The Road of Life - Part 5 of 5

Sorry, my spellcheck changed Bagnato to magneto. I talked to Terri extensively today. My egd is scheduled for the 27th. I definitely have some concerns. I am concerned about losing too much weight drinking liquids and soups. Im into working out and I have to work to keep my weight up. On the other hand, I'm tired of sore throats, globus and laryngeal ulcers. So I will do the surgery if I'm a candidate, but I'm still concerned. I've had contact with dr aye in Seattle, but really don't want to travel that far if I could get a hill done here. I live in Chattanooga so I'm about 5 hrs from bagnato.

Can you now eat normally? I mean do you still have to slowly eat and only eat smal meals? Or are you to the point that you don't even think about it.
I guess just wondering if after surgery do things get to the point where it's like nothing ever happened or do you consciously think about it daily

I eat totally normal now. I could eat normal around month three.

Hey, Kitt! Super Hug!!!!

Hi Kitt,
It's wonderful to see you're back! I hope you had a great trip. We did our best to hold down the fort while you were gone. It's never the same when you're away, though. I tried my best to help out with the heart forum. I feel so out of my league there, though. I hope I helped a little...I wish I had more information in my head so I even knew what they're talking about sometimes. I had to keep going to Google and putting terms in to see what they meant! Back here in GERD territory, I've got more background knowledge! I have my mitral valve prolapse...I read someone on the other forum saying that she had to go back for annual echocardiograms. I only had one. I guess mine is very mild? I've never had another test recommended. I'll have to have a chat with my new PCP and see what he thinks.
Anyway, it's wonderful to have you back with us!
((((((((((((Hugs!!!!!))))))))))))

Joy,
Have a great week! I know how worrisome those standardized tests are, and how hard it is with first graders. I taught first-second for 14 years, and straight second as well, so have lots of experience with those wee-ones. Try not to stress too much. It is as it is. What will be, will be. I'll keep thinking and try to come up with some more calming statements...

Hi Bill,
Hope your healing continues to go smoothly. Take good care of yourself, so you'll be able to go to those softball tourneys! I hope you will be "tubeless" VERY soon.

Janice,
Hope things are going well in your neck of the woods. We've had high winds for the last couple of days, and SNOW today! It didn't stick, but still. The daffodils and forsythia are coming out and it's getting nice and green. Unfortunately that means my asthma is starting to kick up because of the dreaded TREE POLLEN!!! In the spring it's tree pollen, then moving into grass pollen (both for a while)...then a brief respite and it is RAGWEED season. People without allergies just don't know how lucky they are. Oh well...

Take care everyone! Have a great week.
Denise

Post Edited (dencha) : 4/17/2011 8:33:14 PM (GMT-6)

Hi Joy,
Sorry your hands are hurting...but glad your testing is over. Now you can enjoy your class again!
Feel better, and enjoy your week!
Denise

♥Janice♥
We so love to hear from you, though! I'm glad to hear that you check on things. You know you are always in our thoughts.

Oh, a resistant bacteria. Just what you needed. Hospitals are definitely a place to avoid at all costs. Unfortunately, those of us here, seem to find ourselves there far too often!

The Wizard of Oz...my favorite all-time movie from my childhood. I have most of it memorized. My friends and I would say the parts by heart all the time. I adore that movie. Kitt is definitely our Dorothy...leading us all down the yellow brick road. The characters of that movie kind of fit this forum, and different people come and go to fill those roles. You're so right...we began as strangers following this common path, and over time became good friends.

You've started a great analogy here, Janice...Can't wait to hear where others take it!
Here's hoping your Cipro gets rid of that nasty bacteria. It scares me, since my stomach is so reactive that everything but Amoxicillin and Z-Pac make it hurt really badly.
Keep in touch, my friend, and let us know how you do.
You'll be in our prayers for sure.
Love,
Denise

Good Morning All,

I wanted to address Janice's issue - Enterobacter aerogenes is a bacterium  related to the salmonella and E.coli . 

Enterobacter aerogenes is a nosocomial opportunistic pathogen. That is, it causes illness after its host has already been weakened, and it commonly resides in hospitals. For that reason, its risk factors include hospital stays lasting two weeks or longer, invasive surgeries, and the use of antibiotics.

Enterobacter aerogenes is resistant to most antibiotics. Its resistance to β-lactam antibiotics, chloramphenicol quinolones, and tetracycline is well documented in scientific literature, and some researchers have proposed the reuse of "old" drugs---that is, drugs that were popular in previous decades---in response. One study suggests that a combination of drugs would best accommodate those infected by Enterobacter aerogenes.

Please do contact your Dr.  this morning. 

Thinking of you and sending prayers your way always.

