CHAPTER 28

CHAPTER 28

I’m back! Did you miss my political commentary? Don’t worry, this is not one. It is merely a collection of notes written during my most recent hospitalization. If you decide to read it, remember my head was out of sorts, anxious, depressed, scared, confused and pissed. Mother’s Day was tough this year. 

I married an Angel. My wife, Sidney, has been my miracle during this ordeal. Fighting through her own physical and medical problems for which I am supposed to be her caregiver, I am so very lucky to have her at my side and to love. 

JUNE - This is my month, a month that has always had so much for me to celebrate. Unfortunately, I will have to pass on the celebrations this year and concentrate on recovery. They say it takes three days to recover from each day of hospitalization. Having been just released from twelve days in the hospital, there goes my June and July Fourth, 2023! Add insult to injury, I have not been able to work on my yard this year so my lawn looks like crap and no flags will be flown for the celebrations. 🥴

This all started back in November with pneumonia, caused by blood clots in lung, caused by DVT in right calf. Went to Fish Memorial ER for bronchitis and where the rest was diagnosed. I should have noticed the pain in my leg from the DVT, but having pain shooting from my groin down my leg caused by an arthritic hip, the DVT pain went unnoticed.

Released from hospital on Eliquis and oxygen. December Eliquis was $30 for a month’s worth (60 pills). Rose to $60 in January. Switched from Eliquis to warfarin because of cost in February. $3 for warfarin vs $500 for Eliquis.

Developed infectious chin cyst in March as I was weaning off of oxygen. Cyst was growing, hardening and painful. Put on heavy antibiotic in April. Cyst slowly shrunk and disappeared. But antibiotic and warfarin were going to war in my gut, destroying my gut bacteria. Two days after going off antibiotic, explosive diarrhea began on April 3.  Also causes gallstones and colitis. The most miserable and embarrassing period of my life. With each explosion, my energy and strength seemed to also escape me. 

Called 911 per primary Dr. and taken to Fish Memorial (Advent Health) again.

Colitis is swelling or inflammation of the large intestine. Colitis may be acute and self-limited or long-term. It broadly fits into the category of digestive diseases. Three weeks of diarrhea is a nightmare. 

“What Are Gut Bacteria?

Living inside of your gut are 300 to 500 different kinds of bacteria containing nearly 2 million genes. Paired with other tiny organisms like viruses and fungi, they make what’s known as the microbiota, or the microbiome.

Like a fingerprint, each person's microbiota is unique: The mix of bacteria in your body is different from everyone else's mix. It’s determined partly by your mother’s microbiota -- the environment that you’re exposed to at birth -- and partly from your diet and lifestyle.

Anxiety, depression, and autism: The gut is packed with nerve endings that communicate with the brain. Your doctor may call this connection the “gut-brain axis.” Studies have suggested a link between gut bacteria and disorders of the central nervous system, like anxiety, depression, and autism spectrum disorder.

Arthritis: It’s thought that people with rheumatoid arthritis may have greater amounts of a bacteria linked to inflammation than people without it.”

“-- the environment that you’re exposed to at birth --“ Considering the filth I was born into, a nursery of 80 babies with the croup lying in their own bodily fluids with three nurses to care for them (Butterbox Babies), it is now understood why I have had lung related issues my entire life.

Slight heart blockage. Will have Cardiac catheterization in the a.m. 

Test results (CAT Scan and MRI) show 90% blockage in an artery. Catheterization using balloon failed. Blockage is from calcium, too hard for balloon to break up. Transferred to Daytona Advent where they have equipment to break up calcium blockage (roto-rooter). They Implanted a stent. 

Bile duct from gallbladder is enlarged. They want to do an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy tomorrow in Orlando, but the catheter takes preference. So, the endoscopy can be done later as an outpatient.

My Diarrhea is contagious, in isolation. Imma biohazard!!!

C. diff

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/c-difficile/symptoms-causes/syc-20351691

https://retroflexions.com/the-informed-patient/a-family-member-has-just-been-diagnosed-with-c-diff-now-what/

ERCB

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/gallbladder-cancer/getting-diagnosed/tests-diagnose/cholangiography

Waiting on gallbladder treatment suggestions.

ERCB suggested…out patient in Orlando

I thank the doctors and medical staff at both Advent Health hospitals. But I am especially grateful to the nursing staffs at both hospitals who made an otherwise embarrassing, miserable experience bearable, tolerable, and provided a caring smile when desperately needed. At the risk of leaving out someone important, and considering my memory was not at its best, I want to especially mention and thank for going above and beyond:

ER - Fish

Christian

ICU - Fish

Michelle

Cynthia 

Claudia

Savanah

Lori

Michael

Noel

Coronary Unit - Daytona

Kevin

Kelly

Kate

Reneza

Kate

5/31/23 X-ray of left upper arm because of increasing pain. Diagnosis, osteoarthritis in left rotator cup.  

