Dr. Patel came in for his morning rounds. I have to say it's nice to see the same doctor 6 days in a row for consistency. He has a nice bedside manner, and I appreciate him being so kind but yet concerned for my health. He talked to me about c-diff, and about the new antibiotics they were giving me that led to the last 36 hours of constant diarrhea and stomach upsets. I told him I was so grateful they found that, as a few days out of the hospital with this would have me right back here, totally depleted of nutrients. Even with the formula and gatorade I've been taking the last two days, he said I was low on all my nutrients again. The potassium rider will begin again via IV in about 1 hour, and more antibiotics will be given. There was really no way I'd go home today; he didn't think GI would ever approve it - everyone thought it was too risky and I was too unstable with my health.
So far today, I managed to get down my nexium, prednisone, sucrafate and a bunch of liquids - including a hypoallergenic nutrient drink. I'm really trying as hard as I can to get better and push through even when I feel like just not eating/drinking anything - the easy way out. I hope to shower later today, as that always makes me feel better and is a nice reward after the potassium drips. I also need to keep up with my walks. I felt funny the other day walking around without my IV, but it was so nice not having to do laps without it. Back to the laps with the IV in tow.
I told Dr. Patel I would keep pushing the liquids through, monitoring how many times I went to the bathroom, and keep exercising. I didn't want to stay another day, but I didn't want to come back either, so I respected everyone's decision to keep me another day. I know how "unstable" my body is right now with the steroids, the build-up of nutrition on formula, the c-diff infection, the nutrient deficieny and dehydration, my weakened immune system, etc. It's best not to push it. Plus, I could probably use the rest, as I only got 4 hours of restless sleep. My water faucet in the room leaks constantly (I called maintenance today), the lights and whirs of the machine keep me up, and my stomach remains unsettled. I should probably at least try to rest today.
It's another rainy day in Chicago, so I don't feel I'm missing much. Not sure if I'll watch the bears game; I'm just feeling like sitting on the window bench and staring outside today. I'm not thinking of much, just zoning I guess. It's been an exhausting 26 days.
There is always tomorrow, and I hope we can make it home then. It'll be nice to be at home for our 8th wedding anniversary on Tuesday, with my husband and kids by my side, even if I am still sick and weak.
My mom is at my house cleaning the bathrooms with bleach (just in case I was infected before), and my parents will take the kids home with them today so Adam can come up to bring me more formula. I wish we weren't 40 miles away from NWMH, but I'm grateful we aren't further and I can be here for treatment without too much inconvenience. Adam plans to take tomorrow off work again, as am I. I'm curious what tomorrow will bring, but I'm not getting up my hopes like the last two days. I'm just taking it one day at a time, and controlling the things that I can with my health.
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