Day 14 and holding

I

So Day 14....

The day started off per normal with routine blood and culture work.Couple hours later, the night nurse is running back in to take another set.  He would only tell me that I had a positive from both of my PICC line lumens and I needed to talk to the doctor.  Shift changed right away, so it would be some time before I got to see him.

Low down, the new infection detected: a staph infection.  Now depending on your medical background, that's either no big deal, or its a big deal and you would be correct.  There is staph infection that can do a lot of damage but I have been on a prophylactic (preventative) drug dose for the really bad one. It is now down to figuring out which one I have.

In terms of the fungal infection, we still are waiting more negative results before we finally can ease up on that.

  

Yesterdays main challenge was managing myself.  I am on high doses on prednisone now. That is the only immuno-suppression  they can use (drug to keep my graft happy) until my kidneys catch up with processing all the extra fluids, about 22 llbs worth of it.

Elizabeth on steroids is lots of Elizabeth with an extra dose of it....yup Elizabeth.  Steroids make me feel emotion more intensely and I have a greater capacity to focus and push through. And they also take away a lot of the "sorrys" and "excuse mes" of our culture. I have a reduction in my compassion or empathy for others. As my family will reflect, it's liquid self estteem and self courage in a bottle, and not always in a nice way.  

But before you run off for a  dose, these positive effects only happen in a small percentage of people and the side effects of the drug itself can be quite alarming especially young adults.  All in all, only take it when Doctor says to take it!

Yesterday that meant functioning on  about two and a half hours of sleep, sleeplessness is part of steroids.  The only way to survive is power naps throughout the day. A 10-45 min crash nap can keep me going but I knew it would catch up with me eventually. They were able to track down my little blue pill fom years ago and so I wasn't faced with a sleepless night.

All and all, things get a little better all the time.  We are still watching and waiting for the white counts to come up.  That we be like Christmas morning when I get those.

I'm shutting down as most of you are getting up.  Have a great day and for my sake, really stop and savour something in your everyday: like a delicious piece of food, a hot shower, cuddling with your family....whatever you want.  But just breathe in the whole moment!

Love and hugs,

E