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Update, Vent, Rant ... Long
As some of you know, back in March I decided I was on way too many meds and at dosages that were too high (for me.) I came off the Fentanyl patch relatively easily and from there decided to taper down my other meds. I wasn't getting great pain control anyway. In May, I wound up in the ER. I thought I was in acute withdrawal and needed IV fluids. Our local hospital is okay for stitches and small things but it wouldn't be my choice for anything even mildly serious. I had some trouble in my own head with being dependent on meds, even though I've never taken anything more than I was supposed to or taken them other than directed (unless I took less.)
Since May, I've continued tapering down but have really struggled. I kept get nausea from the time I was in the ER and had a lot of symptoms that seemed like withdrawal. They switched my meds a couple of weeks ago and added Neurontin and added back in a lower dose of ibuprofen. I decided I'd stay at this new regime because I was getting slightly better pain control and had a couple of days I felt better. But I still didn't feel like myself. There were times I'd have hot flashes or sweats and I passed it off to peri-menopause and/or tapering the dose. I was feeling like I was going crazy because I felt like my symptoms were too severe for a taper.
The summer flew by with me doing nothing. The pain was bad but the nausea was terrible. I had terrible weakness and my legs were always shaky. At one point I was having bad "kidney" pain. When I was young, I had a long battle with UTIs and kidney infections and I felt like I had one. My PCP called me in one antibiotic and I felt slightly better but then started feeling bad again. I called her and she prescribed a stronger antibiotic but wanted me to come in for a urine culture. I was in the parking lot on a Friday and about to go in and had an emergency with one of my kids so I didn't get it. But I started the script because I felt so lousy.
A week ago Friday, my 13-year old wound up in the ER with a kidney stone. She got great care in the ER and apparently passed the stone. When we got home around 3:30 all her little friends showed up and I treated them all to Chinese food. And a whole bunch of people, including me, got sick. Except everyone else got better after a day or so. On the following Tuesday night, I started continuous vomiting (that after a while was just retching.) I kept trying to sip water; I didn't want to go to the ER. After about 16 hours I realized I needed IV fluids. I was going to have someone drive me to the ER and realized I needed an ambulance.
Well, all summer while I've thought I was ill from tapering (and thought I was just being a baby), it turns out I've been really ill. I wound up admitted to the hospital and spent 6 days there. The care was so haphazard. Either a nurse was fantastic or terrible. I've never been so sick in my life. I would up with a cellulitis in my arm from the IV the ambulance started. The hospitalist couldn't figure out what was going on and I felt like I was being treated by one of the 3 Stooges. At one point he was trying to tell me he thought I had C-diff, though I never had any diarrhea.
I came home tonight ... weak, dizzy but okay. I think I have a ways to go to build up my strength. I can't walk very far without leaning on something. The ending diagnoses are: bacteremia, food poisoning, possible meningitis, and severe gastroenteritis. I'm not sure I'm buying this. The results for the blood cultures are iffy. Some came back clear and some came back positive for some bacteria. I was given Vancomycin. First they gave me a test dose, and even with that, I could feel a little improvement. After 8 IV's of it, I'm a lot better but extremely weak. I'm going to follow this up with my PCP, whom I have a great relationship with.
What ticks me off (well, there's a lot about what happened at the hospital that ticked me off, but this is long enough already!) is that apparently when I was in the ER back in May, my blood showed there was some sort of infectious process going on but I "slipped through the cracks," according to the doctor. I'm happy that I've been treated, since my understanding is bacteremia is very serious. All I know is I have never in my life been sicker. My poor dad was so worried (not to mention my kids.) He actually called my sister who was on vacation to tell her to come home because things didn't look good. My brother left his summer house several times to come check on me. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, I couldn't even talk.
To all the great nurses out there, I am impressed. You have a hard job and yet you take great care of your patients. To all the nurses who are burnt out or don't care: find another job. It's not fair to make your patient wait 2 hours for a med or 4 hours for an IV nurse when the patient's IV is leaking blood all over the place.