I am hoping someone from the Hospital administration or the government health services reads this. The two hospitals operate on different protocols. Fish had someone take your food order each day. Daytona required you to call and place an order for each meal. When I was finally allowed solid food, food services called me to take my dinner order. Because of this I always answered the hospital phone when it rang. What I did not expect was telemarketers. 

Telemarketers selling medicare alternatives to someone in the cardiac unit. Telemarketers selling funeral planning to someone getting ready for a catheterization. I was angry and depressed. Someone else might have been effected more tragically. The following should be investigated, punished and prosecuted. Hospitals need to block such spam and privacy invasions. Here’s a short list of despicable, disgusting low life's:

Charlotte from American Home Security

Sarah from a Medicare provider on a recorded line

Samantha from Medicare Health Center

Funeral Planning

Justin from US Health Services

I thought my six month recovery was coming to a fruitful end and I would be able to travel and get back to what is normal for me. However, as fate would have it, I now begin a new twelve month recovery period. I will again grasp normal, although it will be a new normal. 

So what has been going on in your life?

ADDENDUM:

“I know that I have less to live than I have lived.

I feel like a child who was given a box of chocolates. He enjoys eating it, and when he sees that there is not much left, he starts to eat them with a special taste.

I have no time for endless lectures on public laws - nothing will change. And there is no desire to argue with fools who do not act according to their age. And there's no time to battle the gray. I don't attend meetings where egos are inflated and I can't stand manipulators.

I am disturbed by envious people who try to vilify the most capable to grab their positions, talents and achievements.

I have too little time to discuss headlines - my soul is in a hurry.

Too few candies left in the box.

I'm interested in human people. People who laugh at their mistakes are those who are successful, who understand their calling and don't hide from responsibility. Who defends human dignity and wants to be on the side of truth, justice, righteousness. This is what living is for.

I want to surround myself with people who know how to touch the hearts of others. Who, through the blows of fate, was able to rise and maintain the softness of the soul.

Yes, I hustle, I hustle to live with the intensity that only maturity can give. I'll eat all the candy I have left - they'll taste better than the ones I already ate.

My goal is to reach the end in harmony with myself, my loved ones and my conscience.

I thought I had two lives, but it turned out to be only one, and it needs to be lived with dignity.”

Anthony Hopkins’ interpretation of Mario de Andrade’s poem

           My 2023 Birthday Portrait:

Messages to primary care doctor:

6/16/23

Still dealing with diarrhea. Used Prep. H and bleeding seems to have subsided. Sidney read about diarrhea on the Cleveland Clinic site, and it seems my diet and the hospital diet are counterintuitive to what diet I should be on to quell diarrhea. When I arrived at the hospital with C. Diff, they put me on a NOP diet. After a few days, I was put on a diet similar to what the Cleveland Clinic recommends. However, when the cardiologist got involved, he over rid that diet and put me on a cardiac diet. It seems that diet was the opposite for treating diarrhea, and possibly why I have had diarrhea ever since. I will follow the Cleveland Clinic diet for two days and see what happens. I feel like I have been stuck between a rock and a hard place. I am not using oxygen continuously or the walker. Feel steady enough, and oxygen % has been steady at around 95%.

6/18/23

Today is day three on the Cleveland Clinic diet and have not had a bowel movement since Thursday. Will go off it today and see what happens.

6/19/23

Had first normal bowel movement today since April. Thank you Cleveland Clinic.

7/11/23

Dr. appt. For hospital follow up. Mentioned that I recently had a hard time enunciating certain words. It lasted for less than 20 minutes. The doctor termed it slight aphasia, sufficient oxygen temporarily not reaching a part of my brain. Not quite a T.I.A. (transient ischemic attack). It could be a precursor to a ministroke, and if it happens again, I am to call 911 immediately. It scared the crap out of me.

She ordered blood tests and for me to return in two weeks. Said I look much better. 

7/19/23

Had a busy day, did a lot of walking. Started with Sidney’s doctor appointment then breakfast since I did not have to fast for the blood test. Had, without thinking, Boston cream pie pancakes and scrambled eggs. Then my blood test, the drug store for prescriptions, a haircut, grocery shopping, power ball tickets (did not win) and home. 

7/20/23

Blood test results came back. Everything came back about as normal as can be except for glucose. No surprise now that I think of the breakfast I had just before the test. It was 140, just high of the normal range. My wife checks her glucose daily, so she checked mine before breakfast and it was 103. NORMAL! Whew! Good idea to fast even if not required before a blood test. Don’t need to worry about glucose on top of aphasia. I have enough to depress me.