Category: My Life

It’s really wonderful when you meet a really nice person, who is willing to help you out with something important, and while speaking with this person, you realize how very much you have in common, and how happy you are to have met. Yvette was such a kind woman, who really wanted to help, and spent some of her own time today making sure at least part of my problem was taken care of.

You see, Monday found me with another problem with my PICC line. I needed to get an ultra sound done on the arm to see if there was a clot in the blood vessel.

There is and I need a new line, and so everyone, from my visiting nurse, to my doctor in Boston worked to get my local GP to write the order.

Hubby and I were informed by GP (here in New Hampshire) that he wouldn’t write the order. If I needed the new PICC line I could go to Boston. He did say however, if he spoke to the Boston Doctor, he would consider writing the order. But after he spoke to her, he still refused to write the order. So at 3:50 PM on Monday afternoon, I had no one to help me and nothing to do.

I would not give up. Now the really nice person (mentioned above), called his office and arranged for me to get a normal IV which I can use until Thursday, when Hubby will drive me to Boston to get my new PICC line put in.

But the really nice thing was meeting the Nurse, Yvette. A dachshund lover since her youth, she loved flipping through the pictures of the dachshunds and Lili and I even pulled up my Flickr Pictures, so she could see the baby pictures of Anneliese’s litter of four puppies. Oh, I love cell phones which allow you to show off your children, grandchildren, puppies and babies of all shaped and sizes!

Yvette was the highlight of my day. She helped to get an IV into me so I could continue to get my antibiotics infused, uninterrupted, and talking with her, was like talking to an old friend.

I was watching the TV yesterday, thinking about how long it will take to get better. Two major surgeries in a matter of a couple of weeks, and a deep infection. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that it’s going to be a very long recovery time.

So, yesterday I kicked back a little and relaxed and rested for a large portion of the day. I find that if I want to take a good nap, I go into my room, lie down with my pillows, blankets and dachshunds, and turn on old TV Game Shows. The fake laugh tracks, and the silliness, puts me right to sleep! I was grateful to get two good naps in yesterday.

Last night, I slept well. I slept until 6:45 this morning, when the dogs got me up and at that point I said the heck with it, and after they all came in, I dressed and sat down with my coffee.

I am falling into a routine with the antibiotics and I am getting more confident with the sterilized equipment, and getting the antibiotics all  into me at the correct times and then all the lines cleaned and sealed off until the next dose.

Hubby is doing well with the meals and the home clean up. Although I have to admit that my appetite is not very good. Tonight he wants to make Venison Salisbury Steaks, and since he is being so attentive, I will do my best to eat one.

I still have stitches and will until the 14th. That the day I go to get them out and to see the Infectious Disease doctors.

Time for me to hook up my IV’s! Happy Sunday!

I went to Boston for the cervical spine surgery on February 16th. All seemed to be well and I went home on the 20th. Although I felt tired, and had some pain, I was not having the terrible pre-surgery pain. I was excited to have the surgery over and done with and be back home.

Life was good, and although the incision area was sore and swollen, I chose to believe that this was normal and I was recovering.

Then, on the morning of February 24 I felt quite ill. When I woke up, I remember feeling slightly dizzy, but by 11 o”clock I really felt ill. I decided to lie down for a nap, but Hubby noticed my incision was draining a terrible smelling, white, yellow, green color discharge. I called the doctor, emailed pictures, and was told to come right down to Boston.

Hubby drove me down to the city, and at 9:30 PM the doctors operated on me to clean and remove all infection. It was bad, very bad. It was also a long surgery and I did not get to a room until 2:30 in the morning!

The Infectious Disease department became involved and antibiotics were found to treat me. Trying to find an antibiotic or two or three proved to be a challenge. In the end, I did find two that are strong and are working.

I was inpatient for six days, before I was released to come home. Now I am on two different antibiotics that must be given through an IV for 4- 6 weeks and then orally for 2 months.

I have learned to do the infusions and that is not too bad, but they tell me it will be a while until I get better. A long slow road to recovery.

In the end, I am just very lucky they caught the infection so early!

Dear Friends, I am back in the hospital.  I have an infection and needed emergency surgery and now IV antibiotics.

I may not be writing as much, but I will do what  I can.

Have you ever not been able to shower? I don’t mean voluntarily, like when you go camping, but like, can’t shower because it is forbidden?

Ugh! Yes, from the day after surgery (last Thursday) until Tuesday I was forbidden to shower. On Tuesday I took a short shower, and that felt so nice. However, I was not steady on my feet and so I kept it quick, and was in and out pretty darn fast!

Today I feel pretty good on my feet and it is time for me to shower again. Then I need to ice down the incision. That thing makes me look like the Hump Back of Notre Dame’s ugly sister! You should see the surgical sight and all the swelling! Thus, the ice will be applied off and on today.

I know that once the swelling goes down, I will look more normal, but for right now, I am not looking like myself at all. Oh and here is a funny thing. My whole neck is swollen, thus making me look like a lady wrestler!

Anyway, back to the shower. I plan a long, warm, soapy, shower, where I actually shampoo and condition my hair. Life will be so good after my shower. And after lunch, it’s time for my second favorite thing…a nap!

Good morning, everyone! I woke this morning feeling pretty darn good. My spine is fantastic, and the surgical pain is bearable. It was a tough first week, but I made it and it feels so good to be home and able to sit with my laptop!

I discovered that as one ages they do not always do well with certain types of medications. I used to get knocked out and use pain medications with little problem. Now I practically go into a coma. Now this 58 year old lady prefers Tylenol!

You know, I am really hoping I am finished with all surgery. I just find the entire experience kind of scary. I had three IV’s, and felt as weak as a kitten.

I’ve been home since Monday and that is simply the best! I came right in and went to bed, and Greta and Arnie came right in, and Greta did not leave my side for four hours. Then she had her dinner and came right back.

My bone simulator arrived yesterday. I need to use it for 4 hours a day to help promote the growth of the spinal fusion. It’s a weird thing and feels a little strange when wearing it.

Well, that’s all for now. Life is good and I am so happy to be home!

We drove down from New Hampshire last night due to a forecast for snowy weather. Hubby had a hotel selected to stay at while I am inpatient,  and he was able to add one more night.

I felt a little foolish when we arrived and the roads were clear and there was no snow.

However,  I woke up just before 3 AM and not only was it snowing but the roads are a mess!

So, all in all, good planning.

My surgery is early this morning. I still need to scrub down with the surgical soap and get my last shower in for the next few days, and then we will be off to the hospital where I will finally get some sleep!  😄

Well it happened. After telling myself I wasn’t nervous at all about the surgery on Thursday, I finally woke up at 4 AM with nerves.

This is pretty funny too, because the final hurdles of my planning, all were taken care of yesterday. The two doggy sitters came by and got the run down on all the beasts. With the help of a Boston friend of ours, Hubby found a hotel to stay at, after our friends became very ill with the flu, and we have our friend, who plows driveways, all set to do our drive while we are gone. Which is a very good thing, because suddenly we are getting a lot of snow nearly every day!

So here I was this morning, waking up at 4 AM, and I just could not shut off my brain! What is wrong with me!

I kept saying to myself, by this time next week, it will all be over and I may actually be coming home next Sunday. I even repeated the words…”It will be over!”

This morning, before the next storm arrives I need to go out and get the last items on my list. Dog Food, Dog Treats and a few personal items for my bag.

Then they forecast it will snow another 12 inches today! The yard is beautiful, and full of snow,  and I am so over it!

Worst of all, I am sitting here watching the weather on the TV and they are forecasting a snow/ice storm for Thursday! Come on Mother Nature, enough, already!