Thursday, December 10, 2009

Bad to the Bone

Yesterday morning, I spoke with the hospitalist (an internist) working on Skip's case. She said the MRI results indicated bone infection (osteomyelitis), and her take on it was that it was very significant. Infection was showing on both sides of her hip. She said I'd need to speak to Skip's surgeon about it in regards to treatment, but she thought the treatment would be protracted and significant, indicating that surgery would likely be used to help clear up the abcesses and dead bone tissue.

Oy! I must confess, this was the most worrisome news to date and prompted a fairly significant reaction in me. And, since it's really the surgeon's assessment and recommendation on course of action that matters in this situation, I felt wound up with the news without any way to put it into perspective as to how we'd get it fixed.

I called the surgeon's office and set up a call with him a few hours later. He had not reviewed the MRI results but said he wasn't surprised that bone infection was present after what he'd seen of Skip's wound on Monday in the ER. He said it had taken a definite turn for the worse. He painted a different picture of the treatment than the internist, indicating the infection would most likely be treated with antibiotics and this could be done at home. Of course, I took this with a grain of salt because he hasn't yet reviewed the MRI results.

I got to the hospital around 4. The surgeon came in shortly thereafter (still not having seen the MRI) and did a short debriding session. He is tentatively planning surgery for Friday. I am expecting he'll have additional insights to offer today following his review of the MRI.

In other news, Skip had a special IV line set up (PICC) that can be used for an extended period to handle her daily antibiotic regimen. She got a unit of red blood cells transfused while I was visiting and antibiotics (Zosyn) were next to be administered.

Skip isn't happy to be in the hospital, of course, but she seemed to be in pretty good spirits yesterday. She's still very weak, so I fed her dinner during my visit. I've brought in some books to read to her, and am keeping her up to date on postings here, especially comments, as she's really appreciating them. (I am, too.)

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Best wishes to you both! Get well soon Skip.

steve said...

Oh, Cranky! The holidays are such a hard time to be spending in a hospital. I hope you are able to surround yourselves with friends -- it really does help.

Love to you and Skip.

-steve and BR

upstater said...

Hi Cranky (and Skip),
No more hollering into the night since it sparked the blizzard and all. Really it was not all my fault...

Sounds like you have all the right pieces in place to heal, so may it happen.

Quietly sending healing thoughts.
Upstater

zoomdoggies said...

No blizzard here, so I'm still screaming on your behalf. Let me know if it gets too noisy for you.

Here's hoping Skip is home and healing for the holidays.

Taxingwoman said...

Hi! Cranky
Hope you and Skip are doing better today. It sucks to be in the hospital at this time of year Oh let's face it, any time of year.
Bye
Carole

Cranky said...

To all - thanks so much for your good wishes. And, I agree that being in the hospital any time of year sucks, but it is especially hard for Skip over the holidays. Although I couldn't give two hoots about Xmas, she loves it. She's definitely not in a Christmasy spirit right now. I did bring her in a baby living Xmas tree with some ornaments on it and an Xmas snowglobe. I'm trying to figure out what else I could as a Christmasy touch without overwhelming her hospital room. Maybe a bit of garland?

Herrad said...

Hi Cranky,
What a shock reading your post, thinking of you both lots.
Hope that after initial treatment Skip can come home for Christmas.
Audio books are great too, and access to her laptop would be good to take Skip's mind off the hospital and the treatment.
Sending you big hugs.
Love,
Herrad

Herrad said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Cranky said...

Herrad - I agree about the audio books and laptop. Was thinking also about a portable DVD player since she loves movies so much. I checked them on Best Buy (big electronics store in US) and they're only around $100US, so may pick one up for her.

I've been reading to her a bit, she loves it when I read to her, so I am her living audio book. :-)

steve said...

This page of last minute Christmas decorations is also great when you have limited time and/or interest. Back in 2000, BR and I spent practically the entire month of December with a friend's family in the waiting area of Parkland hospital in Dallas. By the time he was discharged, we had circled the room several times over with a Christmas paper chain.

Cranky said...

Steve - thanks for the link. I think the paper chain is a great idea. Planning on bringing in a bit of garland today.

Parkland Hospital ... isn't that where JFK died?

steve said...

Yep. That's the one. Still a Level I Trauma Facility.