Part Eleven: Is this the story that never ends?

This latest episode of me fighting off a bacterial infection all began with a physician not calling me to tell me the results of a sputum culture. The multitude of ensuing events almost seems incomprehensible. Not only did I have double pneumonia, the bacterium invaded my head and neck causing meningitis. From there, I wish I could say I received antibiotic therapy, and I was soon on the road to better health. Unfortunately, I cannot write this.

While hospitalized, it took a very long time to start feeling well. Finally, things seemed to turn around. My appetite and energy levels improved. I no longer slept all day. Hooray! Things are going well. For about 24 hours I felt as though I was improving. Then I started feeling ill again. I thought perhaps the bacterium I had developed resistance to the antibiotic regimen I was on. Since the downturn in my health was at the end of my hospital stay, I did not utter a word to my medical team. They had everything set up for me to get me discharged. They assumed since I was feeling better the previous day, I was still feeling well. When my blood cell count numbers returned to normal, all blood work was ceased. It was not possible to know whether my health decline was just from the stress of being in the hospital, or if they infection may be worsening.

When I arrived home, I diligently took both an oral and IV antibiotic. I continued to feel worse and worse. I called my infectious disease doctor's office to get a follow-up appointment. The next available appointment was in two months. When the antibiotics ended, I went to the emergency department. To my heartache, my white blood cell count was elevated. I was given one dose of IV antibiotics and sent home on an oral antibiotic. I was assured when the sputum culture results came back in a few days, I would be called if the antibiotic I was prescribed needed to be changed. When the results were updated to my patient chart, the emergency department never called. The antibiotic I was prescribed was NOT effective against the bacteria in my lungs. I now had five additional bacteria, which I must have acquired during my recent hospitalization.

While hospitalized, my peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC line) insertion site became infected. The bacterium soon found its way into my bloodstream and settled in my left arm and shoulder. Again, I attempted to find medical care, but my efforts yielded little fruit. The PICC line was pulled. I was able to get one intramuscular injection of an antibiotic.

I have continued to seek out medical attention, but so far, no treatment which covers all my bacteria has been initiated. I have numerous bacteria fighting each other in my body. My body is taxed almost to its limit every day. I am constantly trying to push pass fatigue, but more often than not, I fall asleep. I am hoping I can keep enduring until my infectious disease appointment. Moreover, I pray this time my infectious disease doctor agrees to devise a treatment plan, and a therapy option which will keep me out of the hospital.


(Link to Part One click here)


(Link to Part Two click here)


(Link to Part Three click here)


(Link to Part Four click here)


(Link to Part Five click here)


(Link to Part Six click here)


(Link to Part Seven click here)


(Link to Part Eight click here)


(Link to Part Nine click here)


(Link to Part Ten click here)