Showing posts with label infection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label infection. Show all posts

Saturday, 19 January 2008

2007 Sep 20th - Staphylococcus Aureus

Thursday, September 20, 2007


Staphylococcus aureus
Category: Life

Well they grew my bugs, we had a little nosey on the pc in the chemo suite when I went to get my line flushed and more dried greeny yellow goop cleaned off.

Just common old garden staph, fortunately it wasn't the Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Goodo!

Staphylococcus aureus (literally "Golden Cluster Seed")is the most common cause of staph infections, is a spherical bacterium, frequently living on the skin or in the nose of a person, that can cause a range of illnesses from minor skin infections, such as pimples, impetigo, boils, cellulitis and abscesses, to life-threatening diseases, such as pneumonia, meningitis, endocarditis, Toxic shock syndrome (TSS), and septicemia.

Luckily the Lone Ranger knows his stuff and prescribed the right type of antibiotic, ie flucloxacillin which staph is sensitive to.

There is no more goop coming out but it's still a little inflamed/red and lumpy. Fingers crossed for blood tests tomorrow. Even if I don't get chemo I'd like the little soldiers to at least have gone up a bit!

17:29 - 6 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

janey jane jane

I think I'm allergic to that one...something about penicillin and me turning into a blob of itchiness and swellings. lol

Posted by janey jane jane on Friday, September 21, 2007 at 11:59
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Lisa Left Eye Loopylalalalala

Right well don't have chemo then - or ever be in a position to need it. EVER. Which goes for everyone reading this! I can cope being a patient but I'll fall to bits if anyone I care about gets sick.

Posted by Lisa Left Eye Loopylalalalala on Friday, September 21, 2007 at 16:43
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carol

EEEUUUUUWWW! to dried greeny yellow goop

I've got everything crossed for you

x

Posted by carol on Friday, September 21, 2007 at 11:59
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Lisa Left Eye Loopylalalalala

:o)

I like to share...........

Posted by Lisa Left Eye Loopylalalalala on Friday, September 21, 2007 at 16:42
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Umpalumpa

Am going to keep fingers/legs/arms/eyes crossed for better results this week x

P.S. My toad in the hole is doing somersaults round my tummy now!!

Posted by Umpalumpa on Friday, September 21, 2007 at 11:59
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Lisa Left Eye Loopylalalalala

Hmpf, you should have crossed your eyes MORE. Lol!

Posted by Lisa Left Eye Loopylalalalala on Friday, September 21, 2007 at 16:42

2007 Sep 17th - Chemo Denied!

Monday, September 17, 2007


I tried to make them give me chemo, they said NO, NO, NO!

Damn, I knew this would happen at some point. Got a call at 10.14 this morning from Lisa on the chemosuite, asking me to come in for another blood test. Poo. Emergency text to my taxi driver (Becky) and dived in the shower to wash, do hair AND change bag since it's hard work to do any of those on chemo week. Collected a blood form with URGENT on it and went off to sit and wait for another blood test. We thought we may as well grab some lunch in case the bloods were good this time and we'd be there all day.

They weren't. Neutraphils were 1.3 on Friday and have dropped to a pathetic 1.1 today! Normal range between 2 and 7.5.

Heavy doses of radiation ,chemotherapy ,and many other forms of stress can reduce the numbers of neutrophils so that formerly harmless bacteria begin to proliferate. The resulting opportunistic infection can be life-threatening.

Hmpf, guessing having an infection in my arm didn't help either. Or recent stress caused by family members (thanks guys).

Stoopid chemotherapy, now that's knocked me on at least another week into November before I'm done with this, it'll probably still be Christmas before I finish 8 cycles . Oh well, it's sort of a week's holiday and maybe my taste buds will have regenerated by the time I do get more drugs. (Wish I was the cheerleader off Heroes).

