I am going on twenty one days staying in the hospital in the last nine months and you would think I would eventually get used to it. Around 10pm last Wednesday Kathy brought me to the ER at Salmon Creek Medical Center, Vancouver for a problem that developed quite quickly. My INR had spiked and registered 6.8 leaving my blood dangerously (thin) and unable to clot. I had a sore in my mouth that had opened up and I could not get the bleeding to stop so off to the ER we went. Problem number two was my ongoing surgical wound on my abdomen had developed and infection that I just had my doctor check earlier in the day on Wednesday, but by evening it had rendered sepsis and it was not responding to the normal antibiotics that I was prescribed. So while in the ER they decided to treat the infection with more potent IV antibiotics. I am happy to report that the bleed did come under control by the next day, but there was growing concern for the looming infection so I was put on the surgical scheduled to have an I&D to relieve the abscess. By Saturday the doctors finally felt that the antibiotics were helping and the surgery was moved to Monday, today. The doctor today has determined that the abscess is reducing and I have to return to one more appointment this Wednesday to be finally released from the tentative surgery schedule. Meanwhile I have had to stop my Warfarin anticoagulant medication and bridge with Lovenox injections until my INR is back to 2.3. Keeping my fingers crossed that I don’t have another blood clot and avoid another pulmonary embolism (p.e.) or deep vein thrombosis (d.v.t.). I’m guessing that my surgeon this Wednesday will suggest that my hernia surgery be postponed until this infection has passed and my plummeting cd4 climbs out of it slump. It seems that cancer and AIDS are not the topic this month. I stopped looking for the pot of gold and even the proverbial rainbow. I am just really hanging on to what little I have left and hope the storm will pass without taking everything. As I left the hospital for the twenty first time I’m always reminded of and delighted in one thing – delighted in my little family who always seems to make life worth living for and thankful that will always be enough for me.
Posted on: Tue, 01 Oct 2013 07:56:34 +0000
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