Early Spring Time for Chatty
I see chatty is looking forward to spring, and sunshine. Tina went outside for me to take some pictures today Linda. Very windy here and the temperatures are in the low 50's at night. But spring is on its way! Some of the pics are from the next door neigbours, and some are from around our yard.
Just for Chatty Moon
Hi Linda, I made some cornbread (johnny bread) in the old cast iron pan tonight, took up some to momma..................MMMMMMMM it's good. Anyway momma had a picture of Lady. She was so small and cute
Boring Winter Olympics
Out of all the news stories I have read over the last 2 weeks the one that has most caught my eye is the non story of the Olympic. I thought I would have watched plenty of the action (seeing as I have not too much else going on) but they are just boring. No wonder NBC has lost a bundle on them.
BBC or Bermuda Brodcasting company (ZBM, ZFB) thought they would out do DeFontes Broadcasting (VSB) Now VSB is the NBC affiliate (the ones showing the Olympics) what does BBC (ABC,CBS Affiliate) do they buy the rights to show the olypics from NBC thus VSB has to show Old movies and reruns, and ZFB show the Olympics which no one watches............................
That means out of the three over the air TV stations, two of them have nothing to watch. Thank god for cable TV thats all I can say.
The ole' bag is finally gone
Well it's gone, lost my blue bag and six foot of clear tubing this afternoon. The home nurse came and disconnected me from the pump and hopefully I will not have to get anymore IV penicillin for a long time. Heres hopeing no fevers over the next few days and a good report from the echogardiogram on monday.
problems?
We all got our problems, including the latest powerball winner. Well maybe, anyway reading some of the blogs makes you think some times that one life is not all that bad. I know that but still it's my life and some times I get tired of feeling like I have been crapped on. I can not help anyone else, hell some times I feel like I can just about deal with my own shit.
Health wise I guess I am better but will not know for sure for a couple of weeks, but then its allways something else, not to worry lets get over this hump first. I think I am depressed about having to go back to work, (not that I do not want to go back) its just that physically I am so dam tired. And not from lack of sleep either. Going for little walks and even talking on the phone tires me out so damm much. I get out of breath fast and this is what bothers me.
The nurse and doctor says this is normal, but I wish I could feel normal.
Nurse just came to change my penicillin, last bag tommorow and which means Wednesday night I should be FREE. I will still have the Hicman in but it will be dangling, unhooked and free of the pump. Hopefully no fevers, and the echo goes good on Monday. Then if all clear I should be back to work on the 1st of March.
O ya thats why I am depressed................
Not off it yet, but less............
Well pDoc was happy with my progress, told me to cut the little pink pill in 4 and take 1/4 once a day. I asked him how long and it was allmost up to me untill I said I feel rage and anger when I am off the stuff for 2 days. So then he said 4 - 6 months. Thats cool as I have been on this stuff for so long it will be better to stretch it out.
The home nurse and the doctor spoke on the phone yesterday when she came to fill up the penicillin. The script for the penicillin runs out next week on the 22nd. I was supposed to have the Hickman catheter out the next day. What they will do instead is leave it in over the weekend and see if the fevers come back. if so well...................I.........................I hope not
Stuff
Well I am glad to be feeling better, but now comes the hard part. I need to start getting my strength back. I have been off work over a month now, I should be back the 1st of next month. So I started to go for walks a few days ago. Not far just down town and back. I had to go and make a deposit 2 days ago so I used that as an good reason to start walking.
Now I was not feeling well for most of December and the middle of January swa me in the hospital for a week. Now I am having the problem of my legs and muscles and joints are hurting me. Not from being ill but from exersice. They are not used to it and I am finding out that neither is the rest of me. I get bloody tired really fast. The doctor said this would happen so I no I have to be patient, but damm I hate feeling like this. Well I would rater feel like this than how I was before.
Hopefully in a week it will not be as bad.
I go and see the pDoc this Am, I want off the effexor! Do not know what he will do so ............
