SEPSIS

and other sundry issues

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Yes, you read that correctly. I HAVE SEPSIS. How did we get here - I am not entirely sure.

My sweet "Aunt" Irene died the end of July and my brother and I bought airline tickets to Pittsburgh for her funeral. My Dad also flew with us. On our trip home, I had some pain in my hip and struggled to walk. I had an appointment with my rheumatologist and she ascertained that I had bursitis in my hip, and injected it with steroids. Fast forward a few days and my OTHER hip started to be extremely painful. I couldn't walk, I couldn't sit up, all I could was lay flat. It seems like a pinched nerve, but I couldn't get any relief (ice, heat, pain meds, stretching). So, sweet hubby worked to get me to the ER. It took 1.5 hours for me to get dressed and down 7 stairs to our front door. We got to the ER around 10:30A and were finally put in a room about 10 hours later.

Most of the next two days I don't remember. I was in so much pain, on so many pain meds and just generally unwell. Numerous Blood tests, X-rays, and scans. And finally an MRI of my entire spine. The MRI showed an abscess in my sacroiliac joint. I was diagnosed with Sepsis, specifically MRSA Bacterium.

I eventually was admitted to the hospital. The aspirated my sacroiliac joint and I was started on IV antibiotics. And after 6 days I was able to stand on my hip again.

There continue to be multiple tests to make sure the bacterium hasn't settled anywhere else (like my orthopedic parts, heart valve, etc). I did have to have my thumb drained and the fingernail removed due to a collection of infection.

Thumbs up! for the amazing care I am getting.

I am not sure when I will be able to go home. I hope to have a CT PET scan tomorrow to check for infection throughout my body. I have blood cultures drawn everyday, but so far they continue to come back positive for MRSA. I will have to have a PICC line placed so that I can continue IV antibiotics at home for several weeks.

In the midst of all of this our son moved back to school for his senior year. One of his friends and my parents stepped in to help.

My brother and his family made sure to send flowers as soon as I was admitted, which have really brightened up my room.

I brought my princess blanket which has eased anxiety to have something familiar.

One of hubby's siblings sent him a Chipotle gift card. Which is his preferred eatery near the hospital.

I had some friends from church and my in-laws stop by to visit today.

I have had numerous friends and family check in via text.

And, my sweet hubby is juggling all the things - work, our house, our dogs, etc.

The road is long, so please keep praying.