My kids did great at home; I'm proud of them. But I wish I had someone that could have been there for me. When my mom was hospitalized (many times,) I always stayed with her all day because I knew the care was hit or miss. When you're gravely ill, you need someone who can help you when you're too sick to speak for yourself.
I have a long way to go, I think, before I get back to myself. But at least I know now that all of this wasn't in my head. My family (mostly my sister) just couldn't understand why I was struggling, though it was pretty clear I was sick from something.
I'm just frustrated with the things that happened in the hospital, both in the ER and on the floor. I'm planning on writing a letter praising the great doctors that cared for me, along with some fantastic aids, nurses, housekeeping staff and the dietician (who finally figured out how to get me to be able to keep some food down.) And I'm also letting them know about some of the staff who if I caught them in a dark alley, they may not come out. (An example is when my temp was 104 and I asked for 2 ice packs. One for the worst headache I've ever had and one for some terrible back pain I was having. She brought 1 and I very nicely said, "Oh, I know you're really busy but I asked for 2 and really need them." Her response? "You can make do with one.)
I hope I never, ever get this sick again. They have no clue how I got this. I'm hoping my primary care will help me sort this out.
I knew I was getting a bit better yesterday afternoon when I wanted my computer. I missed reading all the things that wind up getting posted!!!
Since May, I've continued tapering down but have really struggled. I kept get nausea from the time I was in the ER and had a lot of symptoms that seemed like withdrawal. They switched my meds a couple of weeks ago and added Neurontin and added back in a lower dose of ibuprofen. I decided I'd stay at this new regime because I was getting slightly better pain control and had a couple of days I felt better. But I still didn't feel like myself. There were times I'd have hot flashes or sweats and I passed it off to peri-menopause and/or tapering the dose. I was feeling like I was going crazy because I felt like my symptoms were too severe for a taper.
The summer flew by with me doing nothing. The pain was bad but the nausea was terrible. I had terrible weakness and my legs were always shaky. At one point I was having bad "kidney" pain. When I was young, I had a long battle with UTIs and kidney infections and I felt like I had one. My PCP called me in one antibiotic and I felt slightly better but then started feeling bad again. I called her and she prescribed a stronger antibiotic but wanted me to come in for a urine culture. I was in the parking lot on a Friday and about to go in and had an emergency with one of my kids so I didn't get it. But I started the script because I felt so lousy.
A week ago Friday, my 13-year old wound up in the ER with a kidney stone. She got great care in the ER and apparently passed the stone. When we got home around 3:30 all her little friends showed up and I treated them all to Chinese food. And a whole bunch of people, including me, got sick. Except everyone else got better after a day or so. On the following Tuesday night, I started continuous vomiting (that after a while was just retching.) I kept trying to sip water; I didn't want to go to the ER. After about 16 hours I realized I needed IV fluids. I was going to have someone drive me to the ER and realized I needed an ambulance.
Well, all summer while I've thought I was ill from tapering (and thought I was just being a baby), it turns out I've been really ill. I wound up admitted to the hospital and spent 6 days there. The care was so haphazard. Either a nurse was fantastic or terrible. I've never been so sick in my life. I would up with a cellulitis in my arm from the IV the ambulance started. The hospitalist couldn't figure out what was going on and I felt like I was being treated by one of the 3 Stooges. At one point he was trying to tell me he thought I had C-diff, though I never had any diarrhea.
I came home tonight ... weak, dizzy but okay. I think I have a ways to go to build up my strength. I can't walk very far without leaning on something. The ending diagnoses are: bacteremia, food poisoning, possible meningitis, and severe gastroenteritis. I'm not sure I'm buying this. The results for the blood cultures are iffy. Some came back clear and some came back positive for some bacteria. I was given Vancomycin. First they gave me a test dose, and even with that, I could feel a little improvement. After 8 IV's of it, I'm a lot better but extremely weak. I'm going to follow this up with my PCP, whom I have a great relationship with.
