Catherine M Is In Hospital- Update

[elizabeth09]

I am still praying for you, Catherine M!!!

Edited April 18, 2011 by elizabeth09

[regina_coeli]

still praying!

[tinytherese]

Pray. I'm gone for a week on here and missed a lot.

[Ed Normile]

I have been praying for Catherine, I did not see either where her leg was in danger of being amputated! Thats serious, I am glad to see that seems to be past now. I thought this was a cyst or infection on her bum? If you can, tell her I will keep her in my prayers.

ed

[JessicaKoch]

Many prayers for speedy healing.

[CatherineM]

I am home finally. Leg still attached. I guess I didn't mention that they made me sign a consent to amputate before the surgery. If it had turned out to be flesh eating, they needed the option. It's healing quite well, and right now it doesn't look like it will need any skin grafts. They are having a home health nurse come out everyday to change the dressing. I'm capable of changing dressings, but since I can't actually see the thing, it seemed prudent. My back side has been messed with by so many different strangers in the last week, I thought I was in a bad prison movie.

[CatherineM]

[quote name='MissScripture' timestamp='1302656386' post='2228008']
I find it interesting about the roommate you have --do they not have specialized psych units at hospitals there? Or is it because of the other medical complications?

I'm also REALLY confused about that bedpan description. How do they not leak and/or get smushed by people? It seems like a huge accident waiting to happen!

And I swear they use Gorilla Glue for the adhesive in hospitals! Having the tape from my IV removed was BY FAR the most painful part of heart surgery! (Okay, maybe not really, but it's the only part I didn't have heavy duty drugs for, so it was the only part I really remember).
[/quote]
They have a specialized unit, but she needed medical care first to flush the anti-freeze out of her system. I was in a part of the hospital for people who don't quite need ICU, but need closer observation. It's also a place where you wait for a bed to open up in the division you need. She was moved upstairs about the same time that I was sent over. I was in a ward with people dealing with infections, like diabetics with bad wounds on their feet, or post-op infections. My new roommate was a 73 year old woman who had polio as a kid, so she had circulation issues.

I saw them use the bedpan thing. The urinal ones seemed very waterproof. The bedpan ones were used as a liner in a more traditional bedpan. On the regular side of the hospital, they used the traditional ones.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='CatherineM' timestamp='1303164728' post='2229941']
I am home finally. Leg still attached. I guess I didn't mention that they made me sign a consent to amputate before the surgery. If it had turned out to be flesh eating, they needed the option. It's healing quite well, and right now it doesn't look like it will need any skin grafts. They are having a home health nurse come out everyday to change the dressing. I'm capable of changing dressings, but since I can't actually see the thing, it seemed prudent. My back side has been messed with by so many different strangers in the last week, I thought I was in a bad prison movie.
[/quote]
so glad to hear you are home and doing better. God bless you!

[regina_coeli]

Such a blessing that you are home-- so happy for you and your husband! Prayers for continued well being.

[Rebecca2009]

So glad you are home now Catherine! I pray you recover quickly. God bless you and your family.

[MissScripture]

[quote name='CatherineM' timestamp='1303164728' post='2229941']
I am home finally. Leg still attached. I guess I didn't mention that they made me sign a consent to amputate before the surgery. If it had turned out to be flesh eating, they needed the option. It's healing quite well, and right now it doesn't look like it will need any skin grafts. They are having a home health nurse come out everyday to change the dressing. I'm capable of changing dressings, but since I can't actually see the thing, it seemed prudent. My back side has been messed with by so many different strangers in the last week, I thought I was in a bad prison movie.
[/quote]
I'm glad you've still got your leg! And I'm glad you have a home health nurse to help. The LAST thing you need is for it to get re-infected because you can't see it! I'll keep praying that the you get all healed up quickly!

[CatherineM]

No chance of re-infection. I'm practically living in a plastic bubble. A bunch of women from church came over to sterilize the entire house. They steamed the floors and mattress, and washed everything in the house including the shower curtain. It smells like a hospital in here. I was mortified when I heard it was going on. I had a nun doing dishes in my kitchen. A Polish lady locked herself in the bathroom for an hour. It's not like my house was dirty, but I hadn't kept up with my regular housekeeping while down.

[MissScripture]

[quote name='CatherineM' timestamp='1303177857' post='2230011']
No chance of re-infection. I'm practically living in a plastic bubble. A bunch of women from church came over to sterilize the entire house. They steamed the floors and mattress, and washed everything in the house including the shower curtain. It smells like a hospital in here. I was mortified when I heard it was going on. I had a nun doing dishes in my kitchen. A Polish lady locked herself in the bathroom for an hour. It's not like my house was dirty, but I hadn't kept up with my regular housekeeping while down.
[/quote]
Can you please send them to my apartment next? My husband has been there without me for the past (almost) four months. I'm a little nervous about having to go back (and then have company the day after I get home!)

[CatherineM]

I think it would have been easier to just put Austin in the bubble.

[Luigi]

[quote name='CatherineM' timestamp='1303164728' post='2229941']
I am home finally. Leg still attached. I guess I didn't mention that they made me sign a consent to amputate before the surgery. If it had turned out to be flesh eating, they needed the option. It's healing quite well, and right now it doesn't look like it will need any skin grafts. They are having a home health nurse come out everyday to change the dressing. I'm capable of changing dressings, but since I can't actually see the thing, it seemed prudent. My back side has been messed with by so many different strangers in the last week, I thought I was in a bad prison movie.
[/quote]

It's still Lent for a few more days, so I can't type my reaction (this being a Catholic board and all). But I will say, "Theme song from one of the Shrek movies, written by Leonard Cohen and sung by that Wainwright guy with the whiny voice."

All prison movies are bad prison movies.

I'm glad you're back among the posting (which implies the living). I'm glad to be reading your posts. I'm glad you're still attached to your leg. And I'm glad you have caring neighbors who are willing to work themselves into a dither to make your abode smell like a hospital if that's what needs to happen.