Update Jan 2008: I haven't taken a photo of the wound since it mostly healed and closed up, but will try to soon for those who are curious.  I did get a new A1C test done and the results are 5.4 which is in the normal range. This will all the holiday sweets and all.  The doctor here says I don't have anything to worry about at this time.  I still feel the doc in MD jumped the gun, but better to err on the side of caution.  I still have been dealing with the High Blood Pressure which is in-consistent.  Trying different meds for it, the only thing that has brought it down was the 4 days of being sick from food poison.  I have taken another blood test to request info on my thyroid and cholesterol (which as normal last year).  We'll see.  I hope to update more soon...

Most of my life I have been fortunate to have good health.  An occasionally accident, one overnight stay in a hospital for observation (I though my appendix were busting) and that has been about it.  I rarely get sick, even with colds or flu.

Once I turned 50, things changed <LOL>!  I noticed an occasional vision issue, mostly an occasional near sightedness.  I was on a plane with an eye doctor and mentioned it, just getting old he said.  So, I had just started my goals for 2007 which included an eye and ear exam as well as a full physical.

For the most part, I've always had energy but did start a routine in the last few years of a morning energy drink (Monster) and drinking quite a bit of Orange Juice with immune system vitamins added (about 1/2 gallon every 5 to 7 days).  I started drinking a lot more water and cut down on the sodas a few years ago.  Went from 240 down to 200 where I've been for the last 2 years.

Eating healthy, over all I usually do.. I like to cook and love meat and veggies... not much for McDonalds but an occasional burger via a fast food place.  My vault was more the amount I like to eat... I love food!  I'm from the school of a good mix, your body craves the foods with nutrients it needs, etc....   My sugar levels have never been high, although it has been a while since tested.  No history of diabetes in my families.  My blood pressure has always been on the high end of normal.

So, that is the basic history of my health... now for the current information.

Somewhere around October 12, 2006 I noticed a little bump on my back left shoulder (around the shoulder blade area).  I thought it was a bug bite but wasn't sure.  A few days later it had a little crater with a small area of infection in it.  I used peroxide and alcohol to clean it, then Neosporin.  By the 15th or so, it was not any better and there were a few smaller looking "pimple like" bumps in the same area.  Again, peroxide and alcohol followed by Neosporin.  My housemate went out of town on 10/16/06 and while she was gone, it just got worse and worse.  I thought it was a boil.  By the weekend (10/21) it was starting to ooze pus and I could not reach it to treat it any better. Sunday October 22, Steph returned and helped doctor it.  Monday October 23, 2006 I located a doctor and went in for the appointment.

He talked with me a while, asked questions about family history, diabetes, etc... Took my blood pressure and said it was on the high end of normal (that's where it has always been).  He said he could not use any anesthesia on it since it was so infected, etc... tried to lance it, drain it, etc... He gave me a prescription for Levaquin and a few free samples.  He also told me Bacatrin was better for this than Neosporin.  To wash it with soap and water and/or Saline Solution.  He mentioned he thought it was Necrotizing Fasciitis and that if it did not show any improvement from the antibiotics in 2 or 3 days that I would need to see a surgeon.  I couldn't remember what he told me it was to look it up on the internet or find any info, had I been able to.. I would have not waited to go to the surgeon.

Thursday morning, October 26, 2006 I called the surgeon and Kathy, the receptionist/assistant and sister of the surgeon, told me to come right in since Dr. Woodward would be leaving after lunch for the hospital to do surgery.  I arrived around 11:25 AM, filled out the forms and waited.  The doctor came out to get another patient and noticed that the waiting room was full (only 2 counting me when I first got there).  I told him there was a sign out front that said there was a party here at 12... he laughed, cut up with some of the patients.  Kathy mentioned I was a work in and he said since he was a head of schedule to come on back.

He took one look at said "you have Necrotizing Fassiitis, a flesh eating bacteria and the only treatment is debridement".  I of course did not know what either was.  So he explained you have 2 options... 1) I can do a local anesthetic, remove the dead tissue. You will feel a little tugging and discomfort but shouldn't feel any severe pain or 2) I can send you to Montgomery General, put you to sleep and you will wake up later having not felt anything.  I asked what was the cost difference since I had no insurance and he said, that pretty much takes away option number 2. 

There was very little pain, the first little shot didn't  hurt too bad but there was a little pain while he was cutting an area.  He explained with the infection some of the tissues may not have been totally deadened.  Over all, it was discomfort but nothing that would bring tears.  He asked me if I wanted to see what he removed, I did.. it was the size of half dollar and as deep as maybe 2 york peppermint patties (I had the sensation!! <LOL>).  He dressed it, gave me a few instructions and asked me to meet him there the next morning (his day off from the office) so he could check it again and that I should bring someone with me who would be changing the dressing for me.  My (un)lucky house mate Steph of course.

10:00 AM Friday October 27, 2006 at the office with my housemate Steph who went with so she could see how to dress it and not be in shock at the "open hole" in my back.  The doctor took the dressing off... still showing infection in the surrounding areas.  He put a new dressing on it and asked if I had eaten anything... I had... He wanted to do surgery that day but told me to be at the hospital at 9:00 AM and to not eat solid foods after midnight, only clear liquids like water, apple juice, etc...