Chatty allready said a lot on our daddys passing 14 years ago, I can not add to much except I really miss the "ole man" maybe I will do something picture wise to post. I have been scanning a lot of the old albums and he seemed to stay behind the camera a lot but I will see what I can do.
It's my turn! or rather our turn..........
" Sometime even the guys have got to give up their TV!"
Princess and Sasha hogging the TV all night, much to Pacmans disgust.
New TV for Pacman
We needed a good reason to get a new TV and it was not the Super Bowl!
Pacman a year ago, was just a BIG little kitten
He and the other cats love the warmth from
the cable box. He had no problem getting his
butt on it.
Poor Pacman about six months ago, he was a lot
bigger and could no longer fit. At least he front
end is nice and toasty!
Okay, Houston we got a problem, Pacman is too
big for the cable box, allmost to big for the old
Sony Trinitron 25" TV. Something has got to
change, and soon
AH!!! Much better Nice big 36" TV, Got my cable box and
DSL/wireless box's to keep me nice and toasty. Although
if I keep growing I might have a problem soon, I see a
Bigscreen, HDTV in our future!
Low-Fat Diet problems as well!!!
I copyied only the first part but................From the New York TimesFebruary 7, 2006Study Finds Low-Fat Diet Won't Stop Cancer or Heart DiseaseBy GINA KOLATAThe largest study ever to ask whether a low-fat diet reduces the risk of getting cancer or heart disease has found that the diet has no effect.The $415 million federal study involved nearly 49,000 women ages 50 to 79 who were followed for eight years. In the end, those assigned to a low-fat diet had the same rates of breast cancer, colon cancer, heart attacks and strokes as those who ate whatever they pleased, researchers are reporting today."These studies are revolutionary," said Dr. Jules Hirsch, physician in chief emeritus at Rockefeller University in New York City, who has spent a lifetime studying the effects of diets on weight and health. "They should put a stop to this era of thinking that we have all the information we need to change the whole national diet and make everybody healthy."The study, published in today's issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, was not just an ordinary study, said Dr. Michael Thun, who directs epidemiological research for the American Cancer Society. It was so large and so expensive, Dr. Thun said, that it was "the Rolls-Royce of studies." As such, he added, it is likely to be the final word."We usually have only one shot at a very large-scale trial on a particular issue," he said.The results, the study investigators agreed, do not justify recommending low-fat diets to the public to reduce their heart disease and cancer risk. Given the lack of benefit found in the study, many medical researchers said that the best dietary advice, for now, was to follow federal guidelines for healthy eating, with less saturated and trans fats, more grains, and more fruits and vegetables.Not everyone was convinced. Some, like Dr. Dean Ornish, a longtime promoter of low-fat diets and president of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, Calif., said that the women did not reduce their fat to low enough levels or eat enough fruits and vegetables, and that the study, even at eight years, did not give the diets enough time.Others said that diet could still make a difference, at least with heart disease, if people were to eat the so-called Mediterranean diet, low in saturated fats like butter and high in oils like olive oil. The women in the study reduced all kinds of fat.
Enough already!!!
Okay last post on my latest illness (for now)
Basically I am home now for at least the next 3 weeks. The home nurse comes and changes the little bag of penicillin everyday. Cleans and dresses the spot where the catheter goes in. At the end of the month I will get the catheter pulled out and have a follow-up echocardiogram to see if I have any permanent heart damage. Then I should be back to work beginning of March.
Sorry to be detailed about some of the procedures but hey that’s what happened. I still find it hard to believe that I was walking around sick like that for over a month, and feeling as crappy as I was. Thanks again for all your well wishes. It helped a lot.
Picture shows the "pump" or "my new mate" This thing goes everywhere with me. 24/7 I wake up in the morning all tangled up in the line that "feeds" me the antibiotics. That on top of the CPAP hose twisted around my neck some times makes my wife think I am into S&M!
Can hardly wait untill the 23rd when I will be FREE!!!
