Sunday, September 28, 2008

The continued staph saga

Friday afternoon, after conferring with Enigma (I have access to her hotline), I decided to go to the ER to get someone to look and most likely clean my staph infection. She was not impressed with the care I had gotten from my doctor's office so she urged me to go to the ER.

So we went to a nearby hospital which is practically set in the country (we live on the outskirts of Austin) but which had an excellent ER according to my neighbour friend who took the kids in. What a different experience it was from other times we've been in other ER's more closely or in town. (of wherever we lived) It was Friday afternoon 2pm-sh and there were only a few people. It felt peaceful and oh before I forget, there was a big big parking lot and parking was free! (have you ever had that headache to think about? "I hope I have enough money to pay for parking once we're done here..")

I got 'processed' and was in the ER section in the back in no time. My doctor was awesome. Dr. Grayson better live up to my high regards as I will be (hopefully) seeing him again this afternoon for a follow up. That was one of the things they did not do at my doctor's office; do a 48hr follow up every time to monitor the progress or lack thereof of the staph infection.

He was extremely friendly, and tried to put me at ease about the potential painfulness of the procedure without "promising anything". I told him I was a big girl and I understood that promises like that can never be made. See, the day before I had gone into my doctor's office where the physicians' assistant (my doc was booked) performed the drainage procedure. Naturally, the site on my elbow was extremely sore to the touch so let alone sticking a lidocaine filled needle in it! She had to 'poke' me three times and was very apologetic for hurting me. Then, of course, she drained it by squeezing and they bandaged it up and told me to change the bandage however many times needed. I was going to come back the next day.

The next day however, I went to the ER instead. So this doctor Grayson looked at how she'd done it and said, well, it's not done incorrectly ..BUT..from our experience, the incision with infections like this need to be made much bigger. (the 'much' being relative, my husband dearest who was fascinated by the procedure said, oh, he used a 15 scalpel like on Grey's Anatomy! Whatever....(I never look)

Soooo...I was very worried about another round of shots but as it turned out, he was so careful and knowledgable about how to do it, he showed an intern and made her do it as well. He told her what he was doing and why;
use this angle to insert and push very slowly, it decreases the amount of pain
warm the liquid to room temperature, it makes it less painful
He also rubbed on the spot after he was done.

He got the particular lab results from my doctor's office and said, even though they gave you the right amount for what this lab report shows, you really should have twice the dose of what you're taking. So the long and short of it was, I should have been looked at so they could've figured that out themselves.

[ICK alert]

So husband dearest got to play doctor by changing my dressing, and the long thin strip of medicated gauze they put in there (a FOOT long! my husband exclaimed, yuk, gives me goosebumps just writing it yech) anyhow, a bit came out and there went the goosebumps up and down my back and head YUK!

so today, the gauze kinda fell down and a longer part came out..YUK again! Of course, they're going to take the whole (rest!) thing out this afternoon and I'll have to go over the whole procedure again..shees..

Now my biggest problem is the meds. It always agreed with my stomach, no problem there. But..I cannot swallow pills so I have the liquid version. Well, twice the dose of something you've already taken for over a week?? Normally by the end of an antibiotic 'routine' for other ailments, I'm totally done and cannot take it anymore. I'm going to ask for the IV treatment instead. I could not handle taking the whole, new dose and it almost came back out if you know what I mean..

So that is my big worry; will they give it to me because there is a.b.s.o.l.u.t.e.l.y. no way in hell I can take anything orally.

And that's my story and I'm sticking to it. I've rested as much as possible and as much as my husband is a good tag teamer, he did not get a relaxing weekend to decompress from work so the taking care part for which the details are not important to him (cut something of, if a part falls down, it stays down unless I point out to him he 'might want to pick that up'..slob!!) Anyhoo..he's having to do a lot and I'm being practical. The kids need me plain and simple.
They've bickered more, the youngest one is out of sorts as I've practically quarantained myself in terms of 'no hugs and kisses'.. and we're a very affectionate family. Oh yea, and I guess my husband would like to play doctor 'his way' too (hehe)

I have started to get visibly better, but I know I'm not done yet.
To be continued..

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13 Comments:

Blogger Billie Greenwood said...

You've been through such an ordeal. We're really lucky to have Enigma as our friend. I know she'd help any of us.

Bless you as you recoup. Heal fast!

