Hi Everyone,
They did take my PIC line out on Aug16 and it sure felt good not to have any tubes coming out of my body. This week, however, I noticed a lump in my armpit on the side that had the PIC line, and then my arm started swelling. The doctor thinks that I have a blood clot somewhere in that arm and is sending me for a test that will confirm it. He also put me on blood thinners to try to get rid of it. He said it's not uncommon to get one if you have had a PIC line. I have to try to keep my arm elevated as much as possible and so I couldn't go on a motorcycle trip we have been planning for today, tomorrow and Sunday. We were really disappointed but it's happened a lot already that we have had to cancel plans so we're getting used to it. Hope all is well with you.
IN HIS HANDS,
Ernie
Friday, August 24, 2007
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Aug 16 Day 113
Hi Everyone,
I did have a PIC line put into my left arm and have been taking the IV antibiotics. Today is my last dose and I have a doctor appointment so we're hoping he'll take out the PIC line today. The lines that come out are about a foot long and there are two of them. We have to wrap them in an ace bandage or a tube netting to keep from getting them caught on things. I got a stiff neck in the hospital and it is just now almost gone. Last Friday I got the flu and have been fighting it, but today I think I'm finally over it. It hasn't been a very good few weeks. I have been leaning on God more lately than earlier in my treatments, I guess because of how long it's been going on. It gets frustrating knowing that the treatments will last probably until next summer and I might be on some of the meds the rest of my life. Then God reminds me that things could be worse by letting me see some of the other patients at the doctors office and the hospitals. Hope all of you are well.
IN HIS HANDS,
Ernie
I did have a PIC line put into my left arm and have been taking the IV antibiotics. Today is my last dose and I have a doctor appointment so we're hoping he'll take out the PIC line today. The lines that come out are about a foot long and there are two of them. We have to wrap them in an ace bandage or a tube netting to keep from getting them caught on things. I got a stiff neck in the hospital and it is just now almost gone. Last Friday I got the flu and have been fighting it, but today I think I'm finally over it. It hasn't been a very good few weeks. I have been leaning on God more lately than earlier in my treatments, I guess because of how long it's been going on. It gets frustrating knowing that the treatments will last probably until next summer and I might be on some of the meds the rest of my life. Then God reminds me that things could be worse by letting me see some of the other patients at the doctors office and the hospitals. Hope all of you are well.
IN HIS HANDS,
Ernie
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Aug 7 Day 104
Hi Everyone,
Well, I'm out of the hospital, again!!! LOL! I had to stay in until my infection was gone and on Monday the cultures showed negative for infection. We have heard from nurses and doctors that it is common to get an infection from a Hickman catheter like I had. They showed us how to administer the IV antibiotics when we get home, and we got home about 5pm on Monday. I will have to take the antibiotics twice a day until Aug 16th. Until now they have given it thru the regular IV line but today I have to go and have a PIC line installed, which goes from your arm up into your heart area. They do this because the antibiotics I have to take are very strong and there are problems if you do it very long thru the regular IV lines. I have already had problems with the antibiotics getting out of the vein and into my skin (it forms a bubble under your skin). On a good note, the bone marrow biopsy that they did on July 27th (something fun to do on our anniversary!! LOL!) turned out good. The results were just what they were looking for and everything in that area is looking good! I have to admit that I am really ready for this to be all over, but understand that it will be quite a while for it to be over (if ever). I don't know what I would have done if God hadn't been there every step of the way and without all your prayers to encourage Him to be there. Thank you Lord, and thank you all for everthing you've done!!! God bless you all!
IN HIS HANDS,
Ernie
Well, I'm out of the hospital, again!!! LOL! I had to stay in until my infection was gone and on Monday the cultures showed negative for infection. We have heard from nurses and doctors that it is common to get an infection from a Hickman catheter like I had. They showed us how to administer the IV antibiotics when we get home, and we got home about 5pm on Monday. I will have to take the antibiotics twice a day until Aug 16th. Until now they have given it thru the regular IV line but today I have to go and have a PIC line installed, which goes from your arm up into your heart area. They do this because the antibiotics I have to take are very strong and there are problems if you do it very long thru the regular IV lines. I have already had problems with the antibiotics getting out of the vein and into my skin (it forms a bubble under your skin). On a good note, the bone marrow biopsy that they did on July 27th (something fun to do on our anniversary!! LOL!) turned out good. The results were just what they were looking for and everything in that area is looking good! I have to admit that I am really ready for this to be all over, but understand that it will be quite a while for it to be over (if ever). I don't know what I would have done if God hadn't been there every step of the way and without all your prayers to encourage Him to be there. Thank you Lord, and thank you all for everthing you've done!!! God bless you all!
IN HIS HANDS,
Ernie
Saturday, August 4, 2007
August 4, 2007 Day 101
Hi everyone,
Well day 100 wasn't such a good day for us. Wednesday Ernie developed a fever so we went to the ER. He was admitted for the night while they tried to determine the cause of the infection. We came home Thursday afternoon without knowing anything, but received a call from Kaiser that night saying one of his cultures was positive for an infection and he needed to be in the hospital. So Friday morning (day 100) he was admitted again. His catheter seemed to be the source of the infection so it was removed and he was given heavy doses of antibiotics. He will most likely spend the weekend in the hospital and then come home with some IV antibiotics. They will be sending a home health nurse to show us how to do the IVs at home. He's at Kaiser Panorama City. Dave, Dana and the kids have been here for the week which has been alot of fun me, but unfortunately for Ernie he has not felt well most of the week. They say now that the catheter is out he should begin to feel better as soon as today.
We'll keep you posted.
God Bless,
Debby
Well day 100 wasn't such a good day for us. Wednesday Ernie developed a fever so we went to the ER. He was admitted for the night while they tried to determine the cause of the infection. We came home Thursday afternoon without knowing anything, but received a call from Kaiser that night saying one of his cultures was positive for an infection and he needed to be in the hospital. So Friday morning (day 100) he was admitted again. His catheter seemed to be the source of the infection so it was removed and he was given heavy doses of antibiotics. He will most likely spend the weekend in the hospital and then come home with some IV antibiotics. They will be sending a home health nurse to show us how to do the IVs at home. He's at Kaiser Panorama City. Dave, Dana and the kids have been here for the week which has been alot of fun me, but unfortunately for Ernie he has not felt well most of the week. They say now that the catheter is out he should begin to feel better as soon as today.
We'll keep you posted.
God Bless,
Debby
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