Another step on the road home
@GardenGerty (157551)
United States
June 25, 2022 7:53pm CST
When I stopped to pick up what Bob needed in El Dorado, on my way to Wichita, he called me.
They were wanting to put in a PICC line. He wanted me there when they did it. It is an indwelling port to give his medicine through. I was familiar with that, but he was not.
He has been getting everything through a vein in the top of his left hand. That can pull loose, or get squished or get blocked. It is not a good choice for long term use.
So they sent me out of the room, because it is a sterile procedure. Now they will use this port for the IV's. It makes it easier for him to get out of bed and get to a chair to sit up.
He liked that for his meals.
It is one step in the preparation to be discharged from Wesley hospital.
I write all of this here not because I think you will be fascinated, but because it acts like a diary for me if people ask how things are.
I might add here that as of this afternoon no bacteria was growing on the bone segment either.
I guess the antibiotics he is on are taking care of it. I hope it continues to do so while the bone abscess heals.
16 people like this
13 responses
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
26 Jun 22
He misses the freedom of being at home.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
27 Jun 22
@RubyHawk The only other long stay he had was six days, and he was very sick at that time, so it was not so frustrating. Partly he feels too well to be where he is. It is important to get things all cleared up though.
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99425)
• Atlanta, Georgia
26 Jun 22
@GardenGerty I’m sure he does. I’ve been in the hospital several times and I was frantic to get home every time.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (28511)
•
26 Jun 22
I truly hope he continues to improve and you get to bring him home soon.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
26 Jun 22
This may be the answer to some serious questions he has had.
@FourWalls (62131)
• United States
26 Jun 22
I’m glad they’re making preps to send him home, and I hope you’ll be able to get any assistance that you may need. 
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
26 Jun 22
Thnak you. We have various scenarios and still do not know just what will happen.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
26 Jun 22
He misses being in his familiar space.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
27 Jun 22
@LadyDuck Yes, this is the longest he has ever stayed.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458091)
• Switzerland
26 Jun 22
@GardenGerty I can very well understand, my husband was annoyed when he only had to stay 3 days at the hospital.
1 person likes this
@CookieMonster46 (13447)
• United States
27 Jun 22
That sounds like a pic line they put in my upper arm.it took all my ivs and wasn't a free space on my arm left
The first time the put it that was done wrong. The second time the doctor did and it worked.
I too document everything to get feed back so I don't go nuts.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
27 Jun 22
Oh that sounds awful. It was not a doctor or a nurse that did this. It was a special technician that I guess only does this type of thing. Now he can get his medicine through the port, and he says they also can do the blood draw that way and not have to poke him.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
1 Jul 22
@CookieMonster46 I think they did not do it at first for Bob because they were not sure what he was dealing with. It is much nicer. They did have to do it on the right instead of the left with him because of his pacemaker.
1 person likes this
@CookieMonster46 (13447)
• United States
27 Jun 22
@GardenGerty it is the same. A tech did it the first time it didn't work.the doctor in the surgery room the next time it worked. It did everything and I have to wonder why they don't do it the first time. It saves a lot of pain.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95178)
• Marion, Ohio
26 Jun 22
Hopefully those are the meds he needed
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
26 Jun 22
I think it would be great if this was just the meds he needs.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (45487)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
26 Jun 22
Oh, but I am fascinated by it. I'd also like to know how he got an abscess on a bone and which bone. You may have mentioned it before but my RAM isn't co-operating.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
27 Jun 22
It is his pelvic bone. From what I read osteomyelitis occurs in children and the elderly. Sometimes from an injury introducing infection. This could be from radiation damage from his prostate cancer. It could be from the UTI's he carried all the time he was catheterized. You know, you can get an infected tooth that will eventually eat through the jaw bone in this same way and wind up in your sinuses and even your brain. So when we try to "tough it out" we may be doing more harm than good.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
1 Jul 22
@BarBaraPrz Bob and I have both worked in nursing homes. I have also worked with adult mentally handicapped. Both of those groups tend to not be able to report symptoms. Soooo if behaviors get out of control or strange or if they start falling a lot, the first thing they do is order a urine specimin. Often those are caused by UTI's
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (45487)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
27 Jun 22
@GardenGerty A friend could always tell when "mom" had a UTI by her irrational behavior. (Mom's irrational behavior.)
I hope Bob's health continues to improve and that he's home with you soon.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86754)
• United States
26 Jun 22
I am glad you write like this, it keeps me posted Heather.
I sure wish it was all over with but sounds like going well xo
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
27 Jun 22
It really does seem to be going well. It takes a while to get it all done right.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
1 Jul 22
It is handy to have them all in one place. I have friends here that if I do not post new stuff go way back, years and years ago, and resurrect old posts of mine.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156157)
• United States
26 Jun 22
I hope Bob continues to do well and will be released soon.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
26 Jun 22
I think he will be home by Tuesday.
1 person likes this
@Nakitakona (56302)
• Philippines
5 Jul 22
Bob is getting on the right path of recovery. God is good.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
10 Jul 22
Yes, but it is quite a shame that they have to poke so many holes in him. I know they are all for a good purpose, though.
1 person likes this
@Nakitakona (56302)
• Philippines
11 Jul 22
@GardenGerty Yes, it's not good but it's good for him to recover from his illness.
