Posted on 12/09/2003 4:43:34 AM PST by Beach_Babe
They moved my sister to the ICU unit at Ocala Regional Medical Center yesterday and she is scheduled for surgery today to drain the excessive adominal fluid. The surgery was originally scheduled for yesterday, but she's now developed a URI too.
She is very, very sick and so weak. Any prayers that can mustered up for her would be more than appreciated. Her name is Marilyn and she's 51 years old.
She has a rare spinal cord abscess. Usually, surgery is performed to lance the abscess. But she's not a canidate for surgery because, as a health care professional, she contracted Hepatitis C years ago which has caused extensive liver damage.
I know migraines quite well.
Mine stopped when a blood clot left my brain and lodged in the optic nerve shutting down half the vision in my left eye.
It was a good swap, but I was blessed.
I'm very happy that Beach Babe had the alternate plan to take her out of that hospital.
I hope she doesn't have a lot of problem with the hospital administration in doing so.
They're so insulated from the real world that they begin to think they're God sometimes.
They begin to feel that they can dispense life or withold it based on the money available.
Please keep me posted.
God bless you for being a faithful friend.
Good Luck and God Bless you all!
Medical therapy: Treatment involves a combination of 3 modalities: surgical drainage of the abscess cavity, identification of the infecting organism, and administration of appropriate antibiotics for a proper length of time.
During the entire course of treatment, steroids are used to reduce spinal cord swelling and edema associated with the abscess.
As mentioned in Lab Studies, cultures of the abscess cavity should include tests for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, fungi, and tuberculosis. Slides looking for parasites are also recommended.
Prior to identifying the organism, administer a broad-spectrum antipenicillinase penicillin.
Once the organisms are identified and sensitivities established, the appropriate antibiotics can be administered.
Surgical therapy: Once MRI has localized the abscess, laminectomy is performed to expose the lesion and surrounding cord. Laminectomy is usually performed one level above and below the abscess edges for complete abscess visualization. The dura is opened and the area of spinal cord involvement, as indicated by swelling, hemorrhage, and distended veins, is identified.
At this point, aspiration of the lesion is performed for culture of both aerobic and anaerobic organisms as well as for fungus and tuberculosis. Immediately complete Gram stain and India ink preparation. Perform a myelotomy over the length of the abscess, and completely drain the abscess cavity. Irrigate the wound and abscess cavity with antibiotic solution, and perform closure in anatomical layers. A drain is optional.
Preoperative details: During the preoperative and postoperative phases, dexamethasone is used to reduce cord swelling. The usual dosage is 4-10 mg every 6 hours.
Postoperative details: Intravenous antibiotic therapy is continued for at least 4 weeks following surgery. During the preoperative and postoperative phases, dexamethasone is used to reduce cord swelling. The usual dosage is 4-10 mg every 6 hours. Steroids are tapered on a delayed basis (eg, after 2 wk of treatment).
Follow-up care: Obtain a follow-up MRI to detect recurrence of the abscess. However, enhancement of the cavity will likely continue for several weeks.
Marilyn’s doctor told me via phone this morning that Marilyn could leave by today or tomorrow, then he met Claudia. Discharge has now been postponed until tomorrow or Saturday. Now … at the 11th hour … he wants to bring in a neurologist. As Claudia says, he’s trying to cover his a$$. Marilyn has been lying in a hospital bed for 38 days, deteriorating because the HepC is not being treated.
The doctor also made me get ‘permission’ from our older brother in New York to release Marilyn to “Hospice at Home”. After talking to Claudia and learning about our plan he faxed his okay on a piece of paper with the letterhead from his job: Cornell University Medical Center. The staff looked twice at that. Little do they know he’s just the librarian there.
Marilyn’s glad Claudia is here, she got anxious when Claudia wasn’t in the room. Marilyn was pretty alert today, 'tho it’s so hard to understand anything she says. She’s ready to go with us… wants her pants and coat … wants to show us she can walk. Actually, she can’t sit by herself at this point in time.
Claudia looked over most of the charts … the ones they’d show her … and determined that the physical symptoms Marilyn has now are caused by the HepC and not the meds and was appalled that the hospital would let her just lie there. But, I guess their hands were tied too, if Shands wouldn’t accept her as a transfer, what else could they do?
