Dr. Lewis Got in Through the Wrist.

The love-fest is back on.

No need for surgery for a central line in the groin.  After this staph infection, we're very leary about new holes poked into our patient.

Going to stick around here to feed him dinner, then split around 5:30 or 6 pm.

Dr. Lewis wants antibiotics NOW.

Dom has grown quite fond of Dr. Lewis.  I'm afraid that the love fest ain't gonna last.

Since they can't put the pick in until tomorrow, the good doctor tried to go in through Dom's neck....twice....without luck.  It was cringe inducing.

Now, they're going to try the wrist.

If that fails, a surgeon will put ANOTHER central line in his groin.

Staph Epi Infection- 1 More Night at Tulane

John Rink just came in for a chat.

They've determined that this is the "staph epi" bacteria.  Common.  Lives on everyone's skin, but found it's way into Dom through the central line.

This from WebMD:

"MRSA that is acquired in a hospital or health care setting is called hospital-based methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (HA-MRSA). In most cases, a person who is already sick or who has a weakened immune system becomes infected with HA-MRSA. These infections can occur in wounds or skin, burns, and IV or other sites where tubes enter the body, as well as in the eyes, bones, heart, or blood."

I'm ASSUMING that it's MRSA, as when I did a search for Staph Epi, it brought me to the above information.

It's resistant to antibiotics taken by mouth.  So, tomorrow, they're going to put a "pick" (pronounced that way) in his arm tomorrow.  Antibiotic IV, send him to the Cancer Center across the street for his Radiation Consult, then cut him loose.

They're ordering Home Health to administer antibiotic upon our return home.

Did I say how crazy I am about this John guy?????  I called Amy asking her if she could get him up here.... within a minute he appeared.

Spending another night in town..... Christine is holding down the fort in Mississippi.

Bacteria

Hi gang-

Presently in Dom's room sipping on a latte and grooving on this free WI FI with my laptop.  What a change from dial-up!!

Not too much to report.

John Rink, the man I really love, came in to talk to us yesterday afternoon.  He had just met with the infectious diseases doctor.  Told us that the same bacteria showed up both in Dom's blood AND urine.

They'll be able to identify it today, learn of it's sensitivity to antibiotics, and treat it from there...possibly sending him home with pills today.

He's still on an "all purpose" antibiotic drip, potassium, and got 2 units of blood last night....that freaked me out, but they told me it was no big deal... he was low on something.

He began losing his hair on Monday morning.  When he got out of the tub, he said it looked like he had given the dog a bath in there.  Poor baby.... mustache, eyebrows, his sexy chest hair.... all going, but will grow back.

If he's stuck here another night, I'll probably spend the night at Lin's again and have Christine go home to get mail, feed the critters and spend the night.  I'm SO GLAD that she's here to help us.

Staph Infection

Well, as Dr. Culasso said, "ants have showed up at Dom's picnic".

I've got alot of catching up to do. Firstly, let me say that our patient is resting comfortably after being admitted to the hospital yesterday.

We had to report to the Apherisis department for stem cell collection at 8 am on Friday. They collected for about 6 hours. Got home at 8pm.

Had to return at 8 am and had another 8 hours of collection.

Spent the night at Chris' house. He cooked us a lovely dinner.

Reported back at 8am on Sunday (my birthday). They were having a hell of a time trying to open up one of the lines. Finally, at noon, they announced that they had enuf stem cells and we could go home.

Meanwhile..... Dom's collar bone had been killing him. He was also running a temp on Sunday morning..... almost 101. They talked about admitting him, but eventually temp dropped to normal.

They removed to central line, to find that it was screwed up.... digging into his collar bone. Then, they understood why he had been in such pain.

Each day after collection, they run bloodwork which they get read the next morning.

So.... got home early on Sunday and had a very happy birthday. We were tickled to have completed another step of our adventure.

Dom and I slept in yesterday. Took luxurious bubble baths. Laid in bed watching TV. No sooner had Dom said, "Oh, honey- isn't it wonderful to be at home? We don't have to do ANYTHING until Thursday", the phone rang.

It was the cancer center saying that Sunday's bloodwork showed an infection, and Dr. Safah wanted to admit Dom. The 3 of us gave out a collective groan.

They put him back in the Bone Marrow Transplant unit, which is great....nice and sanitary. Did a chest xray, hooked him up on an "all purpose" antibiotic drip and potassium for his painful hand cramps.

We should find out today what type of infection he has. They think it's a staph infection from the stupid central line, but until they know exactly what's up, they're just using ordinary antibiotics.

Christine and I stuck around here (hospital) until 6pm, then headed home.

I got back here at noon. Christine is running her grandmother around today. On the way to the room, I ran into John Rink.... (who I assisted with the bone marrow biopsy months ago) *grinning* Love the man. Anyway, he said that Dom might be going home tomorrow. I still don't know what the hell is going on, but will report when I know something.

I'm spending the night at Lovely Linda's tonite. Dunno much else.