In-Patient, again

[Charlie B53]

I'm in the VA Hospital again.   Started serious chills and shivering Thursday afternoon.  I had been feeling slightly 'off' for a couple of days but thought the change in weather had me messed up again.  It does that.  Went to Grandsons Scout meeting, they were doing activities outside, I had to give up and go home, I got too cold too fast.   Started setting up my Cycle and told Wife to get the jar so we could look at a sample of my drain.  Pouring out my drain bucket Thursday morning it was fine, normal clear yellowish.   We took a drain sample,  WHITE , not just cloudy, it looks like I could almost paint the house with it.

Qwap!    Made the phone calls, and here I am.  Friday mid-morning, still waiting on the labs to determine whether this is the same bug or something new.   Last time, one of the Dr's told me the bug was a particularly nasty one.   That Dr told me that he studied under the Dr at University that did the study and wrote the protocol for treating this particular bug, and required a 21 day course of antibiotics.

My Neph and the rest of the Dr's were of the opinion that 14 days is adequate.   I've been fine, or so I thought, for the last couple of weeks.  Depending on what the labs find they may elect a long course of antibiotics.  If the bug returns within a month of completion them most definitely the cath must come out, an arterial cath put in and I would go on Hemo until totally healed, clean and clear, and a new PD cath installed and healed before returning to PD.   

So it is hurry up and wait for now.

[cassandra]

O bugger Charlie, very sorry to hear that. Remember to thank your neph for his wisdom when it turns out to be the same bug.

Lots of strength and love, Cas

[kickingandscreaming]

O bugger, indeed!  That's terrible news.  I'm hoping for a simple outcome and resolution.  Good luck, Charlie.

[Charlie B53]

Still waiting on labs.  They tell me it can easily be days to grow an identifiable culture.  Meanwhile they had me down for a CAT Scan.  Waiting for that to be interpreted.  I imagine they are looking to see if there is an identifiable spot of infection alongside the cath, if so it comes out immediately and an arterial cath will be placed so I can immediately begin hemo.

Much the same hurry up and wait.    The Dialysis Tech drained me a little bit ago.  Dry, the pain seems much worse.  I expect all the inflamed surfaces touching each other cause of the increased pain.  He will be bringing a Cycler very soon and setting me up for my usual program with all bags doped.  I'm sure once filled the pain will ebb somewhat.

Glad I thought to bring my laptop and a pile of books.  At least I can keep my brain occupied.

I am thankful the pain this time is nowhere near as bad as the first time.  It's still a bear, just not near as bad.  I can breath this time.

[Jean]

  Ae, charlie, sorry to hear this. Hope the Docs can get things straightened out quickly.

[Fabkiwi06]

Oh man, Charlie... Sending lots of good thoughts your way. Glad you got your laptop this time. And I'm glad that you seem to be able to pick up on these things quickly.

[Xplantdad]

Sorry to hear this Charlie...Hope you feel better soon...

[myporkchop]

Oh sry charlie here is me going on about my mum being back in hospital and so are you. I hope everything sorts itself out for you too xx

[Charlie B53]

I am getting better.  I can sit and stand all by myself.  Yesterday was a real bear trying to stand from sitting on the low toilet all by myself.  I almost pulled the cord to call the Nurse but that "Guy' thing wouldn't let me.

It was much easier this morning.

During rounds Dr's told me I should expect to get out of here Monday.  I can load my bags at home for the rest of the 21 days treatment.

Seems that 21 day protocol was written only this year.  Not everyone is familiar with it.  Which explains why my Neph only odered 14, the old standard protocol.  Dr's did caution me that if this bug does return again that the cath would come out immediately, go on Hemo using an arterial cath untnil I heal, have a new PD cath, and heal again.   

I am very hopeful that won't be needed.  But if so, I won't have any choice.

[PrimeTimer]

Hope you get well real soon, Charlie and get back to feeling like your old self again. Well, maybe not quite like the party biker you once were (hee hee) but back to normal. 

[cassandra]

Glad to hear of your progress Charlie

It will be Monday soon


                 


Love and hugs, Cas

[LorinnPKD]

Hope you are feeling better soon.  Day by day.