What ticks me off (well, there's a lot about what happened at the hospital that ticked me off, but this is long enough already!) is that apparently when I was in the ER back in May, my blood showed there was some sort of infectious process going on but I "slipped through the cracks," according to the doctor. I'm happy that I've been treated, since my understanding is bacteremia is very serious. All I know is I have never in my life been sicker. My poor dad was so worried (not to mention my kids.) He actually called my sister who was on vacation to tell her to come home because things didn't look good. My brother left his summer house several times to come check on me. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, I couldn't even talk.
To all the great nurses out there, I am impressed. You have a hard job and yet you take great care of your patients. To all the nurses who are burnt out or don't care: find another job. It's not fair to make your patient wait 2 hours for a med or 4 hours for an IV nurse when the patient's IV is leaking blood all over the place.
My kids did great at home; I'm proud of them. But I wish I had someone that could have been there for me. When my mom was hospitalized (many times,) I always stayed with her all day because I knew the care was hit or miss. When you're gravely ill, you need someone who can help you when you're too sick to speak for yourself.
I have a long way to go, I think, before I get back to myself. But at least I know now that all of this wasn't in my head. My family (mostly my sister) just couldn't understand why I was struggling, though it was pretty clear I was sick from something.
I'm just frustrated with the things that happened in the hospital, both in the ER and on the floor. I'm planning on writing a letter praising the great doctors that cared for me, along with some fantastic aids, nurses, housekeeping staff and the dietician (who finally figured out how to get me to be able to keep some food down.) And I'm also letting them know about some of the staff who if I caught them in a dark alley, they may not come out. (An example is when my temp was 104 and I asked for 2 ice packs. One for the worst headache I've ever had and one for some terrible back pain I was having. She brought 1 and I very nicely said, "Oh, I know you're really busy but I asked for 2 and really need them." Her response? "You can make do with one.)
I hope I never, ever get this sick again. They have no clue how I got this. I'm hoping my primary care will help me sort this out.
I knew I was getting a bit better yesterday afternoon when I wanted my computer. I missed reading all the things that wind up getting posted!!!
I'm so sorry this has happened to you. I hope you will be back to normal soon. I thought that only I was treated like this in the hospital. Don't give up, put these people in there place, your right when someone is sick and can't think clearly they need someone there on their side to be their voice and chase down these nurses that are on 7 hour coffee breaks.
Thanks so much for all of the wonderful responses. If it wasn't for all of you, I would truly feel totally alone.
I always used to check on my results and for my kids and parents. I think I've really been so ill for so long and didn't really know it and my focus was off. This has been a big wake up call. I do plan on having my oldest daughter be more involved. She's 19 now and very responsible. And I trust her. I'll have to give her all my information but as long as she has it, she'll be able to handle things if I couldn't.
I am going to be writing to the hospital. The staff that were exceptional will be mentioned, along with the incompetents. It was really like a dark comedy in some ways. I had asked for Tylenol to help with this incredible headache I had when my temp was up to 104. I had to wait two hours. The IV the ambulance put in caused a cellulitis in that arm (which is now better.) An IV nurse put in another IV because of that. I was getting the Vancomycin through that and had already had 4 or 5 bags of it. Next thing I started feeling itchy around that IV. Within ten or twenty minutes, I was out of my mind with the itchiness and I looked at it and my arm was huge and red. I had an infiltrate in that.
So, yet another IV. That went okay until I looked at it and I see blood seeping out. The nurse came in and said, "Oh, that's not good." Waited 4 hours for the IV nurse to come and change that.
Same aid that wouldn't bring me the two ice packs came in to check my vitals. This was when I was really sick, shaking chills from the fever. I didn't have a roommate and I had asked earlier for the A/C to be shut off. This aid thought the room was too hot and made this huge deal about it. She was going to turn it back on. I asked her very nicely not to. I said, "I know you're hot and you're running from room to room but I just can't take the AC right now." She sighed and huffed and puffed.
