Bi-Weekly Labs

CBC

CBC WBC: 1.4* thou/uL (3.9-10.7)

Hemoglobin Blood: 10.7* g/dL (11.8-16.0)

    PCV BLOOD: 33* % (36-43)

    PLATELET COUNT: 41* thou/uL (135-371)

Red Blood Cells: 3.55* mil/uL (4.00-5.50)

    MCV: 94 fL (81-98)

MCH: 30.1 pg (27.0-32.0)

    Mean Corpuscle Hemoglobin Concentration: 32.2 g/dL (31.0-35.0)

Red Blood Cells Width Distribution: 14.7* % (11.1-14.3)

 

 

DIFFERENTIAL

 

 NUCLEATED RBC: 0 /100_WBC 

   NUCLEATED RBC#: 0.00 thou/mL

  

COAGULATION

PATIENT (PT): 18.0* sec (11.8-14.5)

    INR: 1.5

BASIC METABOLIC PANEL

  



Sodium Blood: 144 mEq/L (135-145)   

Potassium Blood: 4.9* mEq/L (3.3-4.8)

    Chloride Blood: 112* mEq/L (95-105)

    Carbon Dioxide Blood: 26 mmol/L (23-30)

    Urea Nitrogen Blood: 7 mg/dL (5-25)

    Creatinine Blood: 0.81 mg/dL (0.70-1.50)

eGFR: > 60 ml/min/1.73m2

eGFRAA: > 60 ml/min/1.73m2

    Glucose Blood: 84 mg/dL (70-110)

    Calcium Blood: 9.0 mg/dL (8.5-10.5)

    AN-GAP: 6

COMPLETE METABOLIC PANEL

  

 PROTEIN TOTAL BLOOD: 6.4 g/dL (6.1-8.4)

ALBUMIN BLOOD: 2.8* g/dL (3.5-5.0)

    BILIRUBIN TOTAL BLOOD: 1.9* mg/dL (0.2-1.2)   

 ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE BLD: 69 U/L (40-110)

    AST: 36 U/L (4-40)

    ALT: 23 U/L (4-40)

 

 

I'm a little behind because of the holidays and being away from Internet.  I must say, taking all the gadgets, electronics, facebook, and Internet itself, away for a week or two, and spending genuine time with my family was absolutely UH-MAZE-ING!!

Now getting back to the reality of things, Corbin went back to the doctor on Tuesday, to find out that he has the beginnings of strep throat. Ten days of Amoxocillin, Seven days of Zythromax, and IV antibiotics, didn't kick it in the butt, but it did suppress it enough, until the Dr's. office re-opened so he could get a new antibiotic. I cant remember the name of it, but its a stout one. Its normally used to fight off the infection "MRSA", but a very small dose did the trick and hes ALL BETTER. Thank goodness.

While Corbin was at the Dr., I went to Vanderbilt to have blood work done, they called while I was asleep, but Allen talked to them. Ive had another adjustment to my meds. Ive gone down on my Predisone to 17.5mg and blood work again, January 10.

 

On another note, we went to Pulaski for Allen's real dads Christmas. Once again I got sick. The last three times we went I have gotten sick, and of course got sick this time too.

I stayed in bed all week long, with a fever, and everything else to go along with that.

My lungs felt like I had ran a 10 mile marathon without stopping. Not short of breathe or anything, a hurt more less like pnuemonia. I still have that chest pain and congestion.

 

on the way home today, i got so sick. i threw up all the way from Pulaski to Fayettville. i guess my stomach just couldn't handle the car ride and i got really car sick.

 

stay tuned for the next few posts, ill take you on a "picture tour" of the Morris family Christmas!

 



MED CHANGE

VANDY CALLED TODAY, AND TOLD ME TO :

~START BACK ON MY CELLCEPT (ANTI-REJECTION), THE SAME DOSE I HAD BEEN TAKING BEFORE. 1000mg. BID

~LOWER THE PREDNISONE FROM 30mg. TO 20mg. DAILY

~AND LABS DECEMBER 28TH..


