Goodbye PICC line

Well, the IF doc pulled the PICC line and all we have to do now is wait to see if all the expensive IV antibiotics worked. If so, no problems. If NOT, I will start having symptoms of infection flare-up such as pus, hot and cold spells (AKA chills and fever) swelling and reddness. Sounds like fun, No???
At least we have a break now and the LSW doesn't have to hook up my antibiotics three times a day. NOW all she has to do is change my abdominal dressing twice a day--which is SO much fun for her. I told her that without her tender loving care, I could not have handled this and don't know what I might have done. Please let it be OVER, God!!

No Ho, but the winds DO blow!

The damn thing is fistulated again!!!!!!!!! My doc says he feels really bad for me, but the fact of it re-forming shows that this is NOT THE TIME to operate again. Since the lower tract is working well and I can handle the abdomonal leakage with dressings, we "Should let it alone and see if it will heal by itself which is possibly. This waiting for scar tissue to fill in and close the abdominal surgical incision might include growing over and closing the fistula also.
We can also handle the severe bilateral knee pain with Lidocaine patches my surgeon prescribed. They really work pretty good. 12 hours of greatly decreased pain and then 12 hours of Aleve when patches not on. I can do this, but the LSW and I should not have to--it's just not fair!! We don't deserve the punioshment, but maybe it's a blessing considering that some folks don't even have legs and bowels. More later. Is anyone even reading this blog??

OH, damn!!!! Now what?

Well folks, it seems that the term "The right hand of God" must really mean something as this morning I am experiencing the left hand.
"What do you mean?" you may ask. Well, two days ago everything was good and it seemed that the end was in sight. No I did NOT observe my backside in a mirror. That would be silly. The end I mean was the travail of having bowel surgical problems over and over. Now this AM, I had to strain and suddenly there was a small tooting sound (AKA mini-fart) from my open abdominal incision. This is NOT a good sound considering that the only air I initially thought of was that from my bowel which WAS open and which you can read about in prior postings. My LSW checked it out---she heard the sound and saw a few tiny bubbles (Don Ho, what are you doing in my insides?).
We agreed to call the surgeon and miraculously, he was on call this Sunday. He told me, after several questions, to see him first thing Monday so he could evaluate the phenomenon. In the meantime, our stress level increased several humdred-fold. I checked for gas forming bacteria on the 'net and found one new article about gas forming bacteria mimicing hollow organ air sounds. All we can do is wait til tomorrow and I'll let you know.

The tide is out and the oysters are free

ALREADY the water gain I had is gone and I am back at 38" waist. Amazingly fast! My doc is very surprised i am doing so well so fast. I told him I am a tough guy and this soft tissue pain is not too bad and easy to handle --bone pain is MUCH worse. I wish i hadn't just said that, as i am looking forward to bilateral knee replacement surgery when this abdominal stuff is done.
The whole family will be happy for me when i can walk and not have pain and the LSW will probably be the most happy as she has had to put up with me by listening to moans, groans and whimpers as she changes my dressing twice a day and runs my antibiotic thrice a day--wonder what the word is for FOUR TIMES A DAY???? Quice?? Not able to compute.
This past ten months has been one of the toughest times in my life, but i am sure I could never have made it through with out my darling--so much more than an ordinary wife and the best nurse on the planet.

Crap!!!!!!!!!! Literally!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well folks, I just got out of the hospital after a 4 day "Same day surgery operation"----My surgeon got inside lovely old me and found that there was indeed a fistula from the subcu tissue into the bowel . This meant more surgical time--2 whole hours rather than the 20-30 minutes he had originally told me. Since the bowel was open, he had to keep me in the hospital until I had a "good and decent movement" showing that the bowel was working---4 days of waiting for crap is not my idea of fun, especially if the surgical incision had to be re-done cleaning out the infection and having the usual pain and ensuing weight gain from water in the tissues. MY LSW had to take me to Savers to get a couple pair of used size 46 pants to tide me over until the water left dehydrating me to normal which is a 38" waist. Note the inadvertent but extremely well done pun in the prior sentence--having to do with water, dehydration and "TIDE" me over.
Now I'm home doing that world famous dance called the "MOVEMENT"
while waiting for my kidneys to get rid of the water that expanded my waist from 38 to 46"----UNBELIEVABLE, isn't it? Good thing that water didn't collect on my brain.

More Incisional fun and games

Saw an internist today for pre-op physical exam with blood work and EKG> All is good to go for same day surgery on the 8th to open and clean out the remaining "Pus-Pockets"<<< esoteric medical terninology meaning sac of infection . Hope that this will be bringing the end nearer. It's been 10 months and I'm getting tired of having to have my LSW change my dressing daily and plug in my IV antiobiotic, too. MAYBE I can be cured by the end of October and can look forward to having my very sore and crappy<<< medical term for sh----y left knee fixed. Halloween Please hurry.
If you are tired of reading about MY medical problems, either quit reading this blog OR think of how I feel about the whole thing!!!!!!!