That same aid was supposed to take my vitals for discharge. When she saw I didn't have an IV in she said, "Oh, then as far as I'm concerned, you're not even here." The nurse I had at that time was excellent. She came in to go over my paperwork and asked if I had my vitals taken and I told her what happened and she was furious.
I've had a lot of surgeries in the last 4 years and I've dealt with the pain and the RSD pain, but I rarely get sick. Even when my kids get sick, I don't usually catch it. But this really woke me up how you can get critically ill so fast. I am definitely going to put together a notebook with information on myself, my dad, the kids and I plan on asking a long-time friend to be sort of the over-seer of things, along with my oldest daughter (but she'll be away at college most of the year.)
I feel a bit stronger today. I'll know I'm really back to myself when I put on makeup!!!
Thanks and love to all of you!
xox
I always used to check on my results and for my kids and parents. I think I've really been so ill for so long and didn't really know it and my focus was off. This has been a big wake up call. I do plan on having my oldest daughter be more involved. She's 19 now and very responsible. And I trust her. I'll have to give her all my information but as long as she has it, she'll be able to handle things if I couldn't.
I am going to be writing to the hospital. The staff that were exceptional will be mentioned, along with the incompetents. It was really like a dark comedy in some ways. I had asked for Tylenol to help with this incredible headache I had when my temp was up to 104. I had to wait two hours. The IV the ambulance put in caused a cellulitis in that arm (which is now better.) An IV nurse put in another IV because of that. I was getting the Vancomycin through that and had already had 4 or 5 bags of it. Next thing I started feeling itchy around that IV. Within ten or twenty minutes, I was out of my mind with the itchiness and I looked at it and my arm was huge and red. I had an infiltrate in that.
So, yet another IV. That went okay until I looked at it and I see blood seeping out. The nurse came in and said, "Oh, that's not good." Waited 4 hours for the IV nurse to come and change that.
Same aid that wouldn't bring me the two ice packs came in to check my vitals. This was when I was really sick, shaking chills from the fever. I didn't have a roommate and I had asked earlier for the A/C to be shut off. This aid thought the room was too hot and made this huge deal about it. She was going to turn it back on. I asked her very nicely not to. I said, "I know you're hot and you're running from room to room but I just can't take the AC right now." She sighed and huffed and puffed.
That same aid was supposed to take my vitals for discharge. When she saw I didn't have an IV in she said, "Oh, then as far as I'm concerned, you're not even here." The nurse I had at that time was excellent. She came in to go over my paperwork and asked if I had my vitals taken and I told her what happened and she was furious.
I've had a lot of surgeries in the last 4 years and I've dealt with the pain and the RSD pain, but I rarely get sick. Even when my kids get sick, I don't usually catch it. But this really woke me up how you can get critically ill so fast. I am definitely going to put together a notebook with information on myself, my dad, the kids and I plan on asking a long-time friend to be sort of the over-seer of things, along with my oldest daughter (but she'll be away at college most of the year.)
I feel a bit stronger today. I'll know I'm really back to myself when I put on makeup!!!
Thanks and love to all of you!
xox
Our sweet Mellie.... Don't blame yourself. This is in no way your fault. This is NOT the way the system is designed to function.... everyone dropped the ball in your case. Unfortunately patients have to be involved and often are the true manager of their care. Yes, you've re-learned what you always knew. It use to be that no news is good news.... but today it's no news is no news.
You are so right. We all need that back up person. Someone who will check on our care when we are ill and stop by the hospital when we are hospitalized. It concerns me that I have no one that will do that either.... oh my husband would and has sat by my side but he has no medical training to know if something is being done right or done at all. However he would have seen to it that I got that second ice pack. When possible we need to ask someone ahead of time to be that advocate for us. It breaks my heart when I see an elderly person all alone in a medical facility or even at a medical appointment. My father understood nothing for himself or his wife. Had I not been there to decipher terms, treatments, medications, etc I hate to think what would have happened. I am not patting myself on the back.... I am just saying that everyone needs that secondary advocate when they are ill.