UNTIL THEN....
ERIN :)

12-13-2011 weekly labs and results....

CBC 

  WBC: 1.8* thou/uL (3.9-10.7) 

     Hemoglobin Blood: 10.5* g/dL (11.8-16.0)  

    PCV BLOOD: 32* % (36-43) 

     PLATELET COUNT: 34* thou/uL (135-371) 

    Red Blood Cells: 3.42* mil/uL (4.00-5.50)    

    MCV: 94 fL (81-98)    

   MCH: 30.7 pg (27.0-32.0)  

   Mean Corpuscle Hemoglobin Concentration: 32.7 g/dL (31.0-35.0)  

    Red Blood Cells Width Distribution: 14.7* % (11.1-14.3) 

DIFFERENTIAL 

    

 

NT AUTOMATED ABS: 1.15* thou/uL (1.40-7.70)

NEUTROPHILS %: 66.5 % (35.0-75.0)

LYMPHS %: 15.0 % (15.0-49.0)

MONOCYTES %: 16.2* % (3.5-12.0)

BASOPHILS %: 0.6 % (0.1-1.5)

NEUT (ABS): 1.15* thou/uL (1.60-8.10)

    LYMPHS (ABS): 0.26* thou/uL (1.10-3.50)

MONO (ABS): 0.28* thou/uL (0.30-1.10)

BASO (ABS): 0.01 thou/uL (0.01-0.08)

NUCLEATED RBC: 0 /100_WBC 

   NUCLEATED RBC#: 0.00 thou/mL 

 

 

COAGULATION

 

 PATIENT (PT): 18.5* sec (11.8-14.5)

 INR: 1.6

 

 

BASIC METABOLIC PANEL

  

Sodium Blood: 139 mEq/L (135-145)

    Potassium Blood: 4.5 mEq/L (3.3-4.8)

Chloride Blood: 109* mEq/L (95-105)

    Carbon Dioxide Blood: 26 mmol/L (23-30)

Urea Nitrogen Blood: 6 mg/dL (5-25)

Creatinine Blood: 0.67* mg/dL (0.70-1.50)

    Glucose Blood: 80 mg/dL (70-110)

    Calcium Blood: 8.4* mg/dL (8.5-10.5)

    AN-GAP: 4

COMPLETE METABOLIC PANEL

  

 PROTEIN TOTAL BLOOD: 6.0* g/dL (6.1-8.4)

    ALBUMIN BLOOD: 2.8* g/dL (3.5-5.0)

    BILIRUBIN TOTAL BLOOD: 1.9* mg/dL (0.2-1.2)

ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE BLD: 69 U/L (40-110)

 AST: 34 U/L (4-40)

ALT: 29 U/L (4-40)

 

 

NOW JUST TO WAIT ON THE PHONE CALL FROM VANDERBILT, TO FIND OUT IF I CAN COME DOWN ON THE PREDISONE OR NOT. FROM THE LOOKS OF IT, THE BLOOD WORK HASNT GOTTEN BETTER OR WORSE. ITS STILL ABOUT THE SAME. AND AS OF NOW MY "MELD" SCORE IS AT 14.

veiw of my labs

                                     COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT                                            

  WBC: 1.4* thou/uL (3.9-10.7) Hemoglobin Blood: 10.8* g/dL (11.8-16.0) PCV BLOOD: 33* % (36-43) PLATELET COUNT: 33* thou/uL (135-371) Red Blood Cells: 3.47* mil/uL (4.00-5.50) MCV: 95 fL (81-98) MCH: 31.1 pg (27.0-32.0) Mean Corpuscle Hemoglobin Concentration: 32.8 g/dL (31.0-35.0) Red Blood Cells Width Distribution: 15.1* % (11.1-14.3)

 

DIFFERENTIAL

 

 NUCLEATED RBC: 0 /100_WBC NUCLEATED RBC#: 0.00 thou/mL     

 

