Very Happy To Be Back Home
By CarolDM
@CarolDM (203410)
Nashville, Tennessee
March 26, 2023 11:11am CST
Have been gone a few days. My cousin (58 y/o diabetic and heart attack last year) was admitted for toe pain. This is concerning as a diabetic. After MRI, CT scans, and X-rays, results were she has a bone infection in two toes. They were talking amputation on the second day of being admitted. I traveled to be with her a few days.
Thankfully her team of doctors decided on an alternative treatment for now. If this doesn't work, they will decide what to do as a plan B. Aggressive IV antibiotics along with HBOT.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a medical treatment in which you lay in a hyperbaric chamber, an enclosed space filled with pure oxygen, for 90 minutes. Air pressure is kept two or three times greater than normal to help the body take in more oxygen, which can help heal wounds, treat carbon monoxide poisoning, burns and more.
The PIC line she has is to make it easier for her to give herself injections of antibiotics at home. They started this line in the hospital when her veins gave out after drawing blood multiple times a day. One end is in her arm, the other goes straight into her heart. She will take three injections a day for 28 days. Then she will start the HBOT therapy in the chamber, 5 days a week for eight weeks.
When I left her, she had Home Health nurses and an Infusion team coming twice a week. She is in good hands. And was glad to be home. Glad I could be with her during this difficult time. I helped her Mom be with her as well in the hospital. Being blind (her Mom) she had many questions and concerns.
Due to the tornadoes in the area, I stayed an extra day. Everyone is safe thankfully. Thoughts are with the families of the 26 that died in Mississippi. Many lost homes and businesses in MS, AL and TN. So happy to be home. I have much to share about spring in my yard soon.
35 people like this
35 responses
@wolfgirl569 (115835)
• Marion, Ohio
26 Mar 23
Glad everyone is safe and that your cousin is back home. Hope she heals quickly
5 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (109514)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
26 Mar 23
I have seen the damages of the tornado in Mississippi and the states that were affected. It is sobering to see the damages of the tornado.
3 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (109514)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
27 Mar 23
@CarolDM I feel bad for the hurricane victims myself.
2 people like this
@CarolDM (203410)
• Nashville, Tennessee
27 Mar 23
@Deepizzaguy My thoughts are with the tornado victims and families for sure. Wish I could help.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (43684)
•
26 Mar 23
Oh, I am more than sure she was so glad to have you there. I do hope the treatments they are trying help her and she doesn't lose any toes. My oldest girl had to have a pic line a few years back, I dreaded it but at the time it helped her immensely to have injections of antibiotics, etc. as well. Your cousin isn't very old, I hope she can overcome some of this and feel better soon. I am sure you were a true blessing to her.
4 people like this
@CarolDM (203410)
• Nashville, Tennessee
26 Mar 23
She has already told me she misses me. I will go back again. I too hope the treatments help. Diabetes is a bad condition to have. So unpredictable. She was doing everything right and bam, a bone infection. Thank you Marie for your kindness, always.
3 people like this
@CarolDM (203410)
• Nashville, Tennessee
27 Mar 23
@MarieCoyle That is a lot to have in your family. I know you are taking precautions.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (43684)
•
27 Mar 23
@CarolDM
My parents, and all 4 of my grandparents, were diabetic. I have always worried about it falling to me as well. It helped spur me forward to lose weight, knowing I was next if I didn't get my act together. And hopefully being proactive will help me, but only time will tell.
3 people like this
@CarolDM (203410)
• Nashville, Tennessee
27 Mar 23
I was glad as well. I still worry about her. I hope she continues to recover. It will be a slow process. She has many other health issues to deal with too. The doctors seem convinced they can save her toes at this point. Thank you for your kind words.
2 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (47853)
• India
26 Mar 23
Your cousin did had a hard time. Diabetics and Heart attack will make body very weak and one needs a lot of care after such a condition and being hospitalized.
You were surely a great help to your cousin and her mother.
2 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (47853)
• India
27 Mar 23
@CarolDM
That is very kind of you !
Spring must have started in your place?
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (47853)
• India
27 Mar 23
@CarolDM
So more photographic posts from your side hopefully!!
1 person likes this
@much2say (57526)
• Los Angeles, California
27 Mar 23
That is quite a treatment . . . I hope that all helps your cousin to improve her health situation. Thank goodness you were there to help her and her mother - it's all so overwhelming and I'm sure they greatly appreciated you being there. Glad you are home safe now .
.2 people like this
@allknowing (145360)
• India
27 Mar 23
Your cousin is lucky you took care of her when it was most needed.
2 people like this
@Juliaacv (53299)
• Canada
26 Mar 23
They must have been so very relieved when you arrived to help them with the medical decisions that had to have been understood and made.
Someone posted about the terrible weather in Mississippi and I mention you and wondered if you were in that area. I am thankful that you are safe.
And I am sure that both she as well as yourself, both slept well i your own beds last night.
3 people like this
@CarolDM (203410)
• Nashville, Tennessee
26 Mar 23
They were both over the moon, very happy and did not want me to leave. But they understood. I will go back again. I was in Alabama. A few tornadoes north of where I was but nothing like in MS. I have a friend (Dustin's Godmother) in MS but she is in the southern part of the state. All safe. Was so happy to be home.
3 people like this
@MommyOfEli2013 (84912)
• Rupert, Idaho
27 Mar 23
Sorry to hear about that, hard to see family going through things like that...
and that's scary about the tornadoes. That's good everyone is safe though...
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (163426)
• United States
27 Mar 23
I know HBOT is good for a lot of things, but I do not think it is available anywhere nearby for us. You know Bob had bone infections this summer and the IV antibiotics. The antibiotics set him up for C Diff. Your cousin should get probiotics to take, and/or enjoy things like yogurt and fermented foods like kraut, and pickles, to help prevent the C Diff and to boost her immunity while she is on all those antibiotics.
2 people like this
@CarolDM (203410)
• Nashville, Tennessee
27 Mar 23
She is lucky to have the HBOT at her doctor's office. I do remember about Bob. She called me today and said they d/c'd Cipro oral, and started IV antibiotics. She was able to get a grant and bypass insurance. I will remind her about the probiotics. And I hope Bob is doing better these days.
@snowy22315 (189184)
• United States
26 Mar 23
Funny, I was just thinking about you a couple of hours ago, realizing you hadn't been around for awhile. It is a good thing your cousin can avoid amputation,
2 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (37824)
• Toccoa, Georgia
27 Mar 23
Glad you were able to be with her. Prayers for her. I just learned that a County here in Georgia (western part of the State) had a tornado this morning destroying 30 homes. 
Governor Kemp just declared disaster assistance
Governor Kemp just declared disaster assistance 2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (84796)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
27 Mar 23
I hope your cousin will be all right and will put her in my prayers. Glad you got home safe and sound, Enjoy your spring garden I am sure the birds were waiting for you,
2 people like this
