  I was bothered as I was late and should have had my Cycler set up and running a couple of hours ago.   I couldn't get up off the toilet.   I was soo tired I couldn't even get up.   I,m not sure how long I was there before my Wife had to P and found me there.  I still wouldn't get up, and wouldn't let her help me as I was afraid of falling and dragging her down with me, I was just so tired.   Next thing I know is our Soon is there.  She called him and immediately came over.   I finally relented and let him help lift me up.  So I am I tettered standing there with my eyes closed. on my feet.  But I couldn't, or wouldn't, move.   Don't know how long, but I finally hear men's voices.  Two Guys from the Aide Car. One manged to get past me so with one on each side they forced me to move.  I contantly felt like I was about to fell as they were pushing and pulling me along, making me move my feet.  It was not easy.  Somehow they got me out and onto their stretcher.  Next I knew I was in the ER.  I don't know how long, but they hung an IV, said my potassium was VERY low.  At Clinic Monday I had labs, Nurse had just called me yesterday and told me I was slightly lower than usual, to eat a bit more tomatoes and potatoes.  I told them about my ear and the little man with the hammer.   They started hanging antibiotics as well.  Labs claimed some yet unknown infection.

They kept me.

Mid-day Friday, I noticed I was still wearing my jeans.  Oh.  Fri evening labs report I had a Noro Virus, AND an Intero (?) virus.  Nothing could be prescribed but time.  By this time I already felt far better, but I was still drained, and that little man was finally beginning to weaken, just a little bit.

Viral infections?   I was confused,  I never noticed any of the classical symptoms of sickness, now excessive cough.  I am a smoker and have a regular morning productive cough, no change there.  No congestion out of my regular smokers morning wheezing til I cough and clear my lungs, so no change there.  Slightly drippy nose morning and evenings from seasonal allergies, no change there.   No upset stomach, no diarrhea.  I wasn't sick, or so I thought.

They wouldn't give me my tramadol AND tylenol, I took the tramadol as it makes much more difference.

My fever jumped to 103.5    Seems my regularly taking tylenol had been suppressing my fever.  Wonder how long this has been?

By Friday night I was very much better and that little man was rapidly shrinking.   Thank God!   A PD Nurse from Davita came with a Cycler and I had my treatment Fri night.  This Nurse and I talked a lot.  She told me that they only allowed two peritoneal infections then the patient was placed on Hemo-Dialysis.   I WILL be more careful.

Late Sat they let me go home.  The little man is finally about gone.  Still cannot hear with the right ear.  But I am getting much better.  I just couldn't believe how TIRED I was.

I will see ENT Tues and try to find out what has happened to my ear.  If anything can be done, is this normal, will my hearing come back?

[cassandra]

O Charley what a nightmare, I'm sorry that happened. I can't really answer you on the hearing question although I would think that once the infection is gone your ear should be fine. What I don't understand is that your Davita nurse than comes with the peritonitis warning. So was it peritonitis too?

Good luck and get well and love, Cas

[Charlie B53]

Initially they suspected peritonitis but once the PD Nurse came and took a sample in that cute mini-bag we could see it was perfectly clear.  Lab came back later all good.

Current thinking is the ear was multile infections.

Good news,  just an hour ago as I poked that ear for an inner itch I could hear a little.   I was so surprised I had to do it multiple times!!

This is hope.

I suspect a blanket of mold had formed in the two weeks it wa raging, that this could take some time before it dissolves and is absorbed or drained through the Eustachian tube.

Either way, it finally is showing signs of beginning recovery.

Like I said, it's been six weeks of Hell.  I almost lost my whole warped perverted sense of humor.

[kickingandscreaming]

Good to hear you are on the mend.  Ears can really hurt like hell.  As a child, I had recurrent ear abscesses that had to be lanced.  What a horror.  I remember little 5 year old me running away (in my feety pajamas) from the ENT who was doing a house call .  Trying to get away from the doc since I knew how much the lancing would hurt.  Finally at age 7 I had my tonsils out and, no more ear infections since.  But I have great empathy for your suffering. 

[Charlie B53]

LOL

House calls

We're telling our age.   Could even guess when they quit those.   I was a sick little kid,  Dr was a regular 'visitor'.  RN lived next door, came over nightly to stick me in the butt, seemed like for years.   That may explain most of my Needle-phobia.

[PrimeTimer]

Sorry to hear about your ordeal with hammer head. Hope it continues to clear up. Your head and for that matter, your body, should not be (de)construction zones for anybody with a hammer. This time of year as heat and humidity rises, so do chances of bacteria growing. I imagine bacteria loves warm moist places like the inside of ears. They say not to use Q-tips down inside your ears but I keep mine dry after showering by gently wiping the outer portions with one. Doc says I have the cleanest ears he's seen on anybody...then he rolled his eyes. His way of saying "you're busted!".

BTW, I still remember when docs made housecalls. I grew up out in the country and there was no doc in our small town so for emergencies, people called upon the farm animal veterinarian.

[Charlie B53]

I occasionally use Q-tips also.

However this instance the infection(s) were internal, within the space behind the ear drum and down the Eustachian tube.

But you have a very good point about bacterial growth LOVE warm dark wet places, like your lungs, sinus cavities, which may be the route this bug must have taken to get to the inner ear.

Unfortunately there is very little we can do for viral infections, other than palliative care.  Keeping the patient as comfortable as possible.  Stay hydrated to prevent the onset of other issues.  Pain meds, Tylenol and cool wipes or baths to try to control temp within an acceptable range.  Comfortable responsible diet.  Watch labs to ensure essentials stay within boundaries.

Not much else but time.

My regular use of Tylenol may have keep my temperature down enough that I could not notice that I had a problem other than my ear infection.   I will need to change that and wean off the Tylenol.  You can be sure I will be talking to my Dr about increasing my Fentenyal so I will not need other pain relief.