So, I had been drinking orange juice, a soda on occasion, water (almost a gallon a day), grape juice, as well as eating fruit and yogurt, peanut butter and crackers, etc... and of course, I had to be sure to do that at 11:55pm.  I drank almost a gallon of orange juice Friday and Friday evening.. can you say.. HIGH SUGAR!

8:30 AM, Saturday October 28, 2006 my former house mate of 4 years and one of my best friends Miss Bonnie picks me up to take me to the hospital.  So, I'm at the hospital and they are waiting for me.  I was told to go to the ER (no insurance has to do with their billing or something) where they took me back and did the basics.  The nurse came in to put in the IV and I informed him that they usually always have problems finding and getting my veins.  He said, "oh no, they look really good".  In goes the needle (back of my right hand) and in a few seconds he said... "man, you have horse hide" (exact words!!)... pulled the needle out and show me and Bonnie how it bent going in.  She got a kick out of that... so, he tried again on the arm.. I was surprised he got it on the first try but he did.  So, blood was taken for testing.

Dr. Woodward had been by a few times and came back to say that we could get started that it was not going to be later in the day as thought.  Now, this was my first time for surgery and being put under.  Bonnie accompanies me to the prep area.  They explain a few things to me about the procedure, things to expect, things that could happen with the breathing tube, etc.. The anesthesiologist talks to me a little and is asking about the NF and if I had any clue of how I got it.  I told him I have no idea, as the Dr. said, just a case of bad luck but that after reading about it on the Web Site I sure felt I was one of the lucky ones.  He said I was that he had seen a few cases where amputation or loss of life occurred.

As I was moved into the operating room, Bonnie went to check out financial aid information.  They asked if I could move from the bed to the table and had put like a bean bag thing on it.  They told me I would be on my side but that they would turn me over after I was under.  I mentioned the bean bag actually felt good on my back and the said something about "we knew you were strange". 

The next thing I know I hear a lady telling me the beeps mean I need to breathe deeper so the oxygen will work.. I was coming to and it was almost an hour later.  The doctor came by and said they were going to admit me on a 23 hour basis to monitor my sugar level and blood pressure.  It seems my glucose level was very high (in the 400s)... go figure.. gallons of OJ, and all I had eaten the last few days.

It seems that my levels were stubborn so they admitted me and put IVs in me for infection. I was given insulin frequently and pricked and poked regularly.  The food was not bad... I ate a lot!.. I was very hungry.  I was not thirsty so much as usual.  Bonnie and Andrea brought me some snacks and sodas only to be told within 10 minutes they were a no no for me at the time.  Dr. Woodward was to meet Bonnie and Steph the next morning at 7:30PM to go over how to change the dressing, etc...

Changing the dressing was a little uncomfortable but did not really hurt.  The size of the wound he said was 10cm. It's about the size of an old 45 rpm record and down to the muscle area. (I took a photo of it a few days after.. not for the weak of heart/stomach.. but here it is: photo large / photo small).

The stay at the hospital wasn't too bad... Met Dr. Passaro (Endocrinologist) referred by Dr. Woodward.  Unlike Dr. Woodward, she didn't give me warm and fuzzes.  She left the room to get something to bring back and I not seen her since.  Later an dietician came in and gave me some basics on carb counting /sevings for meals.  Very interesting but somewhat confusing (exchange lists). 

The day nurses were great, friendly, patient.  The over night staff, well, they could have been more attentive.  I had an IV that had been taken off and the put back on... when the second one was put on, the nurse spent 10 minutes working on it...  She said she had to flush my IV and used a syringe attached to the IV tub... it hurt for several hours.  After 40 minutes, it was giving an "air" error.   I hit the nurse button, it was 45 minutes before someone came in.  It was the charge nurse who had been making her rounds and was just coming by to start with.  She told me there had been no need for the flushing, fixed the unit and came back an hour later to remove it.  I never saw the other nurse again.

I was showed how to give myself insulin and take glucose tests.  The insulin injections are virtually painless.  I am currently only having to do one a day (long working insulin) and will probably be taken off if it in a few weeks and only take oral medication.  I would have been released Monday night but there would not have been time to get the prescriptions in order so I stayed till Tuesday mid morning.

To read my weekly reports, go here:
Week 1	Week 2	Weeks 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8
2007 Monthly Updates
January	February	March	April

 

Photos:
October 31, 2006		Photo - Large / Small		January 10, 2007		Photo - Large
November 2, 2006		Photo - Large / Small		January 20, 2007		Photo - Large
November 4, 2006		Photo - Large / Small		February 1, 2007		Photo - Large
November 7, 2006		Photo - Large / Small		February 11, 2007		Photo - Large
November 10, 2006		Photo - Large / Small		February 24, 2007		Photo - Large
November 17, 2006		Photo - Large / Small		March 6, 2007		Photo - Large
November 26, 2006		Photo - Large / Small		March 17, 2007		Photo - Large
December 10, 2006		Photo - Large		March 27, 2007		Photo - Large
December 20, 2006		Photo - Large		April 4, 2007		Photo - Large
December 30, 2006		Photo - Large		May 4, 2007		Photo - Large