Friday, June 20, 2008
Home again, home again....jiggity-jig
I'm home. Got home last night at 11pm. I am EXHAUSTED. I have a RIP-ROARING sinus infection from the plane rides....so, I am trying to get that under control.
Besides that, I have a BAZILLION pictures to upload for your viewing pleasure.
Maybe even a few stories to tell.... ;)
I hope you are all doing well!!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Wonders never cease...and miracles DO happen!!
Utter amazement.....
What happened TODAY:
I had an 11:15 appointment with my general surgeon. He took a look at my wound/incision and said that it was almost completely closed up. He felt that by the end of the week, it would be completely CLOSED....which was the stipulation that my doctor gave to me in order to travel. HOWEVER, my doctor thought it would take about a MONTH for it to close up. MIRACLES DO HAPPEN!! He had a LENGTHY discussion with my primary doc last night. Our trip is back ON!! We now have 36 hours to pack and get outta here!! So....as of right now, there appears to be NO INFECTION left at the site.....it is almost completely healed closed....and the surgeon felt that the possibility of it opening up and recurring, is VERY slim.
So......we leave for Denmark at 10am on Friday morning.
How's THAT for a story?!?!
Thank you for ALL of your prayers, as I am TRULY considering this a MIRACLE, as is my family. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart!!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
So confused and blue...
Well, our trip is off. And our schedule is up in the air for at least a couple of weeks. My doc says that it will probably take my wound 4 weeks to completely heal...as long as it doesn't have another flare-up. Dean is on a mission to find us another international cruise to take...but we have a small window of time to work with...and we have Lee's work schedule to consider. Tough having this happen, and have to replan for 6 people.
I stayed in bed today, in my night gown, until 2:30 this afternoon...running a fever. I don't really feel there's much that they can do about the fever, as I am already on a BUTTLOAD of antibiotics of different shapes, colors and dosages. If the fever goes on too long, I can take some Motrin IB...but, no Tylenol, 'cause I'm already on Vicodin. I see the General Surgeon tomorrow at 11:15am.
All day I wanted to take a shower, but I am SCARED TO DEATH to have an open wound in the shower!! The surgeon says it will be fine...but, he is the only one of SIX doctors who has felt that way. I'M SO CONFUSED!!!
Unfortunately, my doctor also stated that I have burns on my skin from allergic reaction from the adhesive on the tape and bandages that we have been using. Pretty bad burns, from what I gather. All I know is that it burns, stings and itches. He doesn't want to prescribe cortisone cream, due to the fact that I sill have an open wound.
***sigh***
This too, shall pass. Right?
On the funny side, after cancelling our trip last night, I got THIS email in my box this afternoon:
You've Won a Spot in the Toy Story Mania! Annual Passholder Sneak Peek
Congratulations michelle kumpe! Get your spring-action shooter loaded and ready for fun!
You have been selected to participate in the Toy Story Mania! Annual Passholder Sneak Peek at Disney's California Adventure® Park. Here are the details of your time slot:
Date: June 12, 2008
Time: 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Total Party Size: 6
Annual Passport Barcode Number: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Please print this e-mail and present it - along with a valid Disneyland® Resort Annual Passport for each member of your party - to the West Information Booth at least 30 minutes before your time slot. The West Information Booth is located between the Picnic Area and La Brea Bakery Cafe, on the Downtown Disney® District side of the Disneyland® Main Entry Plaza.
We look forward to seeing you on June 12, 2008!
Your Pals at Disneyland® Resort
What are the chances that Dean will let me go to such an awesome event?
I guess I entered the sweepstakes awhile back...and forgot about it.
Talk about suck timing.....
Monday, June 2, 2008
It is finished.....
ARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
I have spoken with a total of SIX medical professionals over the course of a week........from ER Nurse Practitioners, to a General Surgeon. NO ONE has the same thought or idea on what's wrong with my back/shoulder. My original culture from last Saturday in the ER (where this all started), came back after a 3-day cook time, as negative/no growth. At all. So, as far as any testing goes, there was NO bacterial infection involved......which ALL six docs have disagreed with. So.....we know the culture was bad. Therefore, on Wednesday, when I had to go BACK in to ER, they decided to treat it as MRSA.....even though they had no medical PROOF.
So....fine......that's how I have been getting care.....as if I had MRSA. I was getting my incision repacked everyday, as per ER on Wednesday. This weekend, my doctor was not in, so my friend has a cousin who is a local doctor. I went to his house, and he cared for me by repacking my incision..........and draining the wound on Saturday. Said he got over an ounce of "stuff" from it. Gave me 2 Rx's, and an Rx for my family to start putting up their nose, as that's where the bacteria lives. I more than doubled up on my antibiotics.
Saw my doctor this morning. He took one look and said "Cancel the trip". He felt that the wound was doing much better, and looked like it had been completely drained. However, he is still of the belief that the wound needs to be repacked daily. He then agreed to the diagnosis that the weekend doc gave, which was to get a General Surgeon involved. He called two surgeons while we were in the room, waiting to see who would answer first, because he wanted me seen today. Got an appointment to see the General Surgeon at 1:30. Called my travel agent and cancelled the trip.
