I always have an open wound. Tends to happen when you work in a manufacturing environment, and work with your hands during your free time.
I had a staff infection 8 or so years ago. No idea where it started. However I went to the doctor because everyone at worked asked me if I was OK. I looked a little off color, and I had a bit of stiffness in my back. Doc looked me over, prescriped something and sent me home, that was Friday. Sunday morning I hurt so bad I couldn't move without being in pain. Wife took me to teh Emergency room, called the Doc. They drew blood, and admitted me to the Kidney floor. I spent the next week sleeping in a recliner, bed hurt the kidneys too much. I was peeing blood, yes blood. At some point my body went septic. Means all my organs were shutting down. I remember a blue room and white light, answering a question I never heard asked. 3 days later I was discharged.
Spent a week in pain at home, went back to ER. This time I had Plurasy, lining of teh lungs was infected. They pumped my full of anti-byotics and made me walk up and downt he halls to mix it with teh infection. The next 3 days a ton of crap drained out of tube they stuck in my side. Once that stopped tehy sent me home again.
Spent another week at home, still not feeling right and still having pain in my back. CAT, MRI, etc,etc, etc, finally had a bone scan. TEchnician told me it takes a week to get the results. Halfway through the scan he left, and came back with a Doctor who specialises in the bone scan. They finished the scan, and sent me home. 2 minutes after I walked in teh door, my Doc called and sent me back tot eh hospital. I got a port installed. The port wes placed in my chest, the tube ended at my heart. Every night for 6 months I was on Vancomyacin (sp). It comes only in liquid form and must be introveniously injected. Once per week a nurse came to my house to draw blood for testing. They were monitoring my infection levels, and making adjustments to teh medication on a weekly basis. I had to take a pill each day too. All I know about the pill is it turned my urine bright orange. The staff infection had settled in two vertibrea in my back, hence the 6 months of treatment.
Fortunately for me, my doctor is the local infectious disease specialist in the area. He literally saved my life with the right medication. That and the good lord decided it wasn't my time. He must still have plans for me. I hope I meet his expectaitons.
YES, I live life differently. You never know when your time is up. Prior to Friday of my first doctor visit, I was healthy as an ox. I know it infections dont happen overnight, however it sure seemed that way. It took me almost a year to fully recover. Sure put a lot of things into perspective for me.
Like I said, I always have an open wound. In fact, right now I have one on my back, right side, and one on my right leg. However I treat them with a little more care these days. Peroxide, alcohol, and maybe neosporin and a bandaid if they are too big. Heck, 5 weeks ago I had shoulder surgery, month before that was a naval hurnia repair. Getting the body fixed for the next round of kids, grandkids. :mrgreen:
Great thread!