Going home - Finally
Hickman was implanted on Saturday afternoon; the doc came by later to say I could go home the next day, if the pharmacy was open to dispense the medicine! So another day in the hospital.
They moved me to a semi-private room Sunday morning and the Doctor came by say everything was looking good. He signed me out for Monday and said just have to get the home nurse organized. I was starting to feel a lot better. Still tired but at least no more fevers.
I had the first decent nights sleep in over 3 weeks, so good I did not want to get out of bed until breakfast came. (yuck) Later that morning I called the home nurse and she said she would meet me at home by 6:00 pm. That done it was just a matter of “let me out of here!!!” The ward nurse said I would have to wait until my 2:00 pm dose of penicillin. Every four hours for the last 5 days and night I had to be hooked up to the intravenous drip. Usually they would set it to run for 1 to 2 hours. I think I got this last one in ½ an hour! Guess they wanted me out of here as well. (They needed the room and the bed)
That done I was changed and packed ready for the nurse to unplug me. Now here is a strange thing, I was asked if I needed a wheelchair to take me down to the car (wife had come to pick me up) Now that is normal practice to wheel one down to the car. Hell no I said I can walk!
I have to say something, I want to thank all the nurses, doctors, aids and rest of the staff at the KEMH, the building may be falling down around you but you all manage to work under very difficult and trying situations. Some of the patients needed a lot of EXTRA patience. Not a job I could do! The only thing I asked for daily was some butter to go with my meals.
Never say non dairy when checking in. It’s easier to not eat what’s on your plate then to try to get something that’s not on it. Even though the food was terrible I was grateful for it.
I was going home, and I felt much better. Thanks again to everyone.
Going home - soon but NOT YET!
The screw up was the wrong catheter had been put in, this meant I would not be getting out on Friday……..or Saturday. To make this long story short I was starting to feel much better and they scheduled me to have the center line pulled on Saturday mourning with the new Hickman Line installed at the same time. As it would be a procedure done in the operating room I was told not to eat or drink after 8:00 pm Friday night. Expecting the procedure to be done by 11 am.
Saturday morning came and I could not even eat my one slice of whole wheat toast with marmalade and egg beaters. (YUCK) so by 11:00 I was a little hungry. Lunch came (literally) and went I still could not eat. I was now really hungry. Around 2:30 pm the anesthetist came and described the procedure for implanting the Hickman. I signed the papers (wishing I had a lawyer friend) and he said it would not take long to do. He omitted one tiny detail I had the displeasure of finding out on the O.R. table
They wheeled me down to the O.R. and prepped me for the procedure. Before I new it the center line was out, the only way I new this was I could feel something warm running down my neck (blood) I had not felt a thing. A little pressure and the bleeding stopped pretty quickly.
The anesthetist rubbed iodine wash all over my neck and chest then they put a sterile sheet over me with a part of it cut out in the neck and chest area. He gave me a couple of local injections to numb the area and said I would feel a little pressure. This is the detail that probably should have been explained a little better.
If anyone is interested in the procedure type in Hickman Catheter in Google and read away. I will tell you this much. This was the most uncomfortable procedure I have ever had done to me. Not quite painful as I had the local for pain. A lot of forceful pressure in the chest and neck area. Not something I would look forward to have done again
That experience over I was wheeled to recovery and after an hour or so with the machines that go PING! I was back on the ward with a tube coming out of my chest looking something like the Borg out of Star Trek.
The reason for the Hickman was that it can be in for a long time and I needed it if I wanted to go home. Now that it was in that should be soon!
Picture shows the catheter going in to the chest. It then goes under the skin up to the stiches you see by my neck. (that was the uncomfortable part!) it then goes down into the subclavian vein and then just inside the heart.
Happy Birthday!
Well I made it to my 44th, normally I do not like parties but it seemed to me like I should have something. My wife’s granny had passed, I was getting over a serious illness and people were just too dammed depressed. I was talking to the wife’s uncle (grannies son) and found out his birthday was February 1st, mine was the 2nd. I put a loose plan together to have them over the house and maybe make some pizza (I make it from scratch and cook it on a pizza stone) His sister was in Bermuda for the funeral and I had not seen her since February last year.
