I now have a continuous Bumex drip going into my right arm. The nurses are now trying to figure out where they're going to insert a second IV line for my antibiotics. I can't have them insert it into my hands: they'll bruise them up horrendously and cause level 9 pain (on a 1-10 scale). We'll see when they get here.

All of this is necessary because the PICC line didn't get scheduled for today. Fnord.

#cosomedical

Hospital Update 5/19/2022:

Left arm ultrasound came back negative - the DVT has dissolved and is gone. They're going to put in a PICC line for my 2 antibiotics to treat my leg cellulitis. I'm also going to get a 24-hour-a-day Bumex diuretic drip, since the simple injections aren't working anymore to get rid of my leg swelling. It looks like I'm going to be here through the weekend. I've already been in here a week - last Thursday is when I checked into the ER. Sigh. 😞

#cosomedical

Hospital Update 5/18/22 part 2:

Just spoke with the Infectious Diseases doctor. She's going to add Cefepime to the Cubicin antibiotic IV regimen, since the Cubicin alone isn't getting the job done.

She also said I'm nowhere near ready to be discharged. That's going to be at least a couple of days into the future. So, I'm stuck here until at least Friday.

She wants to put a PICC line into my arm, but where to put it is another story. Stay tuned.

#cosomedical

Hospital Update Day 6:

Now on my 5th different antibiotic, an IV one called Cubicin. Not so many toxicity problems as with the vancomycin, but not as strong. Stronger than the two oral ones were, though. Showing some slight progress in clearing the leg redness.

Back on 60mg IV Lasix. It seems to be working, although not as fast as I'd like to get my leg swelling to go down.

Still taking 1mg Dilaudid every 4 hrs for level 7 to 8 1/2 arm pain. Damned thing hurts too much.

#cosomedical

Day 4 in the hospital. Left leg still red & swollen. Vancomycin cancelled & replaced w/2 oral antibiotics. My doctor started giving me 60mg IV Lasix diuretic for the swelling, now that my blood pressure is back up to something more normal. The floodgates have opened on that venue, and my nurse has to measure my, *ahem*, output for the time being.

Still having level 7-8.5 pain in my right arm. Getting Dilaudid for that - it does *some* good. Waiting for a dose now.

#cosomedical

Bob Gammage. I'm in the hospital again.

Got admitted through the ER on Thursday. Had to wait in an ER bed for 25 hours before a room became available upstairs. No fun.

Edema in both legs, much worse in left, w/cellulitis skin infection in both. They put me on a low dose diuretic because my BP was low, and vancomycin for the cellulitis (had to stop it - it hit a near toxic level in my blood).

I'll be here through at least the weekend. Warrgharbl.

#cosomedical

#cosomedical Update:

My Diamox prescription (the new adjunct diuretic experiment) appears to be working. I've lost 5 pounds of water weight in a day and a half, with only minor dizziness and lightheadedness as side effects. I'm still considering it experimental until it's been going a week, though. Keep the good luck wishes coming, and thanks for the ones that have already been sent.

#cosomedical

The Diamox has kicked in. So has dizziness and lightheadedness. No enhanced diuretic effect yet, though, or at least not much. The experiment continues.

Conducting an experiment on myself this morning. My primary care doctor prescribed a new adjunct diuretic for me to help kick-start my main diuretic for reducing my edema in my left leg. Diamox is its name, and according to CVS, it *could* be related to the sulfa which I'm allergic to. My doctor did research and said the probability is extremely low to nil, but left the choice up to me. I wouldn't be testing if a previous one hadn't failed. Wish me luck - I need this one to work.

#cosomedical

I'm home after spending the whole weekend in the hospital. They admitted me from the ER and put me on IV Lasix. I wound up losing 13 *pounds* from my swollen legs, but at a price - I developed phlebitis in a vein in my right elbow. They ran ultrasounds on my legs and elbow, plus an echocardiogram on my heart. No DVTs, and no cause found for the swelling. Told me to follow up with a vein specialist.

#cosomedical

Oh, joy - I get to go to the emergency room today! 😞

My left leg is swollen as all hell, up to and beyond the knee. Been taking 80mg a day of torsemide to control it, but it's not working any more. Called to get a doctor's appointment - none available. Nurses said go to the ER today ASAP.

Such fun I'm having. Will report when I get back. Fnord.

#cosomedical

I've been having bad heartburn and gas over the past week & a half. Have decided to go back on a course of generic Nexium. Should do me a world of good.

#CoSoMedical

Saw the podiatrist yesterday. The osteomyelitis on toe number two of my right foot is not improving, despite weeks of antibiotics. We talked it over, and it's going to have to be partially amputated. Bone infection is a real bitch.

On the up side, this moves me that much closer to getting my left knee replaced, since it'll get rid of the infection that's holding up the process. Not looking forward to the aftercare, but I'll take it to get my knee replaced.

#CoSoMedical

Getting ready to go get immunized for a cruise to Cozumel, Mexico today. Typhoid and Hepatitis A vaccines, per the CDC. Praying for no reaction to the vaccinations.

#CoSoMedical

I found out what the bacteria is that's causing the infection of my right foot's second toe - remember, the one that popped open in the shower the day before my arthroscopy?

It's Enterococcus. Fecal bacteria from our cat's litter box in the bathroom.

Yuck.

The clindamycin I was on was useless against it. Now I'm on Augmentin and an antibiotic cream. Got to go back to the podiatrist in a week for a re-check.

No way in hell did I predict this was gonna happen.

#CoSoMedical

Just got back from a follow-up with the knee surgeon. He said he found a *lot* (his emphasis) more arthritis on my kneecap than he expected during surgery. Now, at long last, he's finally recommending a knee replacement.

He says the arthroscopy may have bought a couple of years before the replacement is needed, but it will have to be done.

My take: it's about damned time. I've been trying to get this knee replaced for over a decade.

#CoSoMedical

Blog update: here are photos from inside my knee during my knee operation from Monday:

https://dleejackson.lbjackson.com/2019/12/left-knee-2019-12-23/

#CoSoMedical

I'm back. Survived my left knee surgery on Monday. Surgeon found more than he expected - bone-on-bone arthritis, some *very* angry tissue, and a few other bits.

Also had an infection literally pop on toe 2 of my *right* foot. Surgeon went ahead with the operation, but put antibiotic in my IV and gave me a scrip for clindamycin - very strong stuff. Need to see my podiatrist ASAP so I don't lose another toe to possible osteomyelitis.

Hope to have knee internal pics soon.

#CoSoMedical

Just took 15mg oxycodone and 300mg gabapentin together. That's my morning dose for muscle, bone, and nerve pain. I give myself a 1:1 chance of passing out within the next 2 hours.

If I can stay awake, it'll be time to take the rest of my meds, including other sedating medications. I'd lower the odds to 5:4 at that time.

#CoSoMedical

Today's doctor's appointment is getting cancelled - my wife (a.k.a. my transportation) came home from urgent care last night with a diagnosis of borderline pneumonia. I'm rescheduling all of my bloodwork/lab tests for one day next week - follow-ups and pre-ops alike.

#CoSoMedical