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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsHome from the hospital. 7 days I think.
This infection still isn't showing me much mercy, and the hospital visit itself left me with a bit of trauma.
Basically got no sleep for two reasons:
1) Bloodwork seemingly every two hours, or IV change. Could never sleep.
2) Very sick people on my floor.
It's kind of strange that my woman neighbor has basically the same GI symptoms I do, and we are both feeling the same way in that we both feel that there is not actually an infection going on, but something worse that they are not finding, because neither one of us is getting completely cured. She came to visit me twice.
I had a continuous antibiotic IV drip while inpatient. I'm on oral meds now for for 14 days with a different antibiotic. I see an infectious disease doctor next week.
They shot every pain med in the world through my IV, except that I can't take NSAIDS, so they alternated infusions of fentanyl, morphine, plain oxy, and Tylenol.
I had an emotional breakdown in the hospital. The guy next to me in my room was in so much agony that he screamed and cried constantly. They had me as a fall risk, when I was not actually a fall risk, and they had the bed alarm set so sensitive that it would go off even when I sat on the side of the bed to try to use the portable urinal. So every time I had to piss, I had to call a nurse to be escorted to the shitty bathroom shared with the next room.
In the middle of the night, the older man next to me was in so much agony that I got out of bed with all of the bed alarms going off, went to the other side of the curtain, and held his hand and caressed his forehead. Then I went back to bed and sobbed, muffling my crying by sticking my face in the pillow. All this time, every fucking IV alarm, bed alarm, and whatever alarm was going off on the floor in the middle of the night. Grown men and women were crying and screaming in pain. All day, all night. Absolutely HOWLING in pain. It was my definition of being in hell.
While I was having my breakdown, a wonderful travelling nurse came in and sat with me for an hour and held my hand. I told her my life story, and she told me hers. I told her that my realization is that people cannot get true pain relief unless they are actively dying because if you give them enough morphine to kill their pain, they will die. She confirmed this, and said she completely breaks down at home after her shift about twice a week.
I'm starting to come out of my opiate haze at home, but I'm still not good emotionally, and I still have pain. I can't stop crying. I fall asleep when sitting at my computer, and I basically can't do a fucking thing. And it's pissing me off. I'm an active person, and now I either watch reruns on TV land, sit at the computer, or just about fall asleep while standing up.
I hope these oral antibiotics finally knock this out. The hospitalist changed all of my fucking blood pressure meds based on one reading of a very low heart rate. Then he called in a prescription for a different dose of one blood pressure med that was totally different than what he told me to do. I wrote my primary care, who I see next week, and told her that I'm not changing ANY of my meds based on one reading that a hospitalist didn't like after talking to me for 30 seconds. Maybe he should have considered that I had enough opiates in me to knock down a fucking elephant, and that's why my heart rate dropped. I'm monitoring my blood pressure and heart rate at home twice a day since I'm sticking to my current meds, and all is doing ok there so far.
I'm not writing this to get responses, you people have already given me a ton of support, and I appreciate all of you. You helped me get through this, so no reason to keep offering well wishes. You people here are so good.
There are people here who are most likely a lot sicker than me, so please offer them your support, not me. You've given me plenty.
I needed to get this off my chest.
I don't know how you nurses fucking cope. I really don't. You're angels. I couldn't do it. I don't have what it takes to do that job.
Solly Mack
(92,545 posts)badhair77
(4,590 posts)Im also sending good thoughts. Heres hoping your primary care doctor can straighten out the meds situation. I understand your frustration. Please keep us updated.
debm55
(35,323 posts)MLAA
(18,575 posts)Heres a thought since you have questions about whether youve been correctly diagnosed. Its a blood test that gets sent off to a private company. It checks for a huge list of cancers. It isnt cheap at nearly $1000 and insurance wont cover it. My primary Dr had a brochure in his examine room. I asked him about he said he did recently. Blood gets drawn locally and the tubes put in a special handling box the company provides. Then you have to take it FedEx. I dont remember how long it takes since it was a year ago that I did it.
Just a thought ❤️
https://www.galleri.com/patient?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=blood-test-to-detect-cancer&utm_content=patient-non-brand-cancer-test&utm_campaign=galleri-patient-non-brand-tier-1&trafficsheetid=t87736&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAo8ZWGqH0z9wBDMpLV3W2eE5RZNIU&gclid=CjwKCAjwmaO4BhAhEiwA5p4YL-QwBw546ZqPjN2mc_6axmUQQOYIhHd_XaRch9jd6aAw-RYMnYCxpBoCcAgQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
XanaDUer2
(13,737 posts)It sound like a nightmare. Sending you light and healing
quaint
(3,509 posts)littlemissmartypants
(25,318 posts)With everything Solly Mack (we have mental telepathy), badhair77, Ruby Zee and debm55 said. MLAA has some great ideas, too.
"Vent away, I'm listening whether you want me to or not and I'm glad you're home. Being home always helped me after a hospital stay and in every way possible."
We love you, LC. Thank you for continuing to teach us about compassion and humanity with all that involves.
And thanks for your shout out to nurses, too.
Stay encouraged. ❤️ pants
OAITW r.2.0
(28,258 posts)We missed you buddy!
Diamond_Dog
(34,536 posts)But yours just blows my experiences out of the water. Glad to hear you are recovering at home and I hope things become better very soon. It stinks to be miserable and in pain. I could never be a nurse, either.
LoisB
(8,571 posts)Nigrum Cattus
(66 posts)This helped me - use a heavy dose - multiple times a day
Tumbulu
(6,438 posts)I was getting so scared not hearing much.
Hoping that whatever this is resolves soon.
Thank you for keeping us updated!