                 COAGULATION                        

 PATIENT (PT): 18.1* sec (11.8-14.5) INR: 1.6

  

 BASIC METABOLIC PANEL

 Sodium Blood: 139 mEq/L (135-145) Potassium Blood: 3.1* mEq/L (3.3-4.8) Chloride Blood: 108* mEq/L (95-105) Carbon Dioxide Blood: 26 mmol/L (23-30) Urea Nitrogen Blood: 6 mg/dL (5-25) Creatinine Blood: 0.61* mg/dL (0.70-1.50) eGFR: > 60 ml/min/1.73m2 eGFRAA: > 60 ml/min/1.73m2 Glucose Blood: 86 mg/dL (70-110) Calcium Blood: 8.1* mg/dL (8.5-10.5) AN-GAP: 5

COMPLETE METABOLIC PANEL

  

 PROTEIN TOTAL BLOOD: 5.7* g/dL (6.1-8.4) ALBUMIN BLOOD: 2.6* g/dL (3.5-5.0) BILIRUBIN TOTAL BLOOD: 1.8* mg/dL (0.2-1.2) ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE BLD: 73 U/L (40-110) AST: 31 U/L (4-40) ALT: 26 U/L (4-40)

ROUTINE CHEMISTRY PANEL

                                             Bilirubin Conjugated: 0.6* mg/dL (0.0-0.3)

 

 

 

 

These are my lab results from yesterdays trip to Vandy. In all actuality, there really not as bad as they have been. The numbers in RED are abnormal ranges. The numbers in BLUE are in the normal ranges.

 

Like I said, I went to Vanderbilt yesterday, and got mostly bad news. Dr. Perri said that my liver is getting worse, and that we know that the liver that's in my body now, is not going to let me live to be an old lady. In other words were getting VERY close to transplantation time. The peritonitis I had a few weeks ago is one of the signs that my livers not going to hold up much longer. Retaining fluid is also a big sign, which I have lots of, that's not going away on its own, or with meds. He informed me that once you get infection in the fluid, your at a 70% risk of it coming back again and more aggressive within a year. So he thinks its a good idea to put me on a daily antibiotic until I have my transplant. He also gave me a very scary statistic. People with my disease that don't get a transplant in time, have only the life expectancy of  3 years. So I need to straighten up and get my butt in gear and get this life changing/saving transplant.

 

Ive come to realize that I have to help my self before I can help/ be here for my husband and son! 

 

There's a few things I have to do before I can get a transplant and be put back on the list.

 

1. Stop smoking.(check) 

2. Pass three nicotine tests. (2 out of 3 check) 

3. Take meds like I'm supposed to. (check)

4. Having blood work done on time/when needed. (check) 

5. Making doctors appointments. (check)

6. Prove to the committee that i'm able to care for a new liver (work in progress)

 

Dr. Perri says I'm doing great and heading in the right direction, and doing what I'm supposed to be doing. That I need to stay on top of it and keep crossing my T's, and dotting my I's. Its not  him that I have to prove all these things to, its the transplant committee. I'm to the point to where I wish I could talk to the transplant committee my self, and let them see who they are talking about. Besides they are making decisions on  people that they have never even met....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

its been a while!

Its been a while since I last blogged, but nothing has really been going on until about a week ago. I was hospitalized for 5 days at Southern Tennessee Medical Center, for what they thought was Colitis. They had no clue what was wrong with me. It went from being Colitis, to a bladder infection, to the bladder infection spreading to my bloodstream. From there, it went to a kidney infection. Last but not least, the doctor told me I had an infection, but he wasn't sure where. He thought it was somewhere between my kidneys and bladder! He also informed me that I was a diabetic, and gonna have to start taking insulin shots, yet he never even tested me for Diabetes. YES....HE WAS A QUACK!!!!!!