I can’t wait to get her up to Shands!!! Maybe they won’t be able to help her, but I’d never forgive myself if we didn’t try. We ‘hypothetically’ had to tell the case manager what was going on. She was concerned that we were planning to take such a young woman home to die. Maybe she thought it was better that Marilyn just stay there and die???
Hey, guys, could you muster up a couple of prayers for Claudia? She has to go to a settlement hearing tomorrow. After twenty-seven years of marriage she’s going through a bitter divorce with a man who would rather kill her than give her anything. Last time he came after her with an axe. She is armed constantly now-a-days.
Yep! I'd say that Claudia hit it on the head!
I'm so happy that you have someone there to help you, Beach Babe. No one should have to go through what you've been through trying to get care for a loved one.
I'm curious - is it Florida law that the oldest sibling is automatically the guardian? Why was your brother's approval necessary?
Is it my imagination or are Florida laws really fouled up?
No one in the Texas hospital even asked me about any more siblings of my sister!
And Claudia has a crazy husband who came after her with an axe??!
Sweet Lord, has the whole world gone beserk?
I will pray for Claudia, Beach Babe, and for you and for Marilyn.
I'm very sorry you're having to go through this.
God bless you for your love and compassion.
I know Marilyn isn't out of the woods yet,.. not by any means. But this is great news! Marilyn's friend Claudia, an RN, is an Oncology nurse, and has arrived. Below is a post (in part) from Beach_Babe (in Italics). The rest is from me.
The calvary has arrive and her name is Claudia! She speaks well, presents herself professionally and knows the right questions to ask. She said walking into the hospital felt like going through a time warp back to the 1950’s. She’s an oncology nurse and works in the most modern facilities.
Marilyn’s doctor told me via phone this morning that Marilyn could leave by today or tomorrow, then he met Claudia. Discharge has now been postponed until tomorrow or Saturday. Now … at the 11th hour … he wants to bring in a neurologist. As Claudia says, he’s trying to cover his a$$. Marilyn has been lying in a hospital bed for 38 days, deteriorating because the HepC is not being treated.
The doctor also made me get ‘permission’ from our older brother in New York to release Marilyn to “Hospice at Home”. After talking to Claudia and learning about our plan he faxed his okay on a piece of paper with the letterhead from his job: Cornell University Medical Center. The staff looked twice at that. Little do they know he’s just the librarian there.
:o)
Beach_Babe;
I can tell you after working in the medical field for 20 some years, working with Doc's and in hospitals, that the people who have been taking care of Marilyn are SWEATIN' BULLETS!! And they SHOULD BE!
I have been more concerned with her LIVER than anything else for quite some time now, as I'm sure you are aware. Claudia has already GREATLY impressed me!! I'm so relieved she is there.
God has ALREADY answered PRAYERS!!!
NOW Her Doctor feels a Neurologist should be called in? ARGHHHHH
Now that he has DRUGED Her liver into LIVER FAILURE! I'm sure Claudia is as astounded as I am at the drugs they have had her on, considering she is a liver patient.
I'm just thankful that Claudia is there. The Calvary has INDEED arrived. :o)
PRAISE GOD!!! I can't tell you how happy I am.
I'm with TexasCowboy, in that I'm not sure why your older brother had to sign for Marilyn either. Considering you're THERE and caring for her. But perhaps it worked out JUST FINE, what with the letter head :o)
You can just keep this kind of good news rolling in!!!
I'm sure that Marilyn senses that Claudia is there, and feels SAFER, which explains her feeling anxious when she isn't around.
After all, her care HAS BEEN SUBSTANDARD, and Marilyn "is" an RN!! She "knows" she hasn't been getting adequate care.
Knowing Claudia is there, is going to make YOU and Marilyn feel so much better. ME TOO!!!!
Tell Claudia I gave her this (((((((Claudia)))))) and send tons of PRAYERS along with it. Someone as caring as her deserves SO MUCH MORE!!
Things are looking up sweetie!!
I KNOW I'M going to sleep a lot better tonight. I'm NOT going to stop praying as hard as I have been. But I'm going to feel a lot better, and I already have a sense of peace about me.
PRAISE GOD.
Claudia.. good luck tomorrow sweetheart. Keep us posted about you too!! Perhaps this is a new day for EVERYONE!!!
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