Well, it seems that every time we have a really good day, things happen to bring it back down again. Alan has a staph infection in his blood (not MRSA), so he has had to go back on IV antibiotics. He continues to have temperature issues, so yesterday they did a spinal tap to see if there is any infection related to the brain or spinal fluid. Those cultures are not back yet, so we do not know for sure about that. They tried to drain enough spinal fluid to take pressure off the incision, which has been having a buildup of non-infected fluid around it, seeping through. Although he was under twilight sedation (like with a colonoscopy), he started shaking like he was freezing cold, so they could only draw off a smaller amount of fluid than they wanted to. However, they got enough to analyze and culture and bring some of the swelling down.
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| incision before spinal tap |
Now, the IV antibiotics have started messing with his kidney functions, so a kidney doctor is on the team checking on all his meds to see what can be changed to help deal with those issues. Those levels are getting better, and as soon as the blood infection is gone, he will be back off the IV antibiotics.
He has been unable to do PT for several days now because of all this. He is feeling terrible, more confused, and frustrated with all the poking and prodding with needles and lines. This is understandable. He has been in the hospital for 37 days now, and he has had enough. It makes it harder for the caretakers because he has to be convinced to cooperate with yet another blood draw or IV line. Somehow, though, we are going to get through this.
3 comments:
So very sorry to hear this, Rhoda. You and Alan are in my thoughts and heart.
Love, Marcia
So sorry, Rhoda. There have to be better days ahead.
Geez. That's all you guys need. We hope the medics can get this all figured out and get Alan back on an unblocked road to full recovery!
Ralph
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