Breast Saga Continued

I had appointments with both the infectious disease doctor and my plastic surgeon this morning. The cellulitis looks much worse than it did when I left the hospital. It is very red again, mottled, and definitely over a larger area on both breasts. I was put back on Invanz, the second antibiotic I was on in the hospital. Maybe it was the combination that was working. I had an IV at the doctor's office and got a killer headache. I did have headaches when I was on the drugs in the hospital but not as bad as this one. They gave me Tylenol and benedryl. It helped but then I was sleepy and came home for a nap. At this point I am very depressed and discouraged. Enough is enough already.

I did ask Dr. Weinstein the name of the organism which was cultured. It is staph epidermis which everyone has on their skin. People with compromised immune systems, for which I am the poster child, and people with plastic medical implants are susceptible to infections from it. That makes it a stronger possibility that it could be the expander. When I talked to Dr. Hicks he said we could go ahead and take the expander out now. I am definitely not ready to agree to yet another surgery so soon. He said that was fine unless he thought my health was compromised by leaving it in. Then he would make the decision for me. Alrighty then.

Piccky Issues

I have been amazed at how casual some of the nurses have been about issues with the picc line. I am exaggerating a little bit, but honestly not as much as you might think. It has gone something like this. "Hi I'm nurse so and so and I am going to put the picc line in now. Excuse me while I totally rearrange your room and set up a sterile area here so I can put it in". "Sorry that the line is almost at the bend of your elbow and it hurts when you bend it. I had trouble getting it in and that was easiest for me". "Oh yeah, these do bleed sometimes after they are put in. Hmm, that is a little too much blood, I think we should take care of that". "Yes, I'm not surprised that stings a bit. This is 100% alcohol I am cleaning the incision with as I change the dressing. It will probably hurt like that next time too. Some Tylenol ought to take care of it."

I obsessively look at the picc line to make sure it is OK. Last night it was covered with blood under the dressing. Blood is a term that seems to get an immediate reaction from the Medical Society. After consultation with the infusion nurse we decided it wasn't an emergency since it wasn't all bright red. I went in first thing this morning and she cleaned it up and redressed it. She changed the angle she taped down the line and it is a lot more comfortable.

After all that actually giving myself the IV antibiotic is pretty slick and anticlimatic. The antibiotic is in this vacuum ball. After proper cleaning of both ends I screw the ball into the picc line and when I unclamp it the medicine just flows until the ball is empty. No muss, no fuss. This will go on once a day for two weeks.

Drama, drama, drama

My visit to see Dr. Hicks on Friday was full of surprises. I knew we were going to have to do something more aggressive because the cellulitis was looking worse than when we started. I was kind of expecting hospitalization for IV antibiotics but then he added surgery to the mix. He was afraid that the fluid in the breast area was infected. We hadn't drained any in a while because he didn't want to do it in the office. So I was admitted to Kettering early Friday afternoon and had a surgical draining and culture of the fluid Saturday morning. It was a short surgery, 26 minutes. Dr. Hicks was pleased there was no visible infection other than redness of the tissue. Now I have to stay in the hospital until the cultures are back, expected to be Monday, to see if they can tell us anything specific about a successful antibiotic. The current plan is to go home tomorrow potentially with a pic line and IV antibiotic. The infectious diseases specialist (doesn't that sound dramatic?) was just in. He thinks the cellulitis is looking better-less of a clear cut edge and a little less red. I didn't think it looked any better but I trust his eye over mine.

On a whiny note I am bored and I itch all over, no rash, just annoying itching. It is amusing to me that the nurses don't think I take enough pain medication. Who knew nurses were drug pushers? Most of the pain is from the fibromyalgia so I sort of feel I am taking it under false pretenses. Yeah, I know, I am weird.

Continuing Saga

It has been 2 weeks and we still don't have the cellulitis under control. I was switched to levaquin a week ago last Friday. It seemed to be working slowly. I felt better before we saw any change in the cellulitis. The redness was definitely decreased and there didn't look like there was any problem on the left breast. However, I was having major pain in both my legs and joint pain. Fall is usually a painful time of year for me but this was way beyond my usual level of pain. I could hardly walk. Turns out it is a side effect of levaquin. So I had to stop taking it. I was back on amoxicillin until yesterday. I went in to the office because both breasts are definitely red and hot. I started on augmentin last night. It is amoxicillin plus something else that is broad spectrum. I was supposed to see results in 24 hours. Unfortunately there is no improvement.

In the mean time all treatment of the lymphadema has stopped. It can't be done if you have an infection. I was measured for a sleeve and glove but they aren't in yet. Cindy did loan me a pump. The arm is wrapped from the shoulder to below the fingertips in this sleeve thing. It goes over the shoulder and around the back. It is connected to a pump and goes through a series of alternating pressure. I look like a blue cyborg. It makes me claustrophobic just thinking about it. So I don't think about it. I put on a movie and try to ignore it for the hour it takes to complete it's cycle. About the time I think I can't stand another minute it is done.