Thread: Today is not going to be a good day

Originally Posted by STF

I probably shouldn't post this but i need to say it i guess.

For the last month i have had cellulitis and vienous ulcers on my leg.

I was given wide spectrum IV antibiotics and a nurse cam every day to do it.

The hospital had swabbed the sores and it turns out the the antibiotics weren't the right ones so down to the hospital to change them.

the IV had been in my arm for too long so they removed it to give my a fresh one but after 15 minutes and 9 tries they could get a vein, apparently they collapsed or rolled.

Eventually they said i needed a picc. A picc is where they push an IV tube into your arm through you veins and to your heart, I cannot think of anything more terrifying so i said something less savoury than no thank you and was given antibiotic pills and warned they aren't strong enough and if the infection progresses too far it could cost me my leg.

The pills didn't touch it, my doctor extended them even.

I'm now in a mess and he told me its time to get this fixed, my leg is getting close to being at risk, he said I'm getting a picc and he doesn't care if i like the idea or not, the alternative is a bone saw.

Im going to Hospital this morning, I'm having the picc to my heart so they can get me back on intravenous IV antibiotics.

I'm having it but I'm so scared, I'm sorry to go on but shit, I'm going to cry, i know it.
At least because it can stay in for up to 3 months i wont have to go through it again.

Wish me luck.

Steve good luck.
PICC is nothing to be afraid of. We use it like water on most of our patients. Some people will occasionally get a small clot around it and then it comes out but otherwise it's very safe.

Hi guys,

Thanks for all your well wishes and confidence boosts.

Worthwhile update:

I arrived for my PICC, they called me in and I was shaking so badly i could hardly sign the form.

They put on the table and i don't think I've ever been so frightened.

I played my music but it turns out that the nurse and doctor both like Chris De Burgh so I let it play loud, I put on an eye mask.

They were both excellent, so compassionate and sympathetic.

The needle to numb the area didn't hut much it was like a flu shot on the inside of the arm and after that i felt nothing at all.

Apparently there are no nerves in the veins.

The long and the short of it, nothing to worry about.

Originally Posted by STF

The long and the short of it, nothing to worry about.

Good on ya Steve, thats great news.

Well, now that you be a veteran lets see what we can think up of next for you.

Dont know what it was called, but a couple years ago Mic Jagger had that heart valve surgery. My dad had it at the same time. Same surgery. They went in through his groin some how as the vains are bigger. Up to the heart and cut the sew and good to go.

I was more worried than my dad was.

Get in line Steve. Lol.

Originally Posted by Gasman

Dont know what it was called, but a couple years ago Mic Jagger had that heart valve surgery. My dad had it at the same time. Same surgery. They went in through his groin some how as the vains are bigger. Up to the heart and cut the sew and good to go.

I was more worried than my dad was.

Get in line Steve. Lol.

Yep, that's what I had. It's a straight shot from there to the heart with minimal twists and turns.

Great to hear Steve. Now the healing can take place. Sometimes it's just a matter of ripping off the bandaid or yanking out the bad tooth. No fun for a moment but, AAAAH, what a relief once it's done. Hopefully it will be an uphill turn from here with better days ahead. With some good care and some divine providence a year from now you will look back and say, "Phew! Dodged a bullet on that one!"

I'm sorry that you are having to go through this!

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Well, now that you be a veteran lets see what we can think up of next for you.

When i first started with IV antibiotics they had found a vein and every day an agency nurse came to give it to me.

The the IV in my arm had to be changed because they are only good for a few days and they couldn't get a new one in.

Hence the PICC.

I was contacted yesterday afternoon. They have decided I have to go to their clinic at the hospital every day to get the IV.

I created such a stink and hung up on her, I'm going to fighti this again this morning.

I don't understand how they expect a guy with chronic cellulitis that can barely walk to drive to the hospital half hour away, walk from the car park to the main entrance, go all the way to the elevators go to the 2nd floor then walk all the way to the end to get to their room.

Should i crawl maybe.

I am fighting but if i lose I am going to have the IV stuff sent here and I will do it myself which is what they want anyway.

I have daily IV with no end date until my bone scan to make sure the infection hasn't got there, if it has I'll have a minimum of 6 weeks more IV.

I am not going to drive in flip flops to the hospital( foots too swollen to get shoes on) every day for 3 weeks until the bone scan and maybe 6 more weeks after that.

Sod that.

I can flush my own line and give myself the iv, The missus can hold the port still while i screw the flush and then the bag on.

I've been arguing with these people since yesterday about the IV bags.

Eventually it looks like it has been agreed that i will go to Emergency tonight for the IV bag.

Tomorrow i will go to the clinic and they will watch me flush the line and give it to myself.

From then on if they are satisfied I became an IV expert I will keep the stuff in the fridge and do it myself at home, just go every week for them to make sure it not going septic etc.

I'm much happier doing it myself, I take insulin in my stomach every day so an IV antibiotic is a walk in the park, the PICC is in so all I have to do is flush and put a/b on.

The wife will hold the port still while screw and unscrew the flush and A/B
Easy Peasy

Just waiting for a call to confirm the plan.

The strange pattern on my arm is from some sort of stocking thing they put on my arm to cover it.