He also told me that he had been following Vanderbilt's instructions, and that they told him that I was fine, and should be able to go home when I finished my antibiotics. Come to find out the doctor had never even spoken to Vanderbilt, in which they had no clue I was even there until I called them when I was discharged! They were very angry with this Dr., and the hospital for leaving me there with my enzymes THROUGH THE ROOF! not to  mention my Bilirubin was 7.3!....

The morning I was discharged, the Dr. informed me that I would at least be there 3 more days to finish up the IV antibiotics. Needless to say, he sent me home that very day, because I had requested a new Dr., and instead of him getting me a new doctor, "I think it would be best if you just went home." were his exact words....hahaha FINE WITH ME.!!!!!

almost finished, I promise!

I had an appointment with Dr. Perri Tuesday. He told me that I'm getting pretty close to transplant time. I picked up a habit of smoking. Which they found out and took me off the list....I have been 3 1/2 weeks smoke free.....I'm very proud of my self. I was more of a social smoker than to just sitting around all day smoking....just when people were around mainly.

Any ways they took me off the list until I can pass 3 nicotine tests. I passed one Tuesday, so just 2 more to go. I also have to start making it on the days that I have blood work to be done, its more of a transportation issue. we have one vehicle as of right now, because Allen sold his truck for the money to go to school. so I don't get to go when I need to... oh yeah, I'm on the patch, it shows up nicotine in my system but they can tell the difference in the patch and an actual cigarette, because cigarettes have all the other chemicals in it, and the patch just has the nicotine. but I haven't had a patch on in 2 or 3 days. so I'm doing EXCELLENT!!!

Doctor Perri had me stick around for another 5 hours Tuesday at my  appointment to have an ultrasound and another Parencentesis done. They took out 60 MLs of fluid, for diagnosis. but i started running a fever before I had it done, and started swelling even more. so after all was said and done, I went home. No sooner than I get home I spike a fever of 103, and in so much pain I couldn't even raise my head, walk, talk, NOTHING. So my wonderful hubby took me to the hospital and they sent me straight to Vanderbilt, where they admitted me for Peritonitis. Almost all my fluid is gone. Still have a bunch but 75 % of it is gone.

One other great thing I get to tell you.... I finally got some pain management at home. Well, its at Vandy but I finally got something. Doctor Perri has finally referred me to the Pain Management Clinic at Vandy. Cause I am wearing the ER's at home and surrounding counties out 2-3 times a week for abdominal pain. Which is not fair to them, me, or any other patient that actually has a serious problem and I'm in there slowing them down because I have abdominal pain. BUT NOT ANY MORE!


Now we are finally caught up.... Oh yeah, I get to go home tomorrow!

love ya,
Erin

Add another one to the list

As I told you a few posts ago, Dr. Perri and Allen teamed up and thought it was a good idea for me to go see a counselor to help me deal with stress.
Just to satisfy them I decided to make an appointment with CenterStone in Estill Springs. Little did I know that one hour after being there, I felt alot better, like I accomplished something. I got to speak to someone other than family. I had no idea that talking about my problems to a total stranger would help out.
She diagnosed me with stress and depression, and thinks its a good idea to start me on antidepressants. I'm a little leary about taking and antidepressant but if they think it will help me, then I guess its worth a shot. She also recommends me comming back once a week, but we have decided to do every other week for now. Things might change, Ya never know with me.

no more PICC line for me!

I had my picc line pulled yesterday, and i must say.... it feels pretty darn good to finally be able to raise my arm completely over my head and straighten it out all the way!
I was so excited to have it taken out, that i called my nurse and kept pestering her until she came to take it out. :)
I also had my home health discontinued yesterday as well. Vanderbilt called me yesterday, to tell me that the CT scan looked good, and the blood work is stable, not to change any meds, and to come back in a month for blood work. If everything is still stable then i can start decreasing the prednisone. Ill have another CT in 6 months. have to go back to clinic in 3 months, I believe i have an endoscopy coming up in the next month or to also.
I called and scheduled an appointment to get counseling today, and to be honest, im not to thrilled about it either.


