Fiercely Independent Pam

Tag: picc line

  • Home and Almost Reset! Just Missing a Whole Lot of Strength- But My Heart Is Ready!

    Well I made it home! All safe in my little corner of the world. I even had a wonderful lunch catching up with an old friend, who will hopefully help me find some tutoring gigs too! Even managed to open some packages and get a little organized. Needed the help of lift and assist from the fire department, and they were more than wonderful!

    I was NOT prepared for how weak I actually am now that In am home. I really can’t stand on my own, and terrified of falling. So, it’s back to my “roots” using an old fashioned sliding board to transfer out of bed and into my wheelchair or arm chair. I need to get stronger, but for now, this is going to have to be how it is to be done.

    A huge thanks to my caregiver who with our thoughts together managed a small little shower last night and it made all the difference. I am so bruised up that I hope I heal well.

    Thank goodness I can self catherize anywhere because I really can’t get on or off the toilet right now- TMI sorry-

    It doesn’t help that we are supposed to get a winter storm of sorts, but I guess being stuck in my apartment isn’t the end of the world at all since I am not in the hospital anymore. Unfortunately, I had to cancel facials with my niece because I am not up to it, but I will make it up to her for sure and it will feel even better knowing I did it on my own.

    Today, begins appointments- nurse for resumption of care and hopefully the ENT as well. I ordered an Instacart order and looking forward to some new things to drink. Hopefully, I will also be able to get some organization done too. I also have a newsletter floating out there somewhere too!

    So, I move forward, carefully and intently. Looking forward to working with PT/OT again and being able to transfer without the board and being more independent again. I too will rise again, I have been down before and know what needs to happen. My biggest issue right now is to stay off the floor and in my bed or chair. I have enough new “toys” to play with to keep me busy and not exploring and going places I shouldn’t be going down.

    Other than being just so happy to be home, I am sore- especially where they put my shiny new picc line- its more tunneled than I expected, but it got me home and its able to be used for the necessary IV antibiotics that I need each day to get rid of these major infections- all at the tune of over $3000. No one ever said that chronic illness is cheap!

  • Infection Invaders: Trying to Stay Together In Light of Many Different Infections!

    So, I’ve been a little trapped here at the hospital. Faced with a large kidney stone, Picc line infection, as well as a pretty bad UTI, I’ve haven’t been feeling the best. I will need several weeks of IV antibiotics at home and hopefully home tomorrow after a new picc line and clear cultures.

    I really hoped to avoid the chaos of all of this, mostly the IV antibiotics because they are both expensive over time and require a lot of attention. Hopefully they will come in the form of the “squeeze ball” and not a pump. Either way in creates a lot of medical trash and organization in dealing with various infections.

    Next, is to figure out how to keep practicing getting up and using my strength to make sure I am still able to get up and down from the toilet and such. This was the final straw why I ended up coming to the hospital, I was unable to get off the toilet and needed lift assistance, well this, and the major infections.

    Finally, I have to figure out what is next with the kidney stone. Apparently, I will have to have it “blasted” to get rid of it, but I was told that shouldn’t be a big deal.

    My biggest focus right now is getting up and being strong enough to get home, as I am feeling the need to get home and organized- I ordered a bunch of stuff, including my Zeen, and want to try it all out!

    Looking through the week, I am excited to have lunch with a friend and then an awesome facial scheduled for my niece’s birthday at the end of the week. I tried to cancel everything else going on in order to organize myself.