Is there anyone that you can ask to be that medical advocate for you when you are too ill to be that for yourself? It doesn't even have to be someone that you are close to... just someone that you trust that can assure you are getting proper care while hospitalized.
When my dad went to Respite and I went out of town I gave a trusted family member a written list of important things for my dad. She didn't have any medical knowledge but with that written list and stopping in twice a day she did a great job overseeing his care in my absence. Could you develop such a list and ask someone to check on you? It's just a thought.
Your children sound wonderful!!! You must have done a great job raising them. You can be proud of how well they did with your father. Sorry, I've forgotten the age of your oldest child ... but if not now, then in a few years the oldest could be that advocate for you.
Hang in and get some rest. When you see your PCP make sure she does all the follow up that should be done.... as Sherry said, some re-testing maybe in order, certainly some follow-up labs.
Keep moving a bit as it will help you regain your strength but be certain to rest as needed, don't overdo. When you are strong enough please let us know how you are doing. You'll remain in my thoughts and prayers.
Gentle (((HUGS))),
~Tuck
You are so right. We all need that back up person. Someone who will check on our care when we are ill and stop by the hospital when we are hospitalized. It concerns me that I have no one that will do that either.... oh my husband would and has sat by my side but he has no medical training to know if something is being done right or done at all. However he would have seen to it that I got that second ice pack. When possible we need to ask someone ahead of time to be that advocate for us. It breaks my heart when I see an elderly person all alone in a medical facility or even at a medical appointment. My father understood nothing for himself or his wife. Had I not been there to decipher terms, treatments, medications, etc I hate to think what would have happened. I am not patting myself on the back.... I am just saying that everyone needs that secondary advocate when they are ill.
Is there anyone that you can ask to be that medical advocate for you when you are too ill to be that for yourself? It doesn't even have to be someone that you are close to... just someone that you trust that can assure you are getting proper care while hospitalized.
When my dad went to Respite and I went out of town I gave a trusted family member a written list of important things for my dad. She didn't have any medical knowledge but with that written list and stopping in twice a day she did a great job overseeing his care in my absence. Could you develop such a list and ask someone to check on you? It's just a thought.
Your children sound wonderful!!! You must have done a great job raising them. You can be proud of how well they did with your father. Sorry, I've forgotten the age of your oldest child ... but if not now, then in a few years the oldest could be that advocate for you.
Hang in and get some rest. When you see your PCP make sure she does all the follow up that should be done.... as Sherry said, some re-testing maybe in order, certainly some follow-up labs.
Keep moving a bit as it will help you regain your strength but be certain to rest as needed, don't overdo. When you are strong enough please let us know how you are doing. You'll remain in my thoughts and prayers.
Gentle (((HUGS))),
~Tuck
Oh Honey!!! I'm so sorry that I didn't see this sooner but I was away from the computer for about 10 days as Raegan was home from school and on it. :(
I'm so sorry to hear what you went through. This should never have happened to you no matter what the circumstances were. You go to the Hospital to be treated for what is wrong and it seems that more and more people are leaving it either sicker than when they went in or with an incorrect diagnosis. Thank heavens this didn't cost you your life!!!!!
Tuck's right, you should always check up on your labs as I'm sure you will from now on. After all your life could very easily depend on it!!! I can't tell you how frightened I am for you and what you went through!!!
Now, at least, you know what is going on (or at least you think you do). IF you are concerned what-so-ever that this may be an incomplete or inaccurate diagnosis, you need to request that your PCP re-run these tests or different tests or more complete tests and find out EXACTLY what is going on with you!!! I'm sure you already have this idea in the back of your mind though. Don't take this diagnosis as the "Gospel truth" until your PCP has checked everything out thoroughly and you are comfortable with it.
You know that I will be here for you as we all will!! Now that my Grandchildren are back in school and everything's calmed down I will be on here almost daily. You also know how to reach me should you need to!!!
