Hospitalized

  For a 75 year old man I've always been proud of my health. A vegetarian for 57 years. A non-smoker, Essentially a non-drinker (I may have a beer annually). And I take just two pills, both blood pressure meds. And a multi vitamin. It was all going well.

 Then it wasn't.

 I've just been released from  the hospital after two days of almost non-stop IV drips,  mostly antibiotics. The diagnosis: cellulitis.

 The chronology is this: On Monday 01-13-24 I went in for my lab work in anticipation of my 01-20-24 annual wellness visit with my family doctor. I showed up early - maybe 8 am - and then drove home and began fixing lunch.  By afternoon I was shivering and clearly ill.

 I won't show the pictures here (because I wouldn't want to come across them as I was surfing the web). But I soon began to have terrible pain in my right ankle. I tested for COVID. Negative. By Tuesday (01-14-24) I had a fever above 102°. I was certainly sick but I was neither throwing up nor coughing.

 I made an appointment (01-16-24) at my doctor's office. A Physicians Assistant was able to see me. She couldn't diagnose the problem without tests so I was sent to the hospital (Kettering - Miamisburg) for a CT scan and a complete blood count. Neither were conclusive. Other tests were scheduled ... but I didn't make it that far.

 By Saturday (01-18-24) morning (fever cleared) I was in terrible pain and the left side of my right ankle was blistering. Tom took me to the ER. I spend the entire day there and they diagnosed cellulitis, a bacterial infection. They started antibiotics. By late day I was admitted and spent the next two days there (Sat. 01/18 And Sun. 01/19)

 Whoever said a hospital is no place to get any sleep was exactly right. All day I was prodded, poked - and even cut upon - but at night it seemed the door to my room only closed long  enough to  give me the impression I might get a moment's sleep. I never did.

 The most painful part was when the abscess which was developing on my ankle was literally sliced open while I watched. Surely a better technique would be to have placed some drape over the area? The surgeon was training another doctor and they shared technical details of what was transpiring. The area was numbed  ... but not enough. It was excruciating, especially when  "packing" was placed in the wound (yes, beneath the skin). I didn't know human skin could be lifted like a chicken's.

 How did bacteria enter my skin? No one knows. But I do remember a small break in a callus on that same heal. It even bled. That might have been the route of entry.

 Discharged late Sunday (01-19-24) I was happy to get home. Tom has been incredible, waiting on me hand and  foot, taking care of every detail while I was gone. I'm not religious but I would  easily peg Tom as a blessing.

 Monday (01-20-24) I had an appointment with my PCP and he looked at the wound and ordered visiting nurses to start making rounds to my house. One came yesterday and examined and rebandaged the wound. I have an consultation with a wound doctor next Monday. The visiting nurses will come every other day.

 So how am I? A little better every day. It just seems like it's going to be slow going and a long haul. But it beats the alternative and since cellulitis is often lethal without antibiotic intervention, the alternative wasn't looking good.

Later ...

 I've had a number of people ask me what the bacteria was that infected me. Just saw the posted lab results and here's the culprit:

 So it was Streptococcus dysgalactiae. To read more, click here. I especially noted that it's being found more often in human cellulitis.

Follow-up:

01/27/25: First wound doctor appointment. I'd say the general consensus is that things are going fairly well. They measured the wound's depth, size and took pictures. I was wrapped up anew and sent home, asked to return in a week.

 In the meantime, Kettering Home Care has been making regular visits to my house and cleaning the wound and redressing it every other day. I assume this will continue for weeks ...at least.

02/03/25: A second visit with the wound doctor. He says all is going well and that healing is taking place. The nurse (Jill) debrided all the dead skin coming off my ankle, especially the heal. I asked her how she faced this day after day? "Oh, I love doing this," she said. I could barely watch.

 Here's a view of Parker on my lap and my foot extended onto the stool.