If you're going through hell, keep going. Winston Churchill, Part 2
For the first three days we stayed focused on Maggie. Although she was eating and acting normally, her breathing turned erratic if she took too many steps.
By this time though my hand was really hurting. As soon as I pried it free from killer's teeth, Greg tended to Maggie and I rushed to the bathroom to drench it in hydrogen peroxide.
To no avail. By Tuesday, I was in dire straits and had to see a doctor. I had actually considered going to the ER on Saturday when it happened, but I felt I could tough it out.
Big mistake.
Waiting gave the infection time to spread.
At first the doc gave me a couple of antibiotics and pain meds, then told me to come back in a couple of days to make sure the meds were working. To her shock, the infection got worse. A strange red line spread across my arm like something out of a cheesy scifi movie.
My doc changed my meds, did a consult with another physician, and added a shot of another antibiotic for good measure. This time she also cut off some of the excess tissue that had bloomed like a milky rose.
Can I say for the record that I am pretty tough when it comes to pain. I think the doc grimaced more than I did, but there was an awful lot of heavy breathing through my teeth.
I returned a third time for a recheck and the infection seemed to have stopped spreading but it still hadn't dissipated, so once again I was re-dosed with something else.
Me and drugs have never gotten along. I've stayed sick to my stomach since I started these meds.
Apparently, I'm not out of the woods though. I thought I was getting better but now a lymph node behind my neck has become swollen and painful. Not good.
I went back to the doctor, not for the lymph node but to see if they could open the finger up again and relieve some of the pressure. Only then did I casually mention the painful lymph node.
You guessed it. I'm on MORE antibiotics.
Every time I think I'm over the worst something else comes up.
For now, I'm hanging in there. If I can get off some of these drugs I'm sure I'll start to feel better. I don't mind telling you the lymph node thing kind of scares me. I want my life back.
Have you ever been seriously injured? Do you handle medication well?
PS Nana, the source of all my pain and misery hasn't left my side since the incident. She would never knowingly bite me, so this infraction has filled her with remorse.
By this time though my hand was really hurting. As soon as I pried it free from killer's teeth, Greg tended to Maggie and I rushed to the bathroom to drench it in hydrogen peroxide.
To no avail. By Tuesday, I was in dire straits and had to see a doctor. I had actually considered going to the ER on Saturday when it happened, but I felt I could tough it out.
Big mistake.
Waiting gave the infection time to spread.
At first the doc gave me a couple of antibiotics and pain meds, then told me to come back in a couple of days to make sure the meds were working. To her shock, the infection got worse. A strange red line spread across my arm like something out of a cheesy scifi movie.
My doc changed my meds, did a consult with another physician, and added a shot of another antibiotic for good measure. This time she also cut off some of the excess tissue that had bloomed like a milky rose.
Can I say for the record that I am pretty tough when it comes to pain. I think the doc grimaced more than I did, but there was an awful lot of heavy breathing through my teeth.
I returned a third time for a recheck and the infection seemed to have stopped spreading but it still hadn't dissipated, so once again I was re-dosed with something else.
Me and drugs have never gotten along. I've stayed sick to my stomach since I started these meds.
Apparently, I'm not out of the woods though. I thought I was getting better but now a lymph node behind my neck has become swollen and painful. Not good.
I went back to the doctor, not for the lymph node but to see if they could open the finger up again and relieve some of the pressure. Only then did I casually mention the painful lymph node.
You guessed it. I'm on MORE antibiotics.
Every time I think I'm over the worst something else comes up.
For now, I'm hanging in there. If I can get off some of these drugs I'm sure I'll start to feel better. I don't mind telling you the lymph node thing kind of scares me. I want my life back.
Have you ever been seriously injured? Do you handle medication well?
PS Nana, the source of all my pain and misery hasn't left my side since the incident. She would never knowingly bite me, so this infraction has filled her with remorse.
Comments
I hate taking medication. I'm already on allergy medicine. I'm hoping not to be on blood thinners the rest of my life. That would truly suck! I hope both of us can get our normal life back soon (but I have a feeling you'll get yours back long before I will).
You know when the doctor is grimacing that things are bad. Yikes. Please hang in there and take care of yourself.
I hope you get some answers--and the right care you need. I don't like not knowing. At least if I know what I've got, then I can choose a direction before my illness chooses for me.
I hope this new, final round of meds kicks the infection to the curb and you can get back to your new normal
Here's to better days.
I do want this to be over.
betty
These days, I just do everything I can to avoid infections in the first place. Penicillin allergies run in my family (I've never actually taken it myself, so I don't know if I am, but would rather not risk it), and the last antibiotic I did take (Bactrim), I was most definitely allergic to (rash, hives, felt physically ill, etc. etc). So... yeah. Not fun.
Even now if I show her my finger, she lowers her head.
Bactrim is one of the drugs they have me on.
When it comes to drugs, even OTC, there is no one size fits all. Greg takes entire handfuls of pills and he never seems to get sick.
So sorry to hear all this. I hope all is well soon. I had to get a tetanus shot after an accidental bite years ago, but I don't think I got hit as hard as you did. Hugs from my pets to yours.
It's no picnic for Greg either since he's been saddled with almost every chore I do. He has to leave tomorrow for a couple of days. He'll probably welcome the break. :)
Thanks!
I'd say you'll be stronger for it, yet you're pretty darn strong as it is. perhaps this can be additional fodder for you to finally begin to write the homesteading and animal lover saga I've been waiting for you to produce.
Serious illness for me have been few and far between but have had a few, of course the most debilatating is the MS that has turned my world upside for the past few years since being diagnosed.
Hopefully your bad luck streak is over for a bit and this latest round of meds do the job and healing accelerates.
It's true what they say that you should be kind to everyone because you never know what burdens they're carrying on the inside.
I'm wish Nana was a little dog now. :)
I've learned my lesson. No more hero stuff for me.
Sounds painfully drawn out. I tolerate meds pretty well, just not pain. I save up my Oxycodone and Hydrocodone from surgeries or dental work just so I'll have something for when I really am trying to deal with other kinds of pain. Infection is one of those things I can't stand, thought the first few days on antibiotics does the trick, but the pain is in the "before those kick in" times.
I've had my share of infections, but never from a bite. My son is healing from having been bitten in the face!
Feel better soon!
Re: hydrocodone
Ugh! Hate that stuff. Makes me toss my cookies every time. I have a huge stash of that stuff because every time I have surgery somebody prescribes it, even though I tell them I can't take it.
Now we double check the prescription before we let them send it to the pharmacy. I've been burned too many times with the wrong drugs.
Re: your son
Oh, I'm sorry he got bitten in the face. That's far more sensitive than a finger. Hope he's got it under control.