Don't Take Health Issues Lightly (And I Need Some Vibes)

[DukieInKansas]

Wednesday prayers and vibes and hugs heading your way, Colchar.

[Ima Facultiwyfe]

It was the Spring of 2008 when DukeRah contracted her infection in the OR. Thirteen surgeries and nearly five years later, we're still dealing with it. Tomorrow we go in for a CT scan in the hope of seeing why this latest infection resurfaced.Since our episode began I've heard of two other friends going through the same thing.

As painful as this is, Colchar, be grateful that this isn't in your gut. It's so much more complicated then. They will get this under control. Your primary care doc is your best friend. I hope you have a good one. We didn't. I'm just certain ours was an idiot and just wasn't on the job and let things get way out of control.

The home health nurses are angels on the front line. Sounds like yours are top notch. Do everything they tell you. This will pass. I know it doesn't seem like you are making progress fast enough, but it's really slow going at first. Once it turns the corner it will go much more quickly. Don't try to be brave or tough. Take you pain meds!!!!!

Vibing away hot and heavy for you. Love, Ima

[Lavabe]

Dude... get well! Continued thoughts for you. Perhaps we need to get Blech to get rid of those strep microbes! ;)
Vibes, colchar!! Massive NASCAR vibes to you!!

[Ima Facultiwyfe]

Just checking in with some extra vibes for you today. I'm betting you are starting to see progress! You'll get there. Mind those nurses!
Love, Ima

[IowaDevil]

Thursday vibes & hugs! Sure hope things are starting to heal up for you!

[colchar]

Thursday vibes & hugs! Sure hope things are starting to heal up for you!

Sadly, nothing is even remotely close to healing up yet. I just came home from the wound care specialist and they said that the infected area seems to have receded the tiniest bit. That may be a good sign but this is a long way from being over.

My doctor is referring me to a specialist wound care clinic run by a surgeon at my local hospital (I can see the building from my driveway and it is, quite literally, about 500 yards away as the crow flies...a little more when driving because of turns in the road getting out of the subdivision) and he wants me to go to that clinic as well as the wound care clinic that I am currently attending in order to have those nurses continue changing the dressings on the days on which I am not at the clinic at the hospital.

I am not looking forward to my first examination at that new clinic because it hurts like a mofo when they have to dig around inside the wound. Packing the wound before applying a fresh dressing is painful enough, but the digging around in there takes it to another level altogether. I normally have a very high tolerance for pain (my dentist wishes all patients were like me except for my habit of falling asleep during root canals because I close my mouth on him when I fall asleep and he cannot see what he is doing) but these procedures hurt to the point that I am now getting slightly nauseated when I go in there - because I know exactly what is about to happen to me and how much it is going to hurt. Oh well, not much I can do about that I guess.

Thanks again for the continued vibes folks

[Ima Facultiwyfe]

Thursday vibes & hugs! Sure hope things are starting to heal up for you!

Sadly, nothing is even remotely close to healing up yet. I just came home from the wound care specialist and they said that the infected area seems to have receded the tiniest bit. That may be a good sign but this is a long way from being over.

My doctor is referring me to a specialist wound care clinic run by a surgeon at my local hospital (I can see the building from my driveway and it is, quite literally, about 500 yards away as the crow flies...a little more when driving because of turns in the road getting out of the subdivision) and he wants me to go to that clinic as well as the wound care clinic that I am currently attending in order to have those nurses continue changing the dressings on the days on which I am not at the clinic at the hospital.

I am not looking forward to my first examination at that new clinic because it hurts like a mofo when they have to dig around inside the wound. Packing the wound before applying a fresh dressing is painful enough, but the digging around in there takes it to another level altogether. I normally have a very high tolerance for pain (my dentist wishes all patients were like me except for my habit of falling asleep during root canals because I close my mouth on him when I fall asleep and he cannot see what he is doing) but these procedures hurt to the point that I am now getting slightly nauseated when I go in there - because I know exactly what is about to happen to me and how much it is going to hurt. Oh well, not much I can do about that I guess.