 I will have input on the Wizard of OZ and Dr. OZ later today.  Perhaps we should raffle off those ruby slippers which will bring magic to each person that wears them.  We could share them.

Gentle Hugs,

Kitt

 

Hi Janice,

 I was reading your posts and I want to say that I'm sorry you contracted one of the many infections that come along with hospitilization. I've worked on a med surg floor for four years and have seen every infection there is and it's really unfortunate that it happens. Antibiotics are the number one cause of resistant strains of bacteria that mutate and keep coming back..and hospital workers that aren't as clean as they should be are the number one reasons these infections are passed along. JHACO is an organization that helps prevent these infections and every hospital is different with there cleanliness and sterilization, even though they should all be the same. When you have surgery or are sick your body's defense mechanisms go down and you are more suseptable to contracting infections. Some peoples immune systems are lower then others and everyone responds differently. The older a person gets the more prone they are to getting UTI's and resistant bacteria in there urinary system. I've seen some people have to come in everyday for months to get high doses of IV antibiotics just to get rid of them, but others go away quicker.

Again, I'm sorry you are going through this, its definitely another bump in the road you don't need. My surgery is scheduled in less then 3 weeks and the more I think of it the more these things are going through my head as to whether it will happen to me as well. Will be thinking of you.

Post Edited (bittersweet603) : 4/20/2011 2:52:18 PM (GMT-6)

I've read where this stuff can spread, especially to wounds, and tonight the incision site in my abdomen swelled in an area that had opened up before with infection. The site opened again and was very *****; I have sterile syringes here for my migraines, so Tom washed up and sucked up as much gunk as possible and we've stored them in the fridge until we can call in the morning..don't know what else to do.

Janice,

Quinazoline derivatives are efficient chemosensitizers of antibiotic activity in Enterobacter aerogenes. You may want to discuss this drug with your Dr.

Perhaps your antibiotic was stopped to soon.  As you are treated with Cipro, you may start to feel better, but that does not mean the infection is entirely gone. Take all of the medication that was prescribed to you unless instructed to stop taking it by a health care professional. Stopping the medication before the bacterial infection is completely gone can result in serious consequences. A stronger strain of bacteria may develop, or the infection may come back again and be more difficult to treat.

I am not trying to scare you but please advocate for yourself.  I think the world and all of you, Janice, and I want to see you get better.  While I am flying across the land with the travelin band,  I am on my way to stand by you and hold your hand.

Love and caring,

Kitt

Well, Tin man is here today fellow Ozens. :) (Oil can, Oil can! I can' move!)
I've been swamped these last few days with stuffing Easter eggs and grading papers for school. I came home and paused only to grab a bite to eat before rushing back to working. The inflamation in my hands and other places come and go. Right now it's down to a mild ache so I can type today some.

Jane, Did you get to talk to your doctor? Man, That's scary hearing about your problem. I hope you can tackle that germ soon.

Kitt, I'm sorry you're feeling low. I pray you feel better soon. (((((((((((((((((((kitt)))))))))))))))))

Bittersweet, thank you for your response, I appreciate it.
Well, I don't think I'm the WW of the West, or a munchkin..maybe I work in the land of oz..you know, one of the women with round pink cheeks??hmmm
My great family dr.'s office was on the phone with me at 8:05 this morning; I went in and they cultured the stuff. My dr. wasn't in today, but called me and told me that he doesn't think the two are related, but it's wise to culture. My feeling is that with them running this part of it, I'm in great hands.
I finish all my antibiotics; I've been running a low IgG for several years now, so I know the importance of that. People selected for treatment generally have chronic sinus/respiratory infections....allergy shots have taken care of that and the Nissen took care of the respiratory, but the UTI's?, they just won't stop. My immunologist is getting fairly concerned and ordered a new round of immune studies; we're waiting for the results to come back from Mayo. It's possible she may start looking at treating it; my great FP dr. has wanted it for years...I guess we'll see.

Hang in there Kitt, the weather is changing and the blue skies will help so much!
Joy, the warmer weather should help to ease the pain in your joints too!

Denise, you're holding everyone together!
You're all wonderful, have a Happy Easter!

Janice,
I hope the wizard can do his magic on your kidney stones! Every time I take calcium I wonder if I'm setting myself up. As a fellow UTI sufferer, I totally know how frustrating it is. I remember finally being referred to a urologist and having a IVP (all normal) and cystoscopy. I'd been complaining of symptoms and the urologist didn't believe me...my urine tests were clear. He took a peek, and lo and behold, my bladder was raw inside.

It's amazing how some women have NO UTI's and others have many.
Good luck with your appointment! Get everything straightened out so you can just relax and enjoy your wonderful trip and visits to your family!
Love,
Denise