also, it was a year ago today, that i last saw my mom alive. So I have been in a funk all day. She will be gone a year on the 23rd of this month, and I miss her alot.

nut hut

Today I went to Vanderbilt for a check up, and a CT Scan...Oh yeah, and the "norm" too...bloodwork.
We overslept a little this morning, but still made it on time. After my CT Scan was done we had a little time to spare in between, so we stopped for some breakfast. So far my livers working good...YIPPEE!!
I didnt get the PICC line out today, because my antibiotics were not finished, I still have maybe another hour or so, then IM DONE!
BUT..I do get it out tomorrow. He sent me home with the orders for my home health nurse to pull it out. One thing he was concerned about was the weight loss. Im not allowed to lose anymore weight,(besides, its not like im doing it on purpose.) Seems to be all the stress and illness ive had going on. I dont eat when im stressed, so he seems to think thats the way I deal with my stress. He's making me see a psychiatrist about all my problems. He told me if I was to make a list of everything that I've been through, and hand it to someone else and tell them to go through what ive been through, that most people would have already went nuts, and its a wonder im still standing... so im gonna try this list....

1. living with AIH/PBC.
2. my mom passing away.
3. having a preemie.
4. having to be away from my husband for 4 1/2 months.
5. constantly having to send corbin to grandparents because im in the hospital.
6. not getting to see him weeks at a time.
7. physically drained all the time
8. taking care of a 2 year old.
9. mommy and son having to be resuscitated at birth.
10.finding out grandmother has cancer a few weeks after my moms death.
11.being put on the ventilator due to pneumonia.
12.a week stay in the hospital because of meningitis.
13.three days later back in the hospital due to picc line infection and pseudomonas bacteria.
14.two weeks of continuous IV antibiotics and home health.
15.different emotions...mainly sad, because of selling my moms house.
16.days of NO sleep 
17.last but not least, knowing that one day, ill have a life saving organ transplant.

Nothing else comes to mind right now, but im sure theres more! Now you try walking in my shoes. Do you think you could do it?

I thinks its time to see a pychiatrist, before I go insane!

sleepless in Decherd!

This mama is EXHAUSTED! The antibiotics are kicking my tail. One of the side effects of Zosyn is not sleeping, and thats exactly what im not doing (sleeping). I have probably had 5 hours of sleep since Monday. Another side effect I have would be a nasty one (diahrrea)YUCK! I have it so bad that I have lost 10 pounds this week alone. Now my doctors are concerned I have C.Diff. They are wanting me to give them a stool sample, Yummy! they get to play in my poo..... more power to ya! On another note, I have to go to Vanderbilt Tuesday for a CT scan, see Dr. Perri, and hopefully get this picc line taken out! so keep your fingers crossed and pray with me that im done with all this mess and can go back to my normal life!

until then,
Erin

RELAXING THE DAY AWAY!

TODAY, MY NURSE COMES....
YESTERDAY, WAS AN EVENTFUL DAY! ALONG WITH THE DAY BEFORE!

AS YOU ALREADY KNOW, I HAVE THIS LITTLE ATTACHMENT THAT I HAVE TO TOTE EVERYWHERE WITH ME. WEDNESDAY, I DROPPED MY BOTTLE OF ANTIBIOTICS AND THE EXTENTIONS WERE NOT LONG ENOUGHT TO HIT THE FLOOR, AND IT JERKED MY ARM, AND NOW I HAVE A CONSTANT PAIN IN MY ARM! HA OH WELL.....

I THOUGHT EVERTHING WAS OK, UNTILL I LAID DOWN TO GO TO BED, AND MY HEART STARTED FEELING FUNNY, AS IN IT WAS FLUTTERING AND IT FELT LIKE I HAD A BUBBLE OR A BURP STUCK IN MY CHEST THAT I COULDNT GET OUT.

