November French Hospital 2011

Grateful to be home resting now after a short stay at French Hospital for a urinary tract infection (UTI). Symptoms came on fast and fierce, late at night, right to level excruciating when Loren drove me to French Hospital ER. He handles these things quite well, fine upstanding Englishman that he is. I do my part, suffering loudly and adding my wish that he run every red light after a quick pause of the car.   He calmly states we will be there soon. I was in shaking chills and fever once there. The ER doctor found nothing right off but ran antibiotics in and gave me Tylenol. I started to feel better. Blood tests came back normal but they wanted me overnight due to the fever and the fact that I am immune-suppressed and thus susceptible to sepsis. I just don’t have the white cells running around like a normal person and the battle of infection can get out of control.  I see this better in hindsight.  I view hospitals as risky, bacteria everywhere.  They see the risk worth taking:  IV delivery of an antibiotic, controlling a fever (they would take blankets off, get me up, make me breathe more deeply allowing cooler air to lower body temp.) IV drugs for nausea and better odds of winning an infection battle over something they were unable to pin down right away.

I was rolled to my hospital room about 4 a.m. As Loren left  I encouraged his careful drive home and in particular to watch for animals on the road. He reminded me that I was not so enamoured of the animals when we drove in.

More blood tests showed my creatinine back to normal (1.2 back to 1.1) and another night there with fluctuating temperature .  The urine culture test revealed a bacteria strain and the doctor felt the antibiotic choice (Ceftin) was a good one.  Dr. Wolfe had been in to see me the previous night and said it was just a wait and see what grew out in the culture.  He ordered a residual bladder ultrasound.  Patient empties their bladder and the ultrasound looks to see if urine remains and how much.  As we age or whatever, these things empty less well apparently.  My score was low, not bad, but any residual urine can of course lead to UTIs.  I have had 2 other UTIs in my life, so not a common thing for me and never previously at stage excruciating.

Time to send this out as I know my wonderful supportive friends may be checking in to see the state of things.

Happy Thanksgiving all!  I’ll be feasting and enjoying huge servings of gratitude that I am home and healthy and no animals were harmed in the process.