13:09 - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

Umpalumpa

Naughty cells........................................xx

Posted by Umpalumpa on Monday, September 17, 2007 at 22:32

2007 Sep 13th - Unlucky for Some

Thursday, September 13, 2007


Aaaagghhh. Can I have any MORE bad luck?
Category: Life

Well after the good news from Onco re reduced dose AND sentence (it feels like I got parole for good behaviour) AND the Willow Foundation coming up trumps with our break in Sherwood Forest I think I got a bit complacent.

Had some family dramas this week resulting in me spending more time with my ex husband than I have in total over the 10 years we've been apart and in my house too. How civilised are we? Funny how you can put differences aside when it comes to your kids isn't it, well MOST of us can.

Anyway because the first three days of this week were very stressful (I could hear my heart thumping loudly and was pretty sure my blood pressure was high) I just couldn't face the shower, the bath guard, the hairdryer, the straighteners or finding something I've not yet worn to the chemo suite to go and have my line flushed. It's been sore this last week and I have a swollen pus-filled red hot lump around the entry site. On Tuesday due to a hot sticky night (yeah that fabulous radiation induced menopause again) the waterproof dressing started to come away a bit so I cleaned it with a swab from my supplies and stuck some new gauze and another waterproof dressing on as a temporary measure to absorb the yukky stuff.

Today after some Chemicals (as in The Chemical Brothers at full blast) I felt up to dragging myself into the shower and witnessing large quantities of hair block up the bath trap - having to empty it three times to drain the shower afterwards. It's getting a bit upsetting now seeing it on my pillow. More hair comes out when I wash it that when it was a foot longer, defo the chemo! Cringe!

I arrived at the chemo suite about 3.45 and got a prime disabled spot in the free car park (say what you like about cancer, free parking is always a bonus). Thought as I'd only had one slice of toast all day and three ginger biscuits I ought to eat something else (hunger signals don't appear to reach my brain any more and I'm trying to maintain my weight but god it's hard, never thought I've have that problem). I had a healthy lemon chicken wrap, a piece of cake (for calories) and a packet of French Fries, salted of course to replace what I collect in the bag on daily basis.

Needn't have rushed because I didn't get seen for an hour. They did have the requisite three nurses which was a bonus but a LOT of patients so I waited outside and forced the food down, wishing I'd got a drink because my tongue is cracked which I think means I'm dehydrated AGAIN.

Matron (ooo matron) looked at my dressing and was NOT happy. In fact she said how unhappy she was with it approximately 7 times, just to me. Lisa the nurse looked at it, they called the Lone Ranger down to look at it. Matron took a swab to see what it grows in the lab - hopefully another life form, maybe a cure for colorectal cancer? She cleaned it up while the Lone Ranger scrawled a prescription for antibiotics and it started bleeding - this made her VERY unhappy. I'm thinking, should I actually be worrying at this point? I keep carping on to the kids that they must wash their hands etc because I have to avoid infection and still managed to get one under waterproof dressings.

Lisa literally "ran like the wind" in her own words to try and make it to the pharmacy before it shut at 5pm, but not fast enough. She rang my surgery who said I could go to their pharmacy to get it. Great. New dressing on after the air had got to my seeping wound, which by the way smells rotten and off I went.

The Pharmacy refused to fill the script. To be fair it does state only to be used in hospital pharmacy on it, but you know I'm a bloody cancer patient, I'm on chemo, I have lowered resistance to infection - which could kill me if my white cells are low enough (they're not right now, don't panic), give me the sodding drugs. Snotty chemist bloke said he couldn't apologise for something someone else had done and that I needed to make an appointment with my GP and get him to redo it. FFS! After a half hour wait in the surgery (no-one admitting to taking the phone call which I heard Lisa make myself) one of the docs put the prescription onto a different piece of paper and then snooty chemist bloke accepted it.............at first then told me (at this point I was close to tears) that usually you get the drug four times a day but GP had put 3 times a day on the script. I pointed out that the GP didn't prescribe it, my oncologist did (his attitude changed a bit at that news). He asked if I wanted him to check with the GP and did I have the original hospital script. Duh! No! They won't let me walk around with two will they? I told him it had been shredded by the receptionist but since I've had half my guts ripped out, four months of chemo and now had an infection I didn't really want anything else to go wrong so, yes, whatever he thinks best.