I CALLED THE DOCS AT VANDY, AND THEY SAID IT WASNT NORMAL AND I NEEDED TO COME UP THERE AND HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. SO NASHVILLE BOUND WE WERE!
THE PICC LINE IS STILL IN IT RIGHT PLACE, BUT NOW MY HEART IS PUMPING AN EXTRA PUMP? PVC (PREMATURE VENTRICULAR CONTRACTIONS). I WAS TOLD IF IT GETS WORSE TO COME BACK UP THERE, THAT IT IS OK FOR NOW.

THE NURSE JUST LEFT, SHE SAYS EVERYTHING IS A-OK SO FAR.  SHE'LL BE BACK MONDAY, TO CHANGE THE DRESSING ON MY PICC, AND TO DO BLOODWORK.

BUSY DAY MONDAY HUH?
IN THE MEAN TIME ALL I HEAR IS "YOU NEED TO REST, GO LAY DOWN, ILL TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING!" SOUNDS NICE TO HEAR THAT FROM ALLEN, BUT IM SO BORED RELAXING.

I WANNA RUN AROUND AND CHASE CORBIN AGAIN!

hahaha

GUESS WHAT HAS 2 THUMBS AND IS GOING HOME TONIGHT!

PICC # 5

SO THIS MAKES MY 5TH PICC LINE SINCE 2005. ALL OF THEM HAVE GOTTEN INFECTED, BUT THE 3RD AND THIS LAST ONE. THE DOCTORS CAME IN THIS MORNING AND ONCE AGAIN INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD HAVE THE PICC PLACED TODAY, AND WILL PROBABLY BE HERE A FEW MORE DAYS, TO MAKE SURE ITS WORKING WELL, THEN I'LL GET TO GO HOME.

WELL THIS PICC WANTED TO BE STUBBORN AND PICKY. (NO PUN INTENDED.) SHE FIRST STARTED ON MY RIGHT ARM, BUT DECIDED IT WAS BEST TO GIVE THAT ARM A BREAK, CONSIDERING I JUST HAD ONE PULLED AND MY VEINS ARE T-iny TO BEGIN WITH. SO THE LEFT ARM IT IS! THE FIRST TRY WAS A FAILURE, THE SECOND WAS A BLOODY SUCCESS.

AFTER A WHILE OF PRESSURE ( HARD PRESSURE) ON THE "INSERTION SITE", IT FINALLY QUIT BLEEDING. THAT IS UNTIL I GOT BACK TO MY ROOM, I GOT BACK IN MY BED GOT MY MEDS IN ME, TURNED THE TV BACK ON,LOOKED DOWN, AND ITS BLEEDING LIKE A STUCK PIG. LUCKILY I TOOK A PICTURE TO SHOW YOU BEFORE IT GOT BAD :).

THEY TOOK ME BACK TO RADIOLOGY WHERE I HAD IT DONE, AND THE NICE LADY FIXED ME RIGHT UP. SHE CLEANED THE MESS, PUT SOME STUFF THAT LOOKS LIKE DIRT ON IT, CALLED BIOSEAL. IT ADHEARS TO THE PROTEINS AND FORMS A SCAB, REALLY NEAT STUFF!

NOT AGAIN!

THE LIVER DR'S CAME IN TODAY AND SAID I WAS DOING GOOD, BUT THEY WERE GONNA CALL IN THE INFECTIOUS DISEASE TEAM AGAIN, TO SEE WHAT KIND OF BACTERIA I HAVE AND WHAT MEDICATIONS WILL STOP IT DEAD IN ITS TRACKS.

THE INFECTIOUS DISEASE DR'S JUST LEFT MY ROOM. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE BACTERIA I HAVE IS IN MY BLOOD STREAM AND ITS CALLED PSERDOMONAS. A VERY SERIOUS BACTERIA THAT CAN CAUSE LOTS OF PROBLEMS. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO BE ON IV ANTIBIOTICS 24-7. FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

MY FIRST THOUGHTS WERE "GREAT 2 MORE WEEKS HERE, MY SON IS GOING TO BE COMPLETELY GROWN UP BEFORE I GET TO SEE HIM AGAIN." UNTIL SHE INFORMED ME I WOULD BE GOING HOME WITH YET ANOTHER PICC LINE, AND ILL BE ON ZOSYN FOR TWO WEEKS AT HOME CONTINUOUSLY.