2:58 PM  
Blogger Jannie Funster said...

OMG, Ouch and yuck!

The woes of the human body.

Hang in there!

4:06 PM  
Blogger Ingrid said...

Thanks Border Explorer..it sounds more of an ordeal than it's been but then, I've been through a few other health ordeals that were much more 'heavy'. Thanks for your well wishes. I finally got some comedy dvd's from my neighbours (healing therapy you know)..I got two 'Red Dwarf' seasons, the whole Fawlty Towers (notice the Bri'ish' theme) and The Young Ones. Highly recommended by my neighbour who said that one of the punk/anarchist guy 'was' his room mate (as in, was like his roommate who now is a doctor at the head of a cancer research place)..
Jannie..hey woman. I had the 'ick alert' for a reason! lol
It's icky still but wound/infection wise..the doctor this afternoon said it looked 80% better..

alrightie, the kids played outside for the last 3hrs I need to get something to eat..
see you tomorrow Jannie. Thanks for stopping by B.E.!

Ingrid

8:08 PM  
Blogger Ingrid said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

8:08 PM  
Blogger D.K. Raed said...

So good to hear you are starting to heal! Staph is tough. The ER doc sounds like a dream come true ... a caring AND competent AND knowledgeable physician! Can't beat that combo (did he look like Geo Clooney -- just wondering -- in case I ever find myself in your area needing ER work).

Good that your hub could actually LOOK at the ick procedure. I always avert my eyes, too, whether it's something being done to me or others. But yeah, SOMEONE's gotta know what it looks like now so they can tell if it's getting better or worse.

You can't swallow pills? I suffered with that problem for yrs; can't tell you how much horrid tasting meds I crushed & drank because the pill wouldn't go down. Then one day I tried swallowing a pill like a bird drinks water. Put the pill in, took a swig of liquid & threw my head straight up in the air & swallowed. It worked & that's how I've managed to swallow pills ever since. I learnt from the birds!

Well, keep healing & it'll be over soon enough. Your kids will be so happy to be back in your arms!

11:13 PM  
Blogger lindsaylobe said...

Thinking of you at this time and very pleased to hear your medical support is much improved.

Best wishes

8:20 AM  
Blogger Billie Greenwood said...

I'm back with something for you over at my place. Hope it brightens your day! Sending you love and healing wishes...

9:12 AM  
Blogger jmsjoin said...

Oh man Ingrid I am cringing! So sorry! Sounds like a form of torture to me. You know, you automatically feel for the sufferer but in this case the whole family suffers collateral damagelflxtttb. Good luck to all of you!

11:55 AM  
Blogger Robert Rouse said...

Ingrid, I have an award for you at my place.

3:01 PM  
Blogger Ingrid said...

BE..how neat. I'm gonna be collecting those awards like merit badges! lol..and THANK YOU Robert for the same although my 10yr old is breathing down my neck for some 'computer time' (I need to get dinner ready so I don't have to prepare later) so I'll have to come over and do a 'looksee'. Gee, thanks [s]
Jim, it's funny how just playing footsie under the covers can make up for ehm..less physicalness. [g] I'm doing so much better than last week though, that was the week of pain. It's funny when people ask what I have since my elbow is wrapped and when I tell them it's a staph infection, they kinda pause and stay put (don't come close!!!) but thanks for the commisserating..I'm on my way to better better land,

hugs to all

Ingrid

3:29 PM  
Blogger jmsjoin said...

Ingrid
You be care, playing footsies
leads to other things and that is a given at least with me. You just take care of yourself right now.
I have people on the outside of the House and I was warned to be prepared for a quick sale and we have to go look at a few houses today so I have been pretty busy. I put audio on my post yesterday and I love it though Brother said it didn't work for him so I will be interested in what you have to do etc.
Anyway, do you have Helenwheels link because I lost them all and other things when I upgraded. I looked for it but got an obituary for Helen Wheels?

10:42 AM  
Blogger Robert Rouse said...

We went through a staph crisis in our home early in the summer. We weathered it out. Good luck.

4:00 PM  
Blogger enigma4ever said...

Hey there...I am so glad that you are doing better..I hope they are nice to you ( sounds like you do have Dr DrDreamy...so good...phew)...

take good care...many hugs..

( see everynow and then it is good to have a naggy nurse around ;-)

5:08 PM  

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