One more time...
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio
I began a very different piece a week or so ago. It was about the joy of wrapping up this Year of Orthopedic Challenges in a very different place. It was focused on the truly remarkable ability of a body’s ability to heal itself. Of spending a remarkably memorable Thanksgiving holiday with our new in-law family in Chico, California. And of the joy of anticipating the arrival of our first grandchild.
All of those things are still true - yet the universe is intent on proving it has a sense of humor - and that I’m a slow learner.
It turns out that I’m “that friend” of yours this year. You know the one. Every time you hear from me, it involves another episode of an unexpected medical condition.
This time? It turns out I was too relaxed about the wound that wouldn’t completely heal from the Achilles surgery. The doctor told me it would take time. What does that mean? A month? Turns out it’s not supposed to be more than eight months.
That wound allowed a nasty little strep infection to get into my blood leading to some very concerned doctors, a six-day stay in the hospital with a range of diagnostic tests and way too many blood draws, plus an infectious disease doc on call. Of course, one of the big risks involved the new improved hip. Last thing one wants is an infection in a new joint!
Of course, the universe again intervened to ensure that the orthopedics MD on call while I was in the hospital was the same surgeon who installed said hip. He has a vested interest in nothing challenging his results, so I’m in good hands with his interest and the ID docs advising the kind hospitalist directing my care.
I had other plans this past week. Parties to attend and to throw. My Mahj friends had a game on the schedule. I even baked cookies again this year after a few year hiatus. But a sudden onset of rigors in the middle of the night followed by a weird rashy leg led my compassionate primary care provider to send me off to the ER.
She knew how “done” I am with the health care system. I’ve had a full share of exposure to hospitals, clinics, PT, labs - all the things. But she is also smart and the look in her eyes told me not to brush this one off.
Side note: This is not the time of year to get sick. It may be trendy, but stay away from hospitals! There’s truly no room at the inn and those working are either overwhelmed or have deep stores of resilience and good humor. I seem to have lucked out with a team of the latter.
The good news is that they figured out which pathogen caused this infection, and have targeted it effectively with the right antibiotic. So I’m home with the new skill of self-administered IV antibiotics.
I’m grateful for my insurance coverage with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Minnesota in a state with solid patient-focused oversight of plans. And for my ever supportive family - and so many notes of concern from friends (it will be OK), I end this year of 2024..definitely one for the books.
High hopes for a healthy 2025!