Now, maybe, you can find out a true level of your pain without all of these other things distracting you from knowing the truth.
I'm sending you Much Love and MEGA, gut gentle, ((((HUGS)))).........Mama Sherry
I'm so sorry to hear what you went through. This should never have happened to you no matter what the circumstances were. You go to the Hospital to be treated for what is wrong and it seems that more and more people are leaving it either sicker than when they went in or with an incorrect diagnosis. Thank heavens this didn't cost you your life!!!!!
Tuck's right, you should always check up on your labs as I'm sure you will from now on. After all your life could very easily depend on it!!! I can't tell you how frightened I am for you and what you went through!!!
Now, at least, you know what is going on (or at least you think you do). IF you are concerned what-so-ever that this may be an incomplete or inaccurate diagnosis, you need to request that your PCP re-run these tests or different tests or more complete tests and find out EXACTLY what is going on with you!!! I'm sure you already have this idea in the back of your mind though. Don't take this diagnosis as the "Gospel truth" until your PCP has checked everything out thoroughly and you are comfortable with it.
You know that I will be here for you as we all will!! Now that my Grandchildren are back in school and everything's calmed down I will be on here almost daily. You also know how to reach me should you need to!!!
Now, maybe, you can find out a true level of your pain without all of these other things distracting you from knowing the truth.
I'm sending you Much Love and MEGA, gut gentle, ((((HUGS)))).........Mama Sherry
Thanks!!! I'll take all the prayers I can. I knew how sick I was in the hospital when I was trying to pray but couldn't get past the first few words. It's good to be home. I'm tired and taking it easy but pushing myself to walk a bit every hour and I'm forcing myself to eat something healthy every couple of hours. And thankfully, my kids all did the right thing. It was a little nerve racking knowing there were 4 teenagers and my 83 year old dad alone for 6 days!!! But they all did the right thing and for that, I am very grateful.
Hi Mellie. I'm so sorry that you were so sick. I can't imagine. I'm glad that you're home, and I'll keep you in my prayers...for a quick recovery.
Sending hugs,
Flower
Sending hugs,
Flower
Tuck, thank you for all your kind words. One of the reasons (other than to vent) I wrote this is to make people aware how quickly things can turn bad. I have never been that ill and it never occurred to me that at my age I would become that ill.
I also have to take responsibility for my mistakes. Normally I always check on any test results. I never just take for granted that no news is good news. I assumed (which I never do) that my PCP had been notified. She hadn't. And while in the hospital, I thought the hospitalist was informing my PCP of what was going on but when I asked he told me I could fill her in. I should have called her and told her I was admitted.
I have learned some valuable lessons. First is I need to take care of me and then I can take care of others. I also realize I can't assume that everything is related to CP or the meds or procedures.
Our local hospital is really only for stitches, hydration, etc. I'll write more about the care in general when I'm stronger. I had no one to be there for me and I was too ill too advocate for myself. Once when I asked an aid for 2 ice packs (when my fever was 104) she brought one. I nicely asked for the second and she said, "You can make do with one for now." Everyone needs someone to pop in and out to make sure the care you're getting is the best you can get.
I've tired myself out now and I think I'll nap as everyone has gone out. It's good to be back reading things here.
I also have to take responsibility for my mistakes. Normally I always check on any test results. I never just take for granted that no news is good news. I assumed (which I never do) that my PCP had been notified. She hadn't. And while in the hospital, I thought the hospitalist was informing my PCP of what was going on but when I asked he told me I could fill her in. I should have called her and told her I was admitted.
I have learned some valuable lessons. First is I need to take care of me and then I can take care of others. I also realize I can't assume that everything is related to CP or the meds or procedures.
Our local hospital is really only for stitches, hydration, etc. I'll write more about the care in general when I'm stronger. I had no one to be there for me and I was too ill too advocate for myself. Once when I asked an aid for 2 ice packs (when my fever was 104) she brought one. I nicely asked for the second and she said, "You can make do with one for now." Everyone needs someone to pop in and out to make sure the care you're getting is the best you can get.