I ALSO HAVE TO BATTLE GETTING SOMEONE LOCALLY TO TAKE IT OUT FOR ME. BUT THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER STORY. SO INSTEAD I'M MOVING MY APPOINTMENT WITH DR. PERRI BACK FROM AUGUST 8TH TO THE 15TH.

NO NEWS TODAY

BESIDES ME SLEEPING THE BENADRYL OFF, NOTHING NEW IS GOING ON!

ERIN

day 2 = no good

So the Spinal Tap I had done on the 29th. has left me in some remarkable pain. I'm talking, A ginormous bruise, severe headaches, light sensitivity,pain from the injections sight down to my hips and when I stand up i have so much feeling of pressure that I can barely feel my legs.

The pain was so intense that Dilaudid, Nubane, and Oxycodone was not even thinking about touching the pain. I ended up having to sleep in a chair STRAIGHT UP (as in  the back of the seat was no were near my back)

Well of course the Dilaudid and Nubane reacted together an made everything worse. I'm not sure what happened because the ended up giving me Benadryl to knock me out. something had to have happened because I have to see a psychiatrist in the morning.

If only I knew what I did.

Erin

3 days vacation and im back

I went home with IV antibiotics, and a picc line, and was told that i, or an RN could do the treatment at home, and flush with saline  and heparin

so this time i was ever so lucky enough to come back for :

PICC Line removal

Spinal Tap #2

Platelet Transfusion

Blood Transfusion

Lots of blood work

Chest X ray

Panaramic X ray

To have all of these test done you should be able to diagnose meningitis, pneumonia.

 i thinkits time tohave a second opinion with my liver dr as well... Allen and I are serioursly thinking about Emory in atlanta.

good by for now,

erin

WAITING TO BE DISCHARGED

I FINALLY GET TO GO HOME TODAY!.....WAAHOOOO!!!!!!..

BUT IM GOING HOME WITH "ATTACHMENTS".  THOSE ATTACHMENTS BEING, A PICC LINE, IV ANTIBIOTICS, AND A WONDERFUL FRIEND THAT IS GONNA DO ALL THE WORK FOR ME.~THANK YOU VERY MUCH TAMMY MARTIN!~ I LOVE YA LOTS.


AFTER THE FEW DAYS OF HOME ANTIBIOTICS, NEUTRAPENIC PRECAUTIONS, AND OTHER GOODIES. I HAVE TO HAVE THE PICC LINE REMOVED. THEY ARE NOT THAT BAD BEING TAKEN OUT. BUT FOR SOME REASON I CANT WATCH IT COME OUT LIKE A NORMAL IV. JUST BOTHERS ME CAUSE ITS SO LONG, AND ALOT BIGGER. IT MAKES ME QUEEZY TO WATCH IT COME OUT. LOL.....


THE FINAL REPORT:

MENINGITIS: BUT STILL UNSURE OF WHICH ONE.


NOW THAT WHEN I LEAVE THIS PLACE AND GET HOME. IM GONNA "TRY" TO KEEP ON UPDATING ON EVERYTHING~

THANKS FOR THE PRAYERS.
ERIN



**day**4**&** counting**

FRIDAY NIGHT VISITORS.

I HAD A SPECIAL FRIEND COME VISIT ME LAST NIGHT! WHITNEY IS ONE OF THE BEST FRIENDS I HAVE EVER HAD, AND I LOVE HER DEARLY!

