Yet Another Odyssey

[peleroja]

I haven't been around for about 3 months, and this is the tale of why.

I started having abdominal pains back in mid October.  I carefully monitored the pain and finally asked the clinic to sample my dialysate.  They said I had no peritonitis.  The pains continued.  I asked for an X-ray in case I had developed another abdominal hernia.  Nothing.  Pains continued. 

On my regular clinic visit in November they sampled the dialysate and determined that I did have peritonitis.  Lots of bags with lots of antibiotics.  Monday, November 29, doc calls and tells me I have a fungus in my catheter and it needs to be removed (again!).  So, in I go to the hospital.  PD catheter removed that night, one day of rest, and hemo catheter installed December 1.  This was followed by 8 days of vomiting and diarrhea.  After a culture, guess what, I had C. diff!  The biggest blow came on Thursday when my doc came in and actually sat down.  You know when the doc sits down it's something serious.  Turns out it wasn't a fungus but just a bacteria, and most likely they didn't have to remove my PD catheter.  Man was I in a funk.

Weak and exhausted, they let me out December 10.  Because they forgot to give me the "what do you need to live" interview, and couldn't get to it for a few days, I ended up hiring my own caregivers and equipment.  Things were proceeding apace until December 17.  My caregiver had just dropped me at dialysis in my car (I didn't have the strength to try and get into his SUV), and was on his way home to wait until picking me up at 7 pm.  You guessed it.  Someone not paying attention broadsided him.  So then I had to get a different caregiver to get me back and forth to dialysis.  The original caregiver, Casey (19 and cute as a button), I still use for muscle and cleaning house, etc.

So, here it is January 6.  AAA (the opposing insurance carrier) refuses to take responsibility for the accident and is calling it comparative negligence.  Hell, a blind man could tell from the damage that my car was in the intersection and the opposing car was turning right.  Damage consists of rear quarter of driver door and the door behind it is pushed into the car in a V shape.

Gave up on insurance companies and rented a car yesterday.  Someday I hope someone will send me a check for my totaled car.  After all, these caregivers are nickle and diming me to death!  Sure am glad my next CD matures on January 21!!!!!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

[kristina]

I am so sorry what you are going through, peleroja,
I do hope things get better for you soon
and I wish you good luck for the future,

                 Kristina.

[okarol]

I am so sorry to hear this! I hope you are at least feeling a little better!
You are probably already aware of this, but in So. Cal. you can dial the county assistance number 211 and they will provide services - they really helped my mom get meals and rides when she was recovering from lung surgery.
Sending you HUGS!! 

[MooseMom]

Oh my God, what a horrible story!  Not the way to end the old year and start the new.  I hope you are feeling an awful lot better.

[paul.karen]

Well im glad you are here to tell your tale.
But im sorry to read all the things that went wrong.

Hopefully this will cover your downfalls for the next few years and things will get back to where they were in a short time.  I hope despite all you have went through that you are feeling OK.  Well as good as one can feel being on dialysis.

Will they are did they already put a new cath. in for PD?

[peleroja]

I did not know that Karol, thanks for the info.

paulkaren - I have an appointment with the surgeon Feb. 3 to see if the third time is a charm.  This was the second time they removed my PD catheter, which I wrote about two years ago after I got back from my misadventurous trip to Hawaii.  Still haven't seen Hawaii, except for the Hilo Medical Center!

[looneytunes]

Oh gal...you have sure been through it!  I hope there is no more bad luck for you. 

[chook]

Goodness me, peleroja - what a time you have been having. That must be all your bad luck used up for a while. And would you believe, I was thinking about you the morning before you posted - about how positive you always seem to be about your treatment. Hope everything is back on track for you soon.

[jeannea]

Wow! That's quite a story. I've had c.diff and it sucks. Then to have everything else...  Here's hoping the year only gets better!

[Red from Canada]

I was so sorry to hear of your problems Peleroja.  If misery loves company, we could be twins.  I got peritonitis just before New Years and spent a weekin hospital.  They saw a shadow on the CT scan and did a scope only to find what they thought was bowel cancer.  Turns out its a benign growth but must have surgery and take out my third tube so back on hemo.  I sure hope its temporary, but.....Keep us posted on how you are doing.  Hope it ends well.
http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/Smileys/classic/new_flower.gif

[carol1987]

ugh... feel better!!

[karina]

really sorry to here your bad news hope you are feeling better fingers crossed for you that all goes well

[rsudock]

sending you positive feeling better vibes!

xo,
R

[komomai]

Aloha, wow hope all will turn out right for you, take care.

[peleroja]

Follow up to the car situation.  My insurance paid me $12,300 plus for my totaled car.  I managed to buy a 2006 Toyota Corolla with only 33,000 miles on it.  Because it was a salvage car (someone had rear ended it and because the trunk was tweaked, the insurance company actually totaled it, amazing), I had to take it to a mechanic before my insurance would insure it.  They did insure it, but no collision coverage.  My friend got me a really good deal, on the Toyota, out the door, with taxes, license, etc. it only cost me $7,080, so I actually made $5,000 on the deal.  She runs just fine.  I sure miss my Honda Civic, though!  In the meantime, my strength improves daily, although for some reason I have no upper body strength.  Thanks, everyone, for all your well wishes.

[billmoria]

   Go right out and buy a lottery ticket! Your luck has got to change.
Seriously, happy to hear you are feeling better and hope you get some upper body strength back soon.
  INSURANCE COMPANY
Good deal on the settlement.

[thegrammalady]

glad to hear you're doing better. i hate insurance companies, the last time we had an accident the other insurance company made me so mad, why do they think i'm stupid, i got a lawyer. best decision i ever made. lesson they should have learned...never mess with the gramma lady!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jean]

Wow, you lucked out on the car, good deal. Glad you are feeling better too, enough is enough already.

[*kana*]

Oh my gosh, not the dreaded C-diff!  I had that back in Sept and thought I was going to die.  I was fighting it for about 1mth and lost 15 pounds and then lost 1 pint of blood in 2 days because of rectal bleeding.  I couldn't leave the house for a month because I couldn't be more then 2 feet from the toilet.  It was horrible.  I then got my first bought of peritonitis which I never figured out why.  Maybe I messed up my sterile field because I was so sick or maybe it was related.   

You need to start popping pro biotics like they are candy!   

Just curious, did you burp a lot when you had C-diff?  Did it taste like beer yeast or bread dough yeast?  lol

Sorry to hear that you had a rough time all around.  This year will be better for you.