I've tired myself out now and I think I'll nap as everyone has gone out. It's good to be back reading things here.
OMG. You poor thing. My heart goes out to you and I vacillated between tears and anger as I read your post.... no one should have to go through what you have experienced. Our Health Care Delivery System should work a whole lot better then how it worked in your situation. It's a crying shame and worse, you could have lost your life if you had become Septic.
Bacteremia is similar to Septicemia. This from a trusted web site: " Bacteremia occurs when bacteria enter the bloodstream. This may occur through a wound or infection, or through a surgical procedure or injection. Bacteremia may cause no symptoms and resolve without treatment, or it may produce fever and other symptoms of infection. In some cases, bacteremia leads to septic shock, a potentially life-threatening condition."
In your case it appears it just hung around and made you miserable. I am so sorry!!
I always follow up on every lab test that is, ALWAYS!! Your situation is the exact reason I do so. I hope all our members read your post and understand how things can slip through the cracks. After years of being in the medical profession I have seen this occur and it has happened to me also. No it's not the norm... but ONE miss can be very serious as your unfortunate experience proves.
Not only did the ER fail you.... if your PCP is associated with the ER where this blood was drawn protocol dictates that he should have received your lab results too.... so he may have failed also. The lab should have notified your PCP and followed up... they failed too!!
I think one of the largest challenges we face as Chronic Pain patients is just what occurred with you. It's difficult to know when our symptoms are part of our chronic pain cycle, our medications or a new acute condition. It's one of the very things I have addressed with my PCP. She said better safe then sorry... and we all should take that advice. But like you Mellie I let things go too..... blame my CP, chronic medical
condition(s) process or medications. So don't blame yourself. The system failed you.
I'll have more to say on this subject but I have an appointment I must get to now. I had to take the time to let you know that I care... and I am so very sorry that you had to go through all of this.... life can be so unfair. Again my heart truly goes out to you.
You'll be in my thoughts and prayers. I hope that now the problem has been addressed you'll soon be on your way to a complete recovery. I'm sending you love and gentle (((HUGS)))!
My Best to You,
~Tuck
Bacteremia is similar to Septicemia. This from a trusted web site: " Bacteremia occurs when bacteria enter the bloodstream. This may occur through a wound or infection, or through a surgical procedure or injection. Bacteremia may cause no symptoms and resolve without treatment, or it may produce fever and other symptoms of infection. In some cases, bacteremia leads to septic shock, a potentially life-threatening condition."
In your case it appears it just hung around and made you miserable. I am so sorry!!
I always follow up on every lab test that is, ALWAYS!! Your situation is the exact reason I do so. I hope all our members read your post and understand how things can slip through the cracks. After years of being in the medical profession I have seen this occur and it has happened to me also. No it's not the norm... but ONE miss can be very serious as your unfortunate experience proves.
Not only did the ER fail you.... if your PCP is associated with the ER where this blood was drawn protocol dictates that he should have received your lab results too.... so he may have failed also. The lab should have notified your PCP and followed up... they failed too!!
I think one of the largest challenges we face as Chronic Pain patients is just what occurred with you. It's difficult to know when our symptoms are part of our chronic pain cycle, our medications or a new acute condition. It's one of the very things I have addressed with my PCP. She said better safe then sorry... and we all should take that advice. But like you Mellie I let things go too..... blame my CP, chronic medical
condition(s) process or medications. So don't blame yourself. The system failed you.
I'll have more to say on this subject but I have an appointment I must get to now. I had to take the time to let you know that I care... and I am so very sorry that you had to go through all of this.... life can be so unfair. Again my heart truly goes out to you.
You'll be in my thoughts and prayers. I hope that now the problem has been addressed you'll soon be on your way to a complete recovery. I'm sending you love and gentle (((HUGS)))!
My Best to You,
~Tuck
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