Update Monday

I am recovering bit by bit.

The weekend was full of antibiotics and friends. Today I learned that I most likely have two different infections. One is coliform, the bacteria that can cause E. coli. You hear about kids eating hamburgers filled with fecal bacteria. But we all harbor some kind of E. coli and it takes just the right thing to trigger your own body's stuff. I think I got that right.

Dr infectious disease named the second infection in the early morning and I can't remember it now. It had something to do with water/blood bacteria.

I've had more IV antibiotics today but if Friday's and Saturday's cultures come back growing the same thing as Thursday's, I can move to an oral antibiotic and go home. So I hope to be here until tomorrow. As you know, nothing is certain when you're inpatient at the hospital.

Thanksgiving

I really don't have anything interesting to say about Thanksgiving. You'd think I would, but it seems maudlin to talk about why am I still alive after watching so many friends die of their cancers. So I'm turning over this post to my wonderful husband Rik, who wrote it November 22, 2015 on his Facebook page.

Why I am grateful this Thanksgiving.

Great article from the New York Times today brought it all home. Adding some personal reasons too!

Grateful for Jill being in my life for 21 plus years, and her having the best team of medical care in the world over the last 16 years to manage her Breast Cancer and mets disease, but particularly the last month as she has been hospitalized with two infections, continued chemo, almost finished radiation on four spots and successfully managed Gamma Knife to her brain.

Also grateful for the support of my community of friends, neighbors, and synagogue members who have brought us meals, rides for Jill, company, and of course my colleagues at Roosevelt High for all the support in rides, hugs, good wishes, coffee, coverage of classes for me when needed, and giving me lots of slack, and my students who always are wonderful caring human beings who get that school assignments are not the most important things in life.

See attached photos for Jill in action making the cancer go away!

Jill wears the full gamma knife gear

"What, no second breakfast?!"

And at the conclusion of radiation to four separate spots. That face mask was awful and didn't even look like her.

Home sweet home

Yay! Swedish sent me home again this afternoon.

Infectious Disease Dr said I have 2 bacterial infections - klebsialla (coliform, or a kind of E. coli, which everyone carries) and serratia (water based). Who knows how I got them or why. I'm getting oral antibiotic Levaquin now, once every 24 hours, for five days. Don't click on the links unless you enjoy being grossed out or like medical stuff.

My friend G told me the following: "Serratia marcescens belongs the family Enterobacteriaceae, which includes E.coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. They are both associated with nosocomial infections (hospital acquired). Serratia in particular is associated with catheter-associated bacteremia."

So it was correct to presume that my PICC line was the cause of these infections. And I have been prone to infections for several years, since my early onset breast cancer in 1999 (I developed toxic shock syndrome in the drain placed after my lumpectomy). This shouldn't have surprised anyone. And yet it did. Even though I've been hospitalized several times over the years for infections.

But I am healthy now and ready to pick up life from where it veered last week. Thank you Swedish Medical Center's phenomenal staff!

At Swedish

I guess this is really how one "celebrates" breast cancer month: by getting admitted to the hospital.

On Thursday I developed fever and chills around 2 pm during my support group. The great social worker took me over to a nurse for my temperature (high). She called Dr G, and got me a wheelchair ride to the ER.  After a few hours, a chest X-ray, and sharing with both Dr G and the ER doc, I learned I had pneumonia. Rik's colleague gave him a ride from school and eventually we went home around 6 pm.

On Friday I awoke to a call from the ER. They think I have a blood infection, come right back. I picked up Rik from school and we arrived around 10 am. More checks, more drugs, more fever/chills. Lost my lunch several times. Dr G decided to admit me but a room wasn't ready until almost 6 pm.

Now I'm on the 12th floor with a fantastic view of downtown and the waterfront. I've had numerous antibiotics, platelets, and a blood transfusion. No one knows exactly what kind of infection I have. Most likely to be in my PICC line, which has also received its own special antibiotic.

I actually slept last night, no doubt due to fatigue, less sleep the night before and Ambien. God bless sleeping pills. I had fever /chills again  in the middle of the night but they haven't returned yet.

After my shower this afternoon I felt the best I have in days. I have energy but am stuck here on my butt until they decide whether or not to pull my PICC line. It all depends on if the infection clears up. Or as Dr G told the infectious disease doc, better to pull it than to risk her life.

So. Waiting and waiting. Bad food corrected by Rik who brought yummy lunch from Bakery Nouveau and friend C who brought dinner from Ma'ono (fried chicken). Boredom corrected by good buddy G who dropped at just the right time, five minutes after I got out of the shower. More friends coming soon. Spoke to my mom twice.

Are you getting the picture?

PS if you can, please give blood you don't have to tell me if you can or cannot. But it's a good thing to do.