Dean took me out to a nice lunch at Yoshino's, and then we headed to the Surgeon's office for a consultation. I didn't end up seeing the doctor that MY doctor had thought that I would be seeing. THIS doctor, COMPLETELY disagreed with my doctor, and said that we should go on our trip. Also said that "packing" a wound was a VERY controversial thing in the medical field, and as far as he was concerned, the wound should NOT be packed. We called our travel agent back (quickly) and told her NOT to cancel the trip yet...
***sigh***
Two, ENTIRELY different messages within a couple of hours. So, he took the packing out of my shoulder, concurred that it was a deep wound, and told me to come back on Wednesday, so that he could see how the area was reacting. I put in a call to my doctor, because he wanted to know how the appointment went today with the surgeon. Waiting to tell him the IMMENSE difference between HIS diagnosis, and the diagnosis that the surgeon gave me. Regardless, I am supposed to go back after 6 weeks of healing, and have the initial cyst removed, so that it won't cause damage/infection again. I don't know if I will be going to THAT surgeon though, as he was NOT my doctor OR my first choice.
My primary doc called tonight just before 7, and I went through the whole run-down of what all the surgeon said. He was flabberghasted. He agreed to have the packing out until Wednesday....that was fine. Not what he would have chosen...but, fine. HOWEVER.....he INSISTED that the trip be cancelled. Dean was not happy and wants to wait until Wednesday to see if the wound heals up. I'm sure it won't....and I hate to disappoint....but, there's no WAY I am going to go against my doctor when he is INSISTING on us not traveling.
Long.....day.
I have spoken with a total of SIX medical professionals over the course of a week........from ER Nurse Practitioners, to a General Surgeon. NO ONE has the same thought or idea on what's wrong with my back/shoulder. My original culture from last Saturday in the ER (where this all started), came back after a 3-day cook time, as negative/no growth. At all. So, as far as any testing goes, there was NO bacterial infection involved......which ALL six docs have disagreed with. So.....we know the culture was bad. Therefore, on Wednesday, when I had to go BACK in to ER, they decided to treat it as MRSA.....even though they had no medical PROOF.
So....fine......that's how I have been getting care.....as if I had MRSA. I was getting my incision repacked everyday, as per ER on Wednesday. This weekend, my doctor was not in, so my friend has a cousin who is a local doctor. I went to his house, and he cared for me by repacking my incision..........and draining the wound on Saturday. Said he got over an ounce of "stuff" from it. Gave me 2 Rx's, and an Rx for my family to start putting up their nose, as that's where the bacteria lives. I more than doubled up on my antibiotics.
Saw my doctor this morning. He took one look and said "Cancel the trip". He felt that the wound was doing much better, and looked like it had been completely drained. However, he is still of the belief that the wound needs to be repacked daily. He then agreed to the diagnosis that the weekend doc gave, which was to get a General Surgeon involved. He called two surgeons while we were in the room, waiting to see who would answer first, because he wanted me seen today. Got an appointment to see the General Surgeon at 1:30. Called my travel agent and cancelled the trip.
Dean took me out to a nice lunch at Yoshino's, and then we headed to the Surgeon's office for a consultation. I didn't end up seeing the doctor that MY doctor had thought that I would be seeing. THIS doctor, COMPLETELY disagreed with my doctor, and said that we should go on our trip. Also said that "packing" a wound was a VERY controversial thing in the medical field, and as far as he was concerned, the wound should NOT be packed. We called our travel agent back (quickly) and told her NOT to cancel the trip yet...
***sigh***
Two, ENTIRELY different messages within a couple of hours. So, he took the packing out of my shoulder, concurred that it was a deep wound, and told me to come back on Wednesday, so that he could see how the area was reacting. I put in a call to my doctor, because he wanted to know how the appointment went today with the surgeon. Waiting to tell him the IMMENSE difference between HIS diagnosis, and the diagnosis that the surgeon gave me. Regardless, I am supposed to go back after 6 weeks of healing, and have the initial cyst removed, so that it won't cause damage/infection again. I don't know if I will be going to THAT surgeon though, as he was NOT my doctor OR my first choice.
My primary doc called tonight just before 7, and I went through the whole run-down of what all the surgeon said. He was flabberghasted. He agreed to have the packing out until Wednesday....that was fine. Not what he would have chosen...but, fine. HOWEVER.....he INSISTED that the trip be cancelled. Dean was not happy and wants to wait until Wednesday to see if the wound heals up. I'm sure it won't....and I hate to disappoint....but, there's no WAY I am going to go against my doctor when he is INSISTING on us not traveling.
Long.....day.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Life on hold....
Well....I had my wound repacked this weekend by a friends cousin, who is a Dr. He was fairly calm with me, but told his cousin (my friend), how extremely concerned he is about what is spreading throughout my skin. He said he extracted at least an ounce of "stuff" from my back on Saturday. He's scared because there is more than one "pocket"...and as he put it, "They are communicating with each other.....that's NOT a good thing". From what I got, everytime one pocket communicates with another, the infection goes deeper into the tissue. He is concerned about me being on the border of Necrotizing Fasciitis. Not fun.
So....I will TRY to keep you all informed about whether or not I will be in the hospital.
In the meantime, I will have our impending trip riding heavy on my shoulders...
So....I will TRY to keep you all informed about whether or not I will be in the hospital.
In the meantime, I will have our impending trip riding heavy on my shoulders...
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