They said they would bring a small cake and it looked like a plan. I called some people and friends and proceeded to do my thing. I use to be able to cook up to 10 pizzas for my "pizza parties" was not going to do that as I did not have the strength, but I got up yesterday morning posted on the bog, then I went out to the kitchen and started to cut up the veggies. I do not like a lot of moisture in the vegetables so I cut them early and try to dry the out as much as possible with paper towels. About lunch time I started to make my dough. Keep in mind I have not done this in over a year and a half and the recipe is in my head. I dump the ingredients in a big bowl and let memory take over.
Soon I have all the veggies cut and the dough kneaded and divided. I put the dough in sandwich bags then place in the fridge to slow it down a bit. I am ready. Except for the sauce. I use an Italian plain sauce as a base then I give it my own special treatment
By 5 pm thought no one was showing up. By 6 I thought I would not have enough pizza salad to go around. By the end of the night I had cooked 7 pizzas!!! (I managed to save 2 pieces for my lunch the next day) We had a goodtime; it was nice to have a lot of people and noise in the house. Granny Peggy loved my pizza and I am sorry I had not cooked her any in the last year and a half. So the birthday pizza party was for her as well.
Linda you missed some great pizza
Tossin the pie
A Vegitarian Pizza (Damm it tasted good)
Somebody Screwed up!
The next morning the doc showed up started to tell me what bug I might have as the blood culture results where coming in.
Viridans group streptococci
• The viridans group of streptococci are a diverse group of organisms
• They are respiratory, gastrointestinal and oral cavity commensals
• Infection usually occurs in immunocompromised hosts
• Principal virulence trait is to adhere to cardiac valves and cause endocarditis
• Account for 30 - 40% of cases of endocarditis
• Most occur in patients with valvular heart disease
• Other risk factors include:
o Prosthetic heart valves
o Intravenous drug abuse
• Most are viridans streptococcal species are sensitive to penicillin
Sorry for the cut n paste but the description is accurate. The doctor got a phone call as he was talking to me and came back to me and said that I had strepaureus and penicillin will kill it okay. No need to have expensive drug therapy. Hell the 4 week supply of penicillin cost almost $1000.00 but because I got a generic version the insurance covered 100% of the cost.
Doc said 4 -6 weeks of antibiotic treatment and I should be okay. I had been on the penicillin for about 16 hours now (getting it every 4 hours) and I suddenly realized that I had not had a fever in the last 6 or 7 hours. Also I was starting to feel much better.
Okay back to the mistake. Someone made the great call and had put a center line in. (Picture in previous post) for me to go home and get out of this place I would need to have a Hickman catheter implanted. The center line was not acceptable to the home nurse who would come to the house everyday and change out the penicillin, clean and dress the wound and basically make sure I was okay.
This was Thursday morning, plan was to change the line and get me out Friday or Saturday. We all know how plans can get screwed up!
The Next Day
Woke up Wednesday morning in a strange bed with strangers for my room mates. I was supposed to be in a semi-private room but as the Hospital is full I was in a public room. Hell at least I was not in the hallway. (Did not bother me that much anyway 2 beds vs. 4 beds)
Breakfast came and as was hungry I ate it. Can not remember what it was except it tasted like crap. Then it was more blood work in between my fevers. The doctor came in about 9:00 am and was talking about preliminary findings. They were waiting for the first set of blood cultures to come back. He told me I would get an echocardiogram latter that day, and then it was just wait and see.
Lunch came, then a few hours latter they stuck me in a wheelchair and I was taken down for the echo. That done I put some clothes on and went for a walk, as well as make some phone calls.
I was gone for about an hour and when I made my way back up to the ward a nurse said they were looking for me. Turns out the preliminary results had come thru. It was a bacterial infection of the heart. Endocarditic……………..