I'm on three a day - possibly not enough, as the Lone Ranger said I was to have five days, they've assumed the quantity is over seven - quick maths means I have enough tablets to do either! I've necked two for good measure (on an empty stomach - no worries I hardly ever eat).

I have to go back to the chemo suite tomorrow to have the dressing redone if it's messy again, then I have an appointment on the ward (ooer that's special treatment innit?) for Saturday as Matron is really NOT happy leaving it until Monday, especially with the bleeding and smelly yukky pus.

Grim.

Hopefully they'll whip me into isolation and let me have some rest from family troubles and warring cats (my son's pregnant cat is here and hates Skittles). I have a few wounds on my hands from intervening in the odd cat fight. Not recommended in my chemo book of truth.

Cancer's shit.

20:42 - 8 Comments - 5 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

Billy Bollockchops

Oh noo, that's awful. All of it. Sorry I've not had the chance to come over this week. xxx

Posted by Billy Bollockchops on Friday, September 14, 2007 at 14:44
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Umpalumpa

I read this and want to do a Kevin/Perry "Its sooooo unfaair" - because its just NOT fair.

We'll get you through this, and before you know it you'll be getting some serious (well deserved) pampering. MAJOR pampering.

And I think this calls for an (accidental) trip for a new bag/top/skirt/kitchen flooring after the trip to vampire towers tomo pm.?

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Posted by Umpalumpa on Friday, September 14, 2007 at 14:45
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Peter

You're right, cancer is shit. So, find somebody else to throw some shit at, me if you like, then sit down and have a large drink or ice cream or whatever. Sod the world and worry about Lisa as she's the most important person here.
Loving you from a distance,
Peter

Posted by Peter on Friday, September 14, 2007 at 14:45
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Lisa Left Eye Loopylalalalala

Peter, if you were old enough I'd say you were the dad I never had.........which is a bit rude since mine is still alive but always absent (not really his fault as my mother dragged me counties away as a baby and I didn't know stepdad 1 wasn't my real one).

Posted by Lisa Left Eye Loopylalalalala on Sunday, September 16, 2007 at 19:49
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Mandy

Just wondering how the wound is now? hopefully the antibiotics have kicked in and things are improving.

Which Centreparcs are you going to btw? we enjoy weekends at Sherwood and Whinfell with the kids, from time to time.

Hope you're feeling a bit better

x

Posted by Mandy on Monday, September 17, 2007 at 13:05
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Lisa Left Eye Loopylalalalala

It's much less inflamed and the swelling has gone down quite a lot now - must be doing alright on the tablets.

Off to Sherwood Forest!

Posted by Lisa Left Eye Loopylalalalala on Monday, September 17, 2007 at 13:08
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Fiona

Hiya Lisa, I'm rubbish at saying the righ thing - foot in mouth all the time, espesh after the large glass of red I've had this afternoon. Rotten time you're having, been thinking about you, wondering how you're doing - I'm also rubbish at loking around the system for blogs, Its either laziness or fatigue still. Hope you can get some rest and the antibios kick in pdq.
Don't read the thread until p101's gone - it pulled me down, but fought back with all the positives I could muster - prob done the wrong thing again. Cancer is shit, but you're def at the top of the survivors in my book. You're living life and barking mad, and you're great.

Posted by Fiona on Monday, September 17, 2007 at 13:05
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Lisa Left Eye Loopylalalalala

I had a white wine spritzer last night.........only half a glass of wine and I'm gone! I subscribe to blogs it's easier - otherwise I'd miss them too. Hope you don't have too much of a hangover Fi!

