Karla wrote:
> I have tried searching the archives to find any messages where I have
> let you all know exactly what has been going on in my life lately. I
> have not been able to locate anything so this email will do exactly
> that. If by chance I have already done this......my apologies. As
> most of you can remember, my four month old grandson passed away
> unexpectedly on March 10th. That was the beginning of a most
> difficult period regarding my health. Actually, in the days
> surrounding the funeral I was the only one that was NOT sick.
> Everyone and their brother had bad colds, sore throats, flu....you
> name it.Everyone that is, except me. I was healthy...other than
> dealing with the adhesions. In the days following the baby's death our
> family made plans to spend two weeks in Florida to pull ourselves
> together and try to begin healing. We were scheduled to go from April
> 10th to the 24th. In the end of March I began to feel punky. I was
> suffering from symptoms I normally develop when I have
> urosepsis....which is a urinary infection that goes throughout the
> entire urinary system. I was placed in the hospital on a multitude of
> very heavy antibiotics. After about a week in the hospital the doctor
> informed me that I would not be able to go to Florida. A blood
> culture indicated that I had a bacteria in my blood and this bacteria
> would not respond to the antibiotics I had already been on. This
> meant another week or so in the hospital. This was very devastating
> as I had been looking forward to spending some really good time with
> my daughter and her girls. We decided that they would continue on to
> Florida since my sister's family was going as well. A few days before
> Easter my doctor notified me that I would be able to go home for the
> holidays. I immediately asked if I would be able to go to Florida, to
> which he said yes. I was scheduled to be discharged on April 14th.
> On that day my doctor came into the room and indicated that my
> creatinin was high. He told me that under normal circumstances he
> would have me stay in the hospital at least a few more days, but since
> he knew how important to me this trip would be he said I could go. He
> instructed me to visit the ER in Florida should I feel sick and he
> gave me his card so that the doctors there could call him. I felt
> extremely comfortable in going. My only nervousness came the day of
> discharge when I had absolutely no urine output the entire day.
> (Since I have a urostomy I cannot control when, where or how often the
> urine flows) When I slept that night I did have some urine output, so
> I did feel better about the situation before I left. My trip was very
> uneventful. I had a wonderful time. I would spend about an hour in
> the sun each day and would make sure that I got in a good nap every
> day as well. The time spent with my daughter was very
> healing.....something we should have done way before the baby's
> death. My last day or so down there left me beginning to feel a
> little punk again, but all in all not too bad. The day after my return
> home I had a scheduled appointment to see my doctor. I told him that
> I felt that I did have something brewing, but since there were really
> no symptoms I was sent home. Two days later I began feeling very ill
> late in the afternoon. I had severe chills that even a hot bath could
> not take care of...a clear sign to me that I had a kidney infection.
> I drove myself to the ER, but only with extreme difficulty. It was
> very painful to put my foot down on the gas pedal. I have never had
> this problem before so I was very scared. I was admitted to the
> hospital, but they were unable to obtain access to my veins for an
> IV. The next morning I was sent (or at least I think I was sent) to
> surgery to get a central line placed. I barely remember these
> events. The next thing I remember is my mother telling me that my
> kidneys had shut down and I was in the ICU. My family was all there
> and I had a visit from my daughter who told me something I would have
> never expected in a million years. My daughter has been violently
> opposed to my having any more surgery despite my pain and the need to
> control the massive hernias and urine leakage. But at this visit she
> told me that if I wanted to let go I could. She told me that I should
> not worry about her and the girls....they would be fine. I have said
> for years that when the good Lord came calling I would be ready, but
> her saying this to me made me want to fight harder than ever. I
> wanted more time with my daughter and my beautiful
> granddaughters. Eventually my kidneys began working again and I was
> discharged ten days later. However, the next day I began having
> problems with vomiting. After a day of this, and a fear of kidney
> shutdown, I again went to the ER. I was given some suppositories, a
> bottle of IV fluid and then sent home. The vomiting continued
> throughout the day and the morning of the next. The first thing I did
> in the morning was call to see my doctor, only to learn that he too
> was ill. I was set up to see the internist that specializes in
> nephrology (she had been involved in my kidney shutdown). This doctor
> proceeded to admit me, but it was time for another central line. When
> the surgeon came into my room to do the placement I learned more
> details of the prior events. He was very surprised that I had no
> recollection of his placing the line the previous time. This time
> everything was uneventful....other than I believe I began
> hyperventilating....just my fear of having history repeat itself.
> Anyway, I was hospitalized another five days with no real answers as
> to all the vomiting, even though it continued another day in the
> hospital. My doctor has told my family it is only a matter of time.
> My infections are coming one right on top of the other. For some
> reason, perhaps the urostomy, I am not a candidate for dialysis nor am
> I a candidate for transplant. He also had told me before all of this
> began that he did not want me to have my surgeries....believing that
> it would kill me. He explained to my daughter that with one of these
> infections my kidneys would just shut down and not recover and I would
> die. Throughout these hospitalizations I have also been plaqued with
> pneumonia, something that I am sure will not help the situation. At
> this last hospitalization I think I got it across to the doctor that
> this surgery is now my ONLY hope. It is worth the risk of my dying if
> there is a chance I can prevent my death. He heard what I have to
> say and is now reviewing my records and discussing this with the
> surgeons in Chicago. The only problem is now it is me that doesn't
> know. I don't want to go through more surgery. I am tired. Well,
> that is my story as it has been the last two months. Sorry for boring
> you all with the details. Love, Karla