This post is an update on my medical status. So if youre not interested in hearing about my medical status or problems, please--just pass by this Post, move onto the next one--dont read this--please. Now with that disclaimer said, let me tell my friends & family who actually do care whats happening with me, that I started having horrible pain on Sat., 11/13 at the site where my neurostimulators leads were placed. It was unbearable pain that just kept getting worse & worse. I suffered with the pain thru-out the weekend & then went to see my doctor on Mon., 11/11/13. At that time, I had the leads from my neurostimulator removed & in that process, my doctor discovered what he suspected was an abscess/infection at the site of the incision. Because of that, my doctor started me on antibiotics & ordered an MRI-stat, but we couldnt get the MRI scheduled until late afternoon on Tues., 11/12/13. Once the MRI was done & the radiologist read the MRI & spoke to my doctor, I was admitted right away to the Hoag Hospital Neurological & Cardiac Unit, because I had an abscess/infection in my spinal column, which can pose a great danger, including death or brain deficits. On Wed.,11/13/13, my Neurosurgeon performed a laminectomy & debridement of the abscessed area, cutting out some of the bone around my spine in the process. They cultured the bacteria that had been removed, which took several days, so in the meantime, they were treating the abscess with a broad spectrum of antibiotics. Once the bacteria was finally identified, they then switched to antibiotics that targeted the actual bacteria that was found around my spine. So since then, Ive been just trying to recuperate in the hospital. Its been a very painful process & its going to take a long time to completely recover. Ive been on major pain meds because now, added to my already everyday serious pain, now I have the added pain from the abscess/infection, plus of course all the pain from the surgery. Ill be in a back brace for at least a couple months, & theres been discussion that I might have to have a port or a pic line put in b4 leaving the hospital, so that I can administer IV antibiotics to myself for the next couple months at home. So for now, Im doing everything I can to get better, which includes working with PT (physical therapy) & more. I had a CT Scan today & theres discussion that I might have another MRI tomorrow. I really want to go home soooo badly, yet Im terrified as to how Im actually going to manage to care for myself there with all the stairs we have, especially since all my family members are busy at work most the time, so Ill be all alone at home most of the time, & our condo isnt easy to get around in when youre not recovering from serious surgery. Ive heard some rumblings that I might be possibly going home late tomorrow or perhaps the next day. I know however that there have also been discussions as to whether theyre going to send me home, or to a rehab facility first to work on my strength (because I am really weak right now). So as another uncomfortable night looms b4 me in the hospital, all I can do is wait & hope to feel better soon. Wish me luck. This has been an unexpected & brutal thing that has happened to me & has certainly messed up a lot of the plans I had for myself & soooo many things I wanted to get done. Heavy sigh...
Posted on: Mon, 18 Nov 2013 06:36:07 +0000
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