Like the rest of 2020, May has started off. . . not according to plan.
I’m writing to y’all having just been admitted to the hospital, with bolus fluids going, my first doses of IV Vanco and Ancef already on board, my left foot – infected – wrapped and awaiting my surgeon in the morning, my right foot – infected also – throbbing, my labs terrible and proof of yet another round of sepsis, my family not allowed to stay with me or visit me at all this time due to the COVID-19 crisis.
N O T A S P L A N N E D .
What’s even more surreal about this admission is that I was having the trouble with my spine and left hip on Tuesday that I’ve written about – but my feet were at their baseline.
I went to the chiropractor – who decided to “adjust” my left leg – after saying he understood CRPS and wouldn’t do things like that (but that’s a story for another day) and then Sara and I made an incredibly rare trip out to Sprouts and Super Target – where I drove the motorized carts everywhere – so nothing to in any way aggravate my feet.
Still, by the time we got home, I could barely get inside as I was in excruciating pain and could hardly take steps.
Then, on Wednesday, my left foot began swelling and “lumping up” as it does when it’s infected – and my right foot was just throbbing.
By Thursday, it was clear I was going to the ER. I had telemed already scheduled with my rheumy – who saw the left foot and immediately agreed. And, as with the previous hospital trips, it took the whole day of sleeping to gather the strength to shower and get ready to come here.
When I did, I was immediately taken back to an ER room, where a sepsis workup was started.
After labs, X-rays, and ultrasound, osteomyelitis and sepsis were confirmed – and now I sit in a room on the seventh floor.
I’m waiting on infectious disease and my surgeon to round for more of the plan but so far its been antibiotics and pain meds – and wonderfully kind nurses (Thank You, Lord) and bed rest and NPO since midnight as we expect maybe a surgery today.
As I said earlier, my family had to leave and won’t be able to visit and that will be just hard as hell on all of us for sure.
I H A T E T H I S S T U F F .
Still, as this developed and spread SO fast, I am profoundly grateful to be here, in the right place, being cared for. I know it’s what is needed.
Of course, I am so afraid right now. Who wouldn’t be? This right foot pain is just horrific – and I still haven’t found any relief from the left hip pain that started the whole mess.
Yuck. Yuck. Yuck.
So all prayers and good vibes and warm fuzzies are so appreciated.
I will update as soon as I know more.
For now, as always, I’m leaning into to this truth:
Be well, everybody. Take care of yourselves and each other.
Grace and Blessings.
the autoimmune hippie. 