Thanks again for the continued vibes folks

Colchar, when they used to come to clean out and change our daughter's dressings she would take pain meds first. That helped her hang in there. Can't they do that for you? Of course she was bedridden and didn't drive anywhere. Sounds as though they want you to travel TO your appointments. Can someone drive you?

Believe me, you don't have to tell us how much this hurts. The good news is that they told you it is, in fact, beginning to heal. It will pick up steam once it starts in earnest.

We're keeping you in our hearts as you go forward. Don't forget to breathe.
Love, Ima

[colchar]

Colchar, when they used to come to clean out and change our daughter's dressings she would take pain meds first. That helped her hang in there. Can't they do that for you?

Good point - I could drug myself up before the appointments.

Of course she was bedridden and didn't drive anywhere. Sounds as though they want you to travel TO your appointments. Can someone drive you?

My parents can when I need them to. My Dad took me today because I was in too much pain to drive comfortably.

Believe me, you don't have to tell us how much this hurts.

Having experienced this version of it, which is limited in comparison to what your daughter suffered (and continues to suffer), I cannot imagine being in her shoes.

The good news is that they told you it is, in fact, beginning to heal. It will pick up steam once it starts in earnest.

Oh I hope it has begun to heal, I really do.

We're keeping you in our hearts as you go forward.

Thanks.

Don't forget to breathe.

I'm thinking I need to start drinking again so that I can kill those bacterial microbes with massive amounts of rye!!!!!!!! If I start drinking again the damned things won't know what hit them

[CathyCA]

I'm sending vibes and prayers and gentle hugs your way, Colchar.

Take your Percocet. God created narcotics to make us happy and healthy. Now is the time to use them!

[ArkieDukie]

I'm sending vibes and prayers and gentle hugs your way, Colchar.

Take your Percocet. God created narcotics to make us happy and healthy. Now is the time to use them!

CathyCA and Ima give wise advice. Hang in there, colchar! Sending lots of vibes your way.

[lawgrad91]

Continued vibes from the Lawgrads.

[shereec]

continued vibes, hugs and prayers! Keep a good thought.

[IowaDevil]

Friday dose of vibes & hugs! Sure hope you're taking meds "before" you go to see the wound specialist - it'll help! CathyCA is right - God made those things to be used in times like this! Go for it!

[colchar]

Just checking in.

I am in all kinds of pain today and can barely walk because the ankle hurts so much (my first few paces this morning were virtually pain free but then the pain set in and it hasn't let up since). It really is surprising how much an ankle can hurt from a wound like this - it almost feels like it is broken or something which makes me worry that the infection did spread down to the bone. I'll speak to the nurses about that tomorrow.

I see my family doctor on Monday so we'll go from there. He was on vacation this week but called late this afternoon because he had popped into the office and had seen the stuff sent to him by the other doctor. He said something about me needing to see an orthopedic surgeon or something like that (I didn't catch all of what he was saying but I'll get the full story Monday).

The pain is sometimes lessened after the dressing is changed so I will pop some pain pills before going to see them tomorrow and will hope that I do get some relief after that visit as I really do not want to go through another day like today.

I'll keep y'all posted and thanks again for the vibes and well wishes.

[IowaDevil]

Saturday vibes & a couple hugs from Iowa! Man I just hurt for you. Things have to turn for the better soon!

[DukieInKansas]

continued prayers and vibes and hugs from Kansas.

[Very Duke Blue]

Would crutches help? Just a thought.

[colchar]

Would crutches help? Just a thought.

I'm using one around the house and am going to buy a cane because the crutches are a bit unwieldy.

[ArkieDukie]

Not posting much, but I'm still sending vibes, colchar!

[Ima Facultiwyfe]

Hoping for increased signs of healing when you see your nurses today. I spent yesterday at the hospital with DukeRah -- mostly in the waiting room while she was in surgery -- plenty of vibing time for you both. Re-doubling the vibes for your appointment today.

Love, Ima