SINCE THE DR'S. TREATED THE PROBLEM BEFORE KNOWING WHAT IT WAS, IT LEAVES THEM STUCK BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE. THEY ARE STILL DETERMINED THAT ITS MENINGITIS, JUST NOT SURE WHICH ONE. THEY KNOW ITS NOT BACTERIAL, IF IT WAS I WOULD BE IN ALOT WORSE SHAPE THAN WHAT I WAS IN. BUT WE DO KNOW IT HAS LEFT ME ANEMIC AND NEUTRAPENIC. SO LUCKY ME GETS TO WEAR A MASK EVERYWHERE I GO NOW.

THEY SAY I MIGHT GET TO GO HOME TOMORROW, OR MONDAY. IT DEPENDS ON THE RESULTS THAT ARE STILL PENDING. I MIGHT GO HOME ON ORAL ANTIBIOTICS, OR GO HOME WITH THE PICC LINE AND DO IV ANTIBIOTICS AT HOME. MY RASH IS CLEARING UP ALSO. EXCEPT FOR THE BIG SPOT ON MY ARM.

 C-YA LATER,

ERIN

    

day 3 and counting

so today makes the third day iv been sittin here bored out of my mind. worrying and wondering if i have meningitis or if its something else.

as of right now. i am on 3 different IV antibiotics.  much better than  the 5 that i was on.

now im still waiting on the final results of the MRI and the LP.  The infectious disease Drs. are consulting with the liver doctors, and they are saying tight now that it was meningitis, they just dont know what kind. i now have a rash all over my body. its not bacterial. so it has to be viral or the kind that teens usually get when going to high shcool or college dorms.

if your confused.... its ok.... because i am too!

now lets hope im able to give some better answeres tomorrow.

night all,
erin

Day 2 of home away from home!

DAY TWO OF HOME AWAY FROM HOME!

after the MRI and CT SCAN

there were still more painful things to go through.

• LUMBAR PUNCTURE - In English this would be called a "spinal tap". the spinal fluid looked really good but they said they were gonna send it off, to see what is going on.
• PICC LINE - a catheter that runs from a main vein in the arm to the heart. its supposed to be done as a sterile procedure. much better than an IV will ever be.
•  2 CHEST X-RAYS - to make sure the picc line is in place.

Im not sure if the drs. were just saying it but they said that i made all the grown men look like babies crying and screaming during a spinal tap. well i did cry, but i didnt go all out and make a fool of my self.

the picc line was pretty easy. no where near as bad as the spinal tap. until the x-ray was done and the radiologist had to come back down and replace it. now it hurts. but still much better than any IV


ready for day 3?





it would be cheaper to just rent the room!

Guess where I am!?!?...

the hospital AGAIN!!!!

once again im in the MICU. A special little place they take you when your really sick....or in my case, you have meningitis and they dont know if your contagious or not.

my platelets and RBC counts have gone down the past three days to the point that I have had

•  3 bags of plasma
•  2 bags of whole blood
•  3 bags of platelets
 

i had to have the plasma  in order to have the lumbar puncture (spinal tap) done. We are still trying to rule out the bacterial meningitis due to having to send out the LP fluid for more testing.

 

Southern tennessee medical center did

•  CHEST  X-RAY- it came back normal besides the fluid around the brain stem.
•  CT SCAN- abnormalities showing fluid and swelling on the brain.
•  BLOODWORK- everything was way  out of wack so i was sent to vandy once again.

now that ive been here for going on three days and counting, ill get ya caught up the best i know how.so just sit back and relax a minute or too.... :)



 DAY  ONE OF HOME AWAY FROM HOME.

 

1.  MEET ALL THE DRS. AND GET SETTLED IN - we did this fairly quick. I met the liver Drs., infectious disease Drs., MICU Drs.  I had no problems what-so-ever getting settled in.
2.  CT SCAN -  This scan showed the same thing from the other hospital.
3.  MRI OF BRAIN - This just basically confirmed the CT SCAN, and gave them a better option of doing the spinal tap.
4.  TONS AND TONS OF BLOOD WORK - nothing new here except it showed that i needed lots of blood products.