Alan started running a (lowgrade) fever this afternoon.
Not good.
We'll be calling the doctor back tomorrow morning. I expect he'll be seeing the knife again soon.
He's in pain. Worse part is the anticipation and not knowing what to expect.
Not a good way to start the new year.
Keep the prayers coming.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
MRSA - NEW FAMILY DOCTOR update
OK, continuation starting on Monday 1/7/08
Alan went to his NEW FAMILY DOCTOR (:::drumroll:::) This doctor lifted the bandage up and said, "You need to see a surgeon". Alan said he would have fell to the floor had he not already been lying down. Alan challenged this NEW FAMILY DOCTOR, telling him that the doctor on Saturday acted as if he'd be fine by next week, he was taking double dose of antibotic, etc. The NEW FAMILY DOCTOR took his temperature (normal - GOOD SIGN) and did a CBC (normal - GOOD SIGN) and told him to come back on Thursday afternoon and he'll make a decision then. Since then the redness has decreased in size and is also not as red (GOOD SIGN), but, the he still has a very large area that is very hard (BAD SIGN), the wound looks as if its closing up, and when you press on it, no pus or fluid comes out. Does that mean he'll need to be opened back up? We don't know and Alan is extremely stressed out worrying and wondering. So, we continue to clean and pack the wound. He's doing warm compresses and trying to press on it. Last night Alan was saying "I want to do all I can do to not have to be cut on". This morning, after seeing no improvement, he's saying "I want to do all I can do just have to have a small incision". I keep reminding Alan that this is not in his hands.
On a side note - the NEW FAMILY DOCTOR does not pretreat family members. After this MRSA is completely gone from Alan, I might see about getting me and the kids tested to see if we are colonized with the virus. Checking now won't do any good. We'll also see about cleaning the house, etc. For now, Alan has a dedicated bathroom, we're using gloves, washing hands, and taking all precautions.
Next appointment with the NEW FAMILY DOCTOR is Thursday afternoon. We'll know more then. If he does have to go to a surgeon, he'll get an IV of "feel-good" drugs and will be done at the hospital. I don't know what I'll do with the kids. I'll figure all that out when time comes I guess.I
'm not sure if anyone reads this blog, but, if you are reading, Alan could sure use your prayers.
Thanks!
Alan went to his NEW FAMILY DOCTOR (:::drumroll:::) This doctor lifted the bandage up and said, "You need to see a surgeon". Alan said he would have fell to the floor had he not already been lying down. Alan challenged this NEW FAMILY DOCTOR, telling him that the doctor on Saturday acted as if he'd be fine by next week, he was taking double dose of antibotic, etc. The NEW FAMILY DOCTOR took his temperature (normal - GOOD SIGN) and did a CBC (normal - GOOD SIGN) and told him to come back on Thursday afternoon and he'll make a decision then. Since then the redness has decreased in size and is also not as red (GOOD SIGN), but, the he still has a very large area that is very hard (BAD SIGN), the wound looks as if its closing up, and when you press on it, no pus or fluid comes out. Does that mean he'll need to be opened back up? We don't know and Alan is extremely stressed out worrying and wondering. So, we continue to clean and pack the wound. He's doing warm compresses and trying to press on it. Last night Alan was saying "I want to do all I can do to not have to be cut on". This morning, after seeing no improvement, he's saying "I want to do all I can do just have to have a small incision". I keep reminding Alan that this is not in his hands.
On a side note - the NEW FAMILY DOCTOR does not pretreat family members. After this MRSA is completely gone from Alan, I might see about getting me and the kids tested to see if we are colonized with the virus. Checking now won't do any good. We'll also see about cleaning the house, etc. For now, Alan has a dedicated bathroom, we're using gloves, washing hands, and taking all precautions.
Next appointment with the NEW FAMILY DOCTOR is Thursday afternoon. We'll know more then. If he does have to go to a surgeon, he'll get an IV of "feel-good" drugs and will be done at the hospital. I don't know what I'll do with the kids. I'll figure all that out when time comes I guess.I
'm not sure if anyone reads this blog, but, if you are reading, Alan could sure use your prayers.
Thanks!
MRSA - from the beginning
Since I haven't been blogging much, this post is to give you background into on Alan's experience with MRSA.
