November 13, 2003

I showed up at the doc’s for day 9 of my treatment, and the receptionist told me….”oh, you’re not having your treatment today, they want to remove your catheter!!! “ WHAAAAAT???????? The nurse came to get me to explain. My 2nd blood test from Tuesday, had come back positive again for the same bacteria. After more than a week on vancomycin, the blood should be clean, but it wasn't. This told them that the infection was living in the catheter! Isn’t THAT exciting! The catheter has to come out. I asked when? They said “today or tomorrow!” Glad no one wants to waste any time! The nurse explained that the procedure to take it out is MUCH easier than the one to put it in. I won’t need anyone to drive me home as they won’t be giving me any la-la land drugs! (darn!!!) It’s a fairly easy procedure where they basically “rip it out” she said! They began my treatment and when it was done, the nurse called over to the hospital to see when they can get me into their schedule. They had an opening tomorrow morning at 11:00. Yeeha!

November 14, 2003

Day 10 of the anit-biotic treatment - but first, I had go to the hospital to have the groshong catheter removed. It was an interesting day. The nurse told me they would basically “rip it out” and that’s just about what they did. First, I waited in the waiting room for over an hour past my scheduled time. There was an emergency they said. So, once I got undressed, a nurse came to remove the stitches holding the catheter in place. This only took 5 minutes but required bit of effort. It hurt only a little. Then they washed me with betadine or some other red, sticky substance. The nurse told the surgeon I was ready, but she apparently didn’t get the message, so I waited on the gurney in the pre-op area for another 15 minutes. Finally she came in and got another nurse to hold my hand while she administers the lido cane and epi (epinephrine) to numb me. Ouch!!!!! Now I see why the nurse had to hold my hand. This took about 30 seconds. Then the dr. used forceps or something and ZIP!, (or rather "rip!") out came the catheter…..it took all of about 5 seconds.! I never went into the OR…they did the procedure on a gurney in the pre-op area. She bandaged me up, and I left, got in my car and drove across the parking lot for my anti-biotic treatment. I was at the hospital for 2 and a half hours for a procedure that took all of 5 seconds!!! I can’t wait to see the bill!

November 15, 2003

Day 11 of the anti-biotic treatment. They didn’t want to use the vein in my hand, since it was used yesterday, so they put a needle in the inside of my forearm. Since I was coming back tomorrow (Sunday), they decided to leave the needle (stent) which is attached to a port for the injections, in my arm. They think I can leave it in for all four remaining days. This will make taking showers interesting! I'll have to wrap my arm in plastic. Or, maybe I just won’t take a shower!!! ;-)

November 18, 2003

Day 14 of the anti-biotic treatment…… YAY!!!!!! They removed the stent in my arm…ahhhhhh!!!!!!! I can now shower for the first time in two months without any body parts being wrapped in plastic!!! No catheter, no stent! It’s a nice feeling to stand under the water and not worry about things that shouldn’t get wet.