Best wishes and hope for a speedy and healthy recovery.

My SIGforum family

I'd like to thank CEPTOR for letting you guys know what was going on. All your actions prayers and vibes were a help

So what happened?

Shortly after July 4th I came down with food poisoning. I kind of got diarrhea for a couple of days maybe nausea and vomiting and you're the sort of brush it off and motor on. Well motoring on was not it in my face it went away for after that 10 days then had about 10 days of nothing really new and then in early August it came back as C. Difficile, a particularly dangerous bacterial infection of the colon.

I was admitted to Reston Hospital August 26, in really bad shape. The first thing they did was put me on high dose high power antibiotics and an effort to kill everything in my colon. This of course necessitated my being in the ICU so they can adequately administer very very dialed-in drug combos they were using it to control pretty much every aspect of my being. I'm talking about making changes in my cardiac medications dosage 3 times in a day. I was largely delirious during this period.

After about 7 days I underwent a fecal matter transplant. this is where they insert a new bolus of donor fecal material usually via a colonoscopy in order to get a big head start in killing off residual C difficile.

Well after about 7 days it became apparent that that wasn't going to work all by itself so we let that go along for another week. I'm talking about that's close to dead as a nerd and if you ever read my 15-year dead experience that most don't understand that that's pretty close to "all the way dead for real." Shortly thereafter they did a second fecal transplant via endoscopy, basically coming in from the top side. This one seems to have taken good hold the right now I'm having a bit of a bounce with the c difficile affecting my calling out but.

I've been discharged to the physical rehab facility where they have to rebuild my muscles from this long. And then activity. You'll be absolutely astonished how fast you lose the muscle mass you need to be able to do things and I believe it has to go with the preferential consumption of muscle mass spe it's being starved.

I'll add more to this post later.

Sig2340– I don’t know if you need a laugh, but we got lots of fecal donors here. Top notch fecal donations could be headed your way shortly.

I hope you get well soon. I was on a vent for 2 weeks once. Couldn’t do anything by myself afterwards. Couldn’t walk, stand, or even swallow correctly. You will gain strength slowly, and eventually be back to your normal. I will say a prayer for you.

I will always be grateful for some guidance you gave me that prevented me from making a huge mistake. You saved my bacon. Good Luck.

Glad to hear you are on the mend. Scary story.

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
Glad to hear you are on the mend. Scary story.

Ditto.

What a shitty situation.

Get well, my friend.

0-0

Prayers for you and a stable recovery.

Yes, keep motoring on and I'm glad you're getting back on track! Hang in there!

Wishing you a thorough recovery Dave

-Dan

Prayers sent Sig2340. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Sigfest found the words I couldn't. You've been there for me when I needed it most.

I apologise if my previous comment sounds callous and or stupid, my own personal situation has been so extraordinary this year that I've found that the darkest humour is my best way to cope with it. My bad, can't stop making fun of the crap (there I go again) coming my way.

As you can see, I'm keeping an eye on this thread as a concerned friend. You're in my prayers. And thank you again for your friendship and camaraderie.

0-0

Keeping you in my prayers for a speedy recovery.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Sending good thoughts your way 2340. Get well soon, really soon.

quote:

Originally posted by 0-0:
Sigfest found the words I couldn't. You've been there for me when I needed it most.

I apologise if my previous comment sounds callous and or stupid, my own personal situation has been so extraordinary this year that I've found that the darkest humour is my best way to cope with it. My bad, can't stop making fun of the crap (there I go again) coming my way.

As you can see, I'm keeping an eye on this thread as a concerned friend. You're in my prayers. And thank you again for your friendship and camaraderie.

0-0

No worries.

I think my list of things that I get titched off at has under gone a real shake up. Attempted humor is on that list.

What is truly important is you cared enough to think of me and for that, I'm gratetful

29 October 2018 Update

I continue to be in a physical rehab facility, trying to rebuild the muscles lost to my near-death experience with Clostridium difficile.

My physical and occupational therapists say I am an unusual patient in that I am highly motivated and willing to push myself in order to speed my escape from this place. There is a problem though, in that they are setting ambitious goals in each session, and I promptly take those goals further. Today, for example, they wanted me to do 15 minutes on a stair machine. I did 20. They then plunked me down on the recumbent bike, for a 15 minute "ride." I did 30 minutes. In fact, all told I did 107 minutes of aerobic exercise, plus stair climbing on real stairs, walking with a walker, weight lifting, and core strengthening exercises. Not bad for a guy who couldn't stand when I got here on September 25.

I am hoping to leave this place on November 9th. My fall back date is November 24th.

More later.

Sounds like you're making good progress. Here's to shouting this from the front door on Nov 9th:

After his first 2 month hospital stay my father was sent to a rehab facility for the next 4 months...6 months in captivity that first go-around. I took time off from work and the day he was discharged from rehab I picked him up and you never saw a smile so big as when he got out of there.

I've had several lengthy hospital stays but none as long as yours. I quickly learned, just as you have, that you lose physical conditioning incredibly fast when bed-ridden. One PT nurse who was evaluating me told me that a recent study indicated that one full day of bed rest was the equivalent of 3 days loss of conditioning.

Just as you have, I pushed myself to do more than what they requested and they were impressed with my effort and motivation to leave.

Hang tough, get better soon, and we'll keep the lights on for you!

Sig2340, glad to hear the progress report. Having personally experienced a minor bout of C-diff several years ago (picked it up after my eye surgery down in Indy), I can empathize. Minor for me was the worst cramping/diarrhea imaginable, a trip to the ER, and luckily it was caught very early and successfully treated with antibiotics. It’s no joke.

Glad to read that you’re bouncing back so quickly. Keep us posted on your progress.