A week or two after Thanksgiving, Alan got an infection on his right temperal tobe. (between ear and eye). Day after day, it got redder and bigger. Mary Adams from church finally convinced him to go see a doctor. Since Alan is a man, and we've only lived in this town for 9 years (yes, I'm trying to be funny), he doesn't have a family doctor, so, he went to Urgent Care. They lanced it, gave him oral antibotics and sent him on his way. Next day it was worse so back to Urgent Care. Different doctor saw it this time and sent us to ER. At ER they lanced it again and gave him IV antibotics. He went back to dr a couple more times, got lanced once more (total of 3 times) and FINALLY it healed.
Fast forward thru the holidays.
I was at Pawleys Island for my end of year meeting and Alan calls me to tell me he was driving hom from doctor's office. Yes, MRSA again. This time its on his left chest. He said he now knows what its like to have a 34C cup breast. (or at least on one side). Hummm, I don't even know what that feels like! LOL. It started as a pimple and hours later he knew he'd have to go back to the doctor. So, kids in tow, he went. They both got to watch him get the scalpel. Will said "Oh, that's a lot of blood". Larissa turned white as a sheet and the nurse had to walk her to the bathroom so she wouldn't pass out. They bandaged him up and told him to come back Saturday. They gave him bactrim nose ointment to decolonize the MRSA. They said he should have gotten this the 1st time he got MRSA. So, basically he either reinfected himself or likely he didn't ever get rid of it 1st time.
Saturday (1/5/08) Alan went back to Urgent Care, saw a different doctor (I think that's doctor #4 now) and they lanced it more and cut out dead skin, doubled his antibotic, and sent him on his way. The doctor told him to come back in a week if it wasn't better. He gave Alan the impression he thought it'd be better. Alan was told to "pack the wound" twice a day but no formal instruction on how to do that.
Saturday evening Alan and I see the wound for the first time. (Its been bandaged). I'm not sure whose jaw dropped further. I took pictures but Alan would KILL me if I posted. Let's just suffice it to say, it looks BAD. Real bad. Wound is size of a nickel, red as fire from his neck to his arm pit and hard as a rock and black around the wound from brusing (doctor pushing on it to get infection out). We try to clean it, try to dress it, and just try to trust the doctors.
Perhaps my trust isn't all it should be as I definately asked my church family for prayers!
Sunday I talk to my dear sister. I wish she lived near us. I mean like RIGHT BESIDE US. I needed her when the kids were newborns, when they were toddlers, when they were preschoolers, when I had my surgery, when I needed a friend, well, ....you get the idea. Anyhow, she told me to get Alan to a "REAL DOCTOR". So, I convinced Alan to stay home from school on Monday and find a family doctor. I'll update on that next post.
A week or two after Thanksgiving, Alan got an infection on his right temperal tobe. (between ear and eye). Day after day, it got redder and bigger. Mary Adams from church finally convinced him to go see a doctor. Since Alan is a man, and we've only lived in this town for 9 years (yes, I'm trying to be funny), he doesn't have a family doctor, so, he went to Urgent Care. They lanced it, gave him oral antibotics and sent him on his way. Next day it was worse so back to Urgent Care. Different doctor saw it this time and sent us to ER. At ER they lanced it again and gave him IV antibotics. He went back to dr a couple more times, got lanced once more (total of 3 times) and FINALLY it healed.
Fast forward thru the holidays.
I was at Pawleys Island for my end of year meeting and Alan calls me to tell me he was driving hom from doctor's office. Yes, MRSA again. This time its on his left chest. He said he now knows what its like to have a 34C cup breast. (or at least on one side). Hummm, I don't even know what that feels like! LOL. It started as a pimple and hours later he knew he'd have to go back to the doctor. So, kids in tow, he went. They both got to watch him get the scalpel. Will said "Oh, that's a lot of blood". Larissa turned white as a sheet and the nurse had to walk her to the bathroom so she wouldn't pass out. They bandaged him up and told him to come back Saturday. They gave him bactrim nose ointment to decolonize the MRSA. They said he should have gotten this the 1st time he got MRSA. So, basically he either reinfected himself or likely he didn't ever get rid of it 1st time.
Saturday (1/5/08) Alan went back to Urgent Care, saw a different doctor (I think that's doctor #4 now) and they lanced it more and cut out dead skin, doubled his antibotic, and sent him on his way. The doctor told him to come back in a week if it wasn't better. He gave Alan the impression he thought it'd be better. Alan was told to "pack the wound" twice a day but no formal instruction on how to do that.
Saturday evening Alan and I see the wound for the first time. (Its been bandaged). I'm not sure whose jaw dropped further. I took pictures but Alan would KILL me if I posted. Let's just suffice it to say, it looks BAD. Real bad. Wound is size of a nickel, red as fire from his neck to his arm pit and hard as a rock and black around the wound from brusing (doctor pushing on it to get infection out). We try to clean it, try to dress it, and just try to trust the doctors.