Please let us know how things are going for you.

[Charlie B53]

I like to think that I am about normal.  I could go home and dose my own bags for my Cycler but Pharmacy won't supply until tomorrow, Monday.

Lab still hasn't grown a bug to identify so the current plan is to remain on both the Vanc and Tobromiacin until it is determined which is needed.

This time the plan is the newer 21 day course instead of the old 14 day run.

I remain hopeful this will kill it totally.   I do not want to go through the cath removal, Hemo, etc., for the time it will take before I can return to PD.

PD has worked so well.   I had to have made a contamination.   Qwap!    What can I say, I am human, I can make a mistake, just not very often.   This one has really proved how serious an error can be, and in one hell of a hurry.

I should be home and on my own Cycler tomorrow night.

I had to chuckle a bit today.      I was to do a 24 hour collection today and use drain bags tonight to take everything in tomorrow at my regular scheduled monthly clinic.    That isn't happening.   And by the time I get out of here I'll bet Dr will already be done and gone from Clinic so I will miss him also.    I do still have to go there as Medicare rules dictate the Dialysis Clinic must supply most all Renal related meds.  The VA is not to give me everything, that is the Clinic's responsibility.   I don't care, as long as I get what I need to take care of this at home I'll be fine.   This is what happens when bureaucrats get involved with medical care.

[Charlie B53]

Honey, I'm Home!    At least that's what I said to the Lady at the desk on my floor in the hospital.   She just laughs.   This isn't my first time on that floor.


I got to say it for real this evening when I did get home.   So it is late evening, I am connected to my own Cycler.  Three syringes of stuff into each bag.   Dr wants me to use the heperin just the ret of this week.  So hopefully the next 2 1/2 weeks it will only be 2 for each bag.   If the Lab ever grows a culture and identifies the bug then possibly Dr will drop one of the antibiotics.  IF it ever gets identified.  Until then, to be safe, he has me using both.     I was supplied a BIG bag of syringes, a BOX of the one A/B, and a number of bottles of Vanc.    Dr changed the other A/B so now it is something I cannot pronounce, much less spell it.

Other than NOT having a recurrence within a few weeks of finishing, there is no way to know for sure other than just waiting, and hoping.

IF I do go cloudy again then the cath immediately comes out.   I think they will actually wait a couple of days.  Treating as doing now.  When the bug is knocked back well THEN cutting and removing the cath.  It only makes sense as I wouldn't want them to open me at all with a very active bug.  The possibility of it getting into other areas is not a good idea.    Hopefully I won't have to find out.

So I'm back to the old 'Wait and See'.    As a Vet, I've had LOTs of practice at this game.

[iolaire]

Glad you made it home in one piece...

[kristina]

Hello Charlie, I am so glad you are feeling better and I do hope the "wait and see" turns out alright for you !
Best wishes from Kristina.

[cassandra]

Welcome home Charlie. Glad to hear you're feeling better.
Keep on healing now.

 

   



Love, luck, hugs and strength, Cas

[komomai]

Aloha Charlie, really glad to hear that the VA hospital is taking good care of you.  Stay well and safe.

Aloha,
Wendell
1st MARINE AIR WING
Okinawa, Japan

[Charlie B53]

Veterans Day, We went to a local place for my free Veterans Day dinner.  They were packed, and quite the line outside waiting to get in.  I talked to a number of Vets while waiting.  Most of them do not bother going to the VA.  Thankfully, most of them are still healthy and not much in need of medical attention.

I have been very fortunate that both VA Hospitals that I have used are two of THE BEST within the system.  Seattle and Columbia, Missouri, Both are very closely tied in to the Medical University Hospitals.  Columbia is right across the street.  Most ALL of the Dr's that care for me are the teaching professors across the street, and his team at the VA consists of many of his 4th year students, very near to receive their PhD's.  These Guys are sharp.   I would be DEAD five times already without them.    I can whine about the number of needles that I get poled with, but without them, I wouldn't be here today.  I truly owe my life to them.