KS Toronado
(19,508 posts)Hermit-The-Prog
(36,570 posts)markie
(22,903 posts)just
will think of you as I look out for friends and neighbors
Hekate
(94,483 posts)cate94
(2,882 posts)Im sorry you have been going through this. Despite your own illness, your kindness showed bright with your treatment of the man next to you. Thank you for comforting him.
Hoping you feel better soon!
Kali
(55,711 posts)who ARE these people? in the "old days" your regular doctor did this job. what happened and when did it change? I have had two serious hospitalizations that included dealing with a hospitalist and they fucked shit up both times. not impressed.
iscooterliberally
(3,010 posts)I was in the hospital a few years ago. I needed to get my gallbladder taken out. I had the surgery done and had to stay over night in the hospital. Most of the floor was empty, but for some reason they decided to put some old man in the same room as me. Every 10 minutes the guy set off some alarm or other. At about 2am he got up and just left the hospital and went home. The police were looking for him and they decided to have a nice long conversation in my room! The next day the doctor gave me shit about not getting out of bed and walking around. I did what the doc needed me to do so he could release me. That meant I had to cut off the opiates earlier than I wanted to, but I wanted to get out of there more than anything else. I know my experience wasn't nearly as bad as yours, but I can relate. Anyway, like I said before, I hope you get better soon!
barbtries
(29,735 posts)I hope these meds kick out what's dogging you.
it sucks being sick, it really does. Did they tell you what bug you have??
CaptainTruth
(7,187 posts)Sending positive thoughts your way.
darkstar
(5,627 posts)Your experience sounds harrowing. Unsurprisingly, you still let your humanity and generous spirit shine through in comforting your neighbor. Hang in there my friend.
Old Crank
(4,583 posts)even if it is for a while.
Hospitals now get dinged if they let patients fall so they are now overly caustious. That is bad for patients because activity is good for people.
Hope they can sort it out. Hospital stays are not my fave.
NNadir
(34,584 posts)It's that fabulous sense of humor you bring here. When it comes back, as surely it will, you will be on your way to full recovery.
Another thing is your intelligence.
Regrettably, the days of simple antibiotic treatments may be coming to an end, mostly because of the abuse of antibiotics where they shouldn't be used. I'm very sorry you're on the front lines, but again, I fully expect and hope you will recovery fully, because of you have the right tools to do so.
StarryNite
(10,774 posts)Warpy
(113,130 posts)You want rest, check into a hotel with a good restaurant and room service.
I'm glad 7 days of sleep deprivation got you on the mend.
slumcamper
(1,716 posts)Welcome back to the world outside those hospital walls, Lucky.
Given the state of things I'm not sure it will offer any relief, or that living hell with another! At least you won't have to share a bathroom with vile bastards who lack any sense of hygienic consideration for others, and your socks won't be wicking up some asshole's piss!
Thanks for sharing the torments you've endured--and best of luck getting answers and a solution to the infection and pain
Marthe48
(18,905 posts)It takes special heart to be a nurse, doctor, medical specialist. When they heal someone, that triumph heals them, too, so they can keep going.
Have you and the neighbor been tested for chemical contamination? Tested your water? Anything else you shared in common? Did you get sick at the same time?
Find a spot where you feel comfortable and safe, curl up and rest. Post as much as you want. There's enough love on DU to share with all who need it
MissB
(16,082 posts)You got your ass kicked and came out the other side. I'm glad you're still here. I swear, if I see an Earl G sad announcement post about you anytime in the next few years, I'll be pissed at you*. I enjoy your posts too much.
* five year minimum.
Niagara
(9,463 posts)I'm glad to hear that you're home, Lucky.
Writing is excellent therapy so you keep at it when you need to get something off your chest.
We love you! Life is too short not to tell people that.
mountain grammy
(27,227 posts)Sure hope you're getting better.
True Dough
(20,110 posts)to knock the hell out of your infection! In the meantime, please be sure to wear your HAZMAT suit when visiting the Lounge!
Welcome back, you little charmer, you!
HeartsCanHope
(727 posts)I also want to add my thanks to you for comforting that man in the hospital. I am sending healing vibes to you and will be thinking of you and your wife. I will also be thinking of the people in the hospital and hoping for their healing and comfort. Whenever I've been in the hospital, I have always been amazed at the nursing staff. Nurses are unfailingly cheerful, and willing to do for their patients whatever it takes to make them comfortable. They are truly angels on earth!
mopinko
(71,713 posts)i've been struggling since april, but esp since july. 3 trips to the er. 2 diff doc visits. been dx'd w- ibs, then diverticulitis, then acute colitis. ab's did nothing. i do seem to have a lesion of some sort, but my main problem is that my gi system doesnt move.
they cant seem to do anything til i get a scope, but i have done the prep twice now, and it failed, and i had to resched. scheduled again on tues. today starts a 4 day prep. clear liquids for 3 days!
last time i contacted them and told them it failed, this time i'm just gonna show up, no matter what.
the part where the prep is supposed to kick in in an hour or 2, but in my case it took 2 days the 1st time and 12 hrs the second ought to b some sort of clue.
i had a scope 3 yrs ago for the same issues and i got 'well, you're old now, shit happens.' (or doesnt)
i dont know if there just arent enough gi docs to go around or what, but apparently 'acute' means u can wait a month to see a gi, another month for a scope, and another month when u hav to resched.
meanwhile, i hurt, bloating, cramps, heartburn. and just bone deep exhaustion. i feel like i'm slowly starving to death.
it's sloooow torture.
i feel ya.
electric_blue68
(17,808 posts)LC what a nasty experience you went through in the hospital!
OldBaldy1701E
(6,270 posts)Keep healing! We send vibes when we can!