Won’t bore you with the details as Google will tell you all you need to know, but I will say this. Not a lot of people get this so I guess that makes me special. Now if I could only win the damm lottery!
They now new what I had but had to wait for the blood cultures to finish so they could find out what bacteria it was and then which antibiotic would kill it. That said they wheeled me down to the Operating Room, bed and all to put a “Center Line” in my neck. I was given a local and a mild sedative (UMMMMMM you just got to like those sedatives!) and they ran a line down into my heart. This way the medicine would go closer to the infection. That and the line could stay in for a couple of weeks as opposed to 3 or 4 days for a normal IV line in your arm.
The procedure was a little uncomfortable but it only took 10 minutes, then I was in recovery for about an hour and then it was back to the ward. Great! I had missed the yucky dinner. A little while later the doctor showed up, said that it was a strep infection, not quite sure which one yet and they would start the penicillin treatments………….for 4 to 8 weeks
Check In
Getting the doctor to call you back can sometimes be considered a small miracle. Getting a call from the doctor at 9:00pm from his office in my book should and was considered panic attack material.
Monday I had been in to the lab for more blood tests, and I had not expected any results for at least another week. A chest x-ray had been scheduled for the following week. All the ongoing tests had not confirmed what was making me feel like crap so the thought of another week of this was not making me feel to happy.
So, Tuesday night at 9:00 the doctor called me to ask me to come in the next day for more tests. I told him about my temperatures (he had asked me to monitor the fever) and we talked for a few more minutes then he hung up. Two minutes later the Doctor called back to say he was concerned about my heart murmur and that I should probably go to the emergency room. “Tomorrow Mourning?” I asked. “Tonight! Now” he responded.
So an hour later I found myself in the emergency room, with the doctor there asking me more questions and giving me another going over. I could see that he had narrowed down what he thought I had and now it was just a matter of confirming it. A bunch of blood tests and the chest X-Ray where performed; now it is almost 1:00 in the morning. My wife was with me and she was very concerned. Her Step Granny was upstairs on a ward in a coma. She had had a massive stroke and brain bleed about a week before. I wondered how she was able to cope before with her sick now I was about to check in to the hospital.
The doctor came in and said they were waiting for a room on the ward then they would move me upstairs. I had been to the hospital a lot, as a visitor or out patient, but the last time I was “checked in” was when I was about 3 years old for removal of my tonsils.
All I could think about was “Yucky Hospital Food!!!” I was also informed I would be having an echocardiogram on my heart in the morning and some more blood tests. The tests where blood cultures and the results usually take 24 to 48 hours. They were looking for a bacterial infection.
I told my wife to go home because now it was just a matter of wait and see. She was really tired and I told her not to worry and I would see her in the morning. They moved me up to the ward about 3:00 in the morning and I got settled in to a restless sleep.
I latter found out that Granny “Peggy” had passed about the same time I was being wheeled into my ward. She was in the other ward, same floor right across from where I was.
That experience over I was wheeled to recovery and after an hour or so with the machines that go PING! I was back on the ward with a tube coming out of my chest looking something like the Borg out of Star Trek.
They said they would bring a small cake and it looked like a plan. I called some people and friends and proceeded to do my thing. I use to be able to cook up to 10 pizzas for my "pizza parties" was not going to do that as I did not have the strength, but I got up yesterday morning posted on the bog, then I went out to the kitchen and started to cut up the veggies. I do not like a lot of moisture in the vegetables so I cut them early and try to dry the out as much as possible with paper towels. About lunch time I started to make my dough. Keep in mind I have not done this in over a year and a half and the recipe is in my head. I dump the ingredients in a big bowl and let memory take over.
The procedure was a little uncomfortable but it only took 10 minutes, then I was in recovery for about an hour and then it was back to the ward. Great! I had missed the yucky dinner. A little while later the doctor showed up, said that it was a strep infection, not quite sure which one yet and they would start the penicillin treatments………….for 4 to 8 weeks