Perhaps my trust isn't all it should be as I definately asked my church family for prayers!
Sunday I talk to my dear sister. I wish she lived near us. I mean like RIGHT BESIDE US. I needed her when the kids were newborns, when they were toddlers, when they were preschoolers, when I had my surgery, when I needed a friend, well, ....you get the idea. Anyhow, she told me to get Alan to a "REAL DOCTOR". So, I convinced Alan to stay home from school on Monday and find a family doctor. I'll update on that next post.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
The 4-wheeler
Yes, its been quite a while since I posted on this blog. I figured I wouldn't be good at keeping it up. Will got a 4-wheeler for Christmas and I wanted to post some pictures of him on it.
Here he is!!! This is in the clear field back behind our house.
And this is in our woods. Alan cleared him off a small path so he could learn to maneuver between the trees.
That's all I have time for now. ENJOY!
Here he is!!! This is in the clear field back behind our house.
And this is in our woods. Alan cleared him off a small path so he could learn to maneuver between the trees.
That's all I have time for now. ENJOY!
Monday, October 15, 2007
Camping at Cherokee
We now have TWO camping trips behind us with the new popup. We went to Cherokee, NC this past weekend. Some friends from church, the Hill's, also went.
Alan is quickly turning into a "comfort camping" person. This campground was definately "city camping". Anything you needed was right there at the store/grill. It was SO HARD not to go up and BUY a steak and potatoe Friday night after setting up. But, we behaved and grilled our hamburgers.
We did cheat Sunday morning. We had to be out of the campground by 11am, and since it takes 2 hours to back up, we opted to go up to the store and eat pancakes, bisquits, etc.
Alan bought a "Dutch Oven". It was quite a success Saturday night. We did lasgnana and after that was eatten, we make "Chocolate Lava Cake". Alan made me go up to the store and buy icecream to eat with it! Now, that is "roughing it", wouldn't you agree? LOL
The campground had a little area set up with a "spook trail". Here's Larissa acting scared.
Posing, while daddy was fishing.
This was our view of the mountains. The leaves need another couple of weeks, but, it was still pretty.
.
Alan is quickly turning into a "comfort camping" person. This campground was definately "city camping". Anything you needed was right there at the store/grill. It was SO HARD not to go up and BUY a steak and potatoe Friday night after setting up. But, we behaved and grilled our hamburgers.
We did cheat Sunday morning. We had to be out of the campground by 11am, and since it takes 2 hours to back up, we opted to go up to the store and eat pancakes, bisquits, etc.
Alan bought a "Dutch Oven". It was quite a success Saturday night. We did lasgnana and after that was eatten, we make "Chocolate Lava Cake". Alan made me go up to the store and buy icecream to eat with it! Now, that is "roughing it", wouldn't you agree? LOL
The campground had a little area set up with a "spook trail". Here's Larissa acting scared.
Posing, while daddy was fishing.
This was our view of the mountains. The leaves need another couple of weeks, but, it was still pretty.
This is Will (red shorts) and Nathan (orange) jumping on the "big pillow". All the kids had a blast on this. Our campsite was right next to it. This campground was much different that Table Rock! The indoor pool is that building in the left of the picture. They also had hot tubs, outdoor pool (closed for season of course), fishing ponds (stocked with trout), river, nice flat roads to bike on, etc. We are spoiled for sure!
Mr. Greg rented this 3-wheeler for the kids to ride. It didn't go fast enough so they swapped it for the 4-wheel go cart. Boy, it was FAST! That is Ben in the cart beside Will. They had to learn to take turns! I bet the kids rode 5 miles during the afternoon. They were worn out by the end of the day.
Look at the picture on the right. That is our popup in the upper left part of the picture!
.
Speaking of how close everything was. Saturday night Alan and I were laying in the "bed" and our neighbors came back from being out all day. They decided to make a camp fire. Their fire pit was no more than 5 feet from our heads! LOL I could almost feel the heat. Too funny.
I think our next trip will either be back to Table Rock or Kings Mountain, NC.
And yes, the rumor is true, we are looking at up-sizing from the popup to a hybrid.
Alan's uncle has one of those big rig campers that you drive. It has a gazillion slides in it and when fully extended, its probably as big as my house! I kid you not, it has a garden tub, fireplace, 2 recliners, etc.
Hummm,........
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)