Posted by Lisa Left Eye Loopylalalalala on Monday, September 17, 2007 at 13:09

2007 Jan 31st - Baby Boys Birthday Blues

Wednesday, January 31, 2007


Could I feel any worse?
Current mood: distressed
Category: Life

It's ten to sodding one in the morning technically 1st Feb. I've been a bit wired for the last few hours because despite spending a fortune and 3 hours in the hairdressers today (I like it) I've also passed an awful lot of blood - the last time about half an hour ago really scared me. Tyson has been a complete and utter GIT this last week or so bleeding more and more each day but this is the worst it's been so far. I've done relaxation, had a whisky, cried a bit, listened to music but sleep just isn't happening. As if that wasn't bad enough I just realised that my first and second babies, Alexander and Elliott would have been 15 on Sunday (they were stillborn when I was six months pregnant and identical). For the first time in 15 years I forgot their birthdays, I forgot to light a candle or go to the babies memorial garden at Wilford Hill, or the chapel where their names are in a memorial book at Pilgrim. Why? Because I'm too bloody occupied with this stupid fucking tumour. I HATE CANCER. I loved my babies and it made me forget.

I called the hospital today and I should see the oncologist on 9th Feb providing they can arrange a clinic. I may start chemotherapy (likely for about 6 months) the following Monday 12th Feb - they're going to put a PICC line in my arm, just inside my elbow so they don't have to keep sticking new needles in me every couple of weeks (good job really - remember what happened at the CT scan). It's a catheter (tube) they stick in and it goes all the way up and halfway across your chest into a central vein. Goodo, they need flushing once a week so they don't get blocked - going to be a bit tricky to do myself one-handed, so any volunteers who'd like to learn how to do that for me? I may be taking warfarin too just in case of blood clots, oh and anti-sickness drugs and I'll be having some radiotherapy (so I can have random sunburn on my back just for fun). My immunity will be lower so risk of infection is increased, therefore if you have any germs of any description I don't want to be within a 10 mile radius ta! I'll be having enough of my cells killed off without having to fight off a stupid virus too!

See diagram above for PICC line

and this pic of some other lucky chap's PICC line complete with beautiful bruising. Just so you don't get too scared if I'm wearing short sleeves.

To celebrate the news I had half my hair chopped off just in case it thins out - easier to lose it in stages if I have to but if not. well I like it anyway! No doubt if it does fall out the hair that I've had dyed pretty colours will fall out first, as is the law of Sod.

Well I think I feel better for that, I should probably go and make a milky drink or go to the loo for the umpteenth time this evening - I think two periods in three weeks was plenty but now my arse seems to want to join in too, Life is indeed a witch with a capital B (trademark Edwina Curry re: Jade;Danielle;Jo V Shilpa Shetty).

It's actual Loud Tie Week this week but as I'm feeling a bit crappy this week I just wasn't up to persuading the company to support Beating Bowel Cancer. Guess I may as well work my way round the rest of the office and my old dept because if I turn up with that thing in my arm one day soon I have a feeling it may raise some eyebrows and perhaps some questions.

8:54 - 3 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

janey jane jane

Sending you lots of love. I always find that a double Jack helps me sleep, that or watching the shopping channel. I'm a bit needle phobic but will glady flush you out me duck. xxxx

Posted by janey jane jane on Thursday, February 01, 2007 at 07:24
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Billy Bollockchops

Mememe! I'll do the picc line thing. I'm not squeamish so I think I'll be fine. All the websites I've found about it are crap though. They just say something like "Caring for your picc line - Flush it once a week". They don't actually say how.

I hope you're feeling better today. I feel a bit guilty about Alexander and Elliott slipping your mind, I'm sure you would've remembered if I hadn't needed you to keep me entertained all weekend.

I should be free to come over and do some more stuff to help out on Friday night/Saturday day if you need me. But I'll need a bit of time sometime soon to shine up my bike and take pics so I can get it listed on eBay. I'll probably resort to getting my car done on credit and paying it off after I sell the bike. Huffff!

Speak soon xxxx

Posted by Billy Bollockchops on Thursday, February 01, 2007 at 12:17
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Hayley

hey sweetie, i need to sort finances out here first but I'm booking a ticket to come over in Feb - get the gin out.

Posted by Hayley on Friday, February 02, 2007 at 07:27