Everyone has MRSA or so I have been
told. MRSA is a virulent infection that lives in the nars (nasal
passages) as well as on the skin. If a wound occurs then the infection
can colonize and become extremely contagious. Once MRSA colonizes then
you are at a greater risk of having it recolonize if you should have another
wound. The only way to treat MRSA is by IV antibiotics.
The week before Christmas I noticed that I had a small wound on my face that caused my face to swell. As each day passed the swelling increased until finally the wound abscessed. The pain was intense and finally on Christmas night I had my mother take me to the Emergency room where the doctors lanced it, placed gauze in the wound to keep it open and draining then sent me home with antibiotics and instructions to see my personal physician the first thing Tuesday morning. When Tuesday morning arrived I made my way to the doctor's office and was promptly sent back to the Emergency room where the doctors were told to admit me for IV antibiotics and scheduled me for surgery to put a drain in the abscess to alleviate the pressure and allow drainage. Unfortunately, I also tested positive for MRSA. I was to remain in the hospital until January 10.
People say that there can't be anything more demoralizing than being in the hospital over Christmas and New Years but, I can honestly say that there is one thing worse than that and that is contracting MRSA. When you have MRSA you suddenly become persona non gratis... that is to say that you feel like a pariah and that any moment the natives will be coming after you with stones in their hands. Every time a person walks into your room they put on a gown, place a mask over their face and wear gloves and if they do not gown up then the staff stands at the doorway and talks to you from afar. I suppose the combination of the time of year, the feeling of being a pariah, the inability to chew without pain because the abscess was on my face and the pain from CRPS made the New Year dreary and grey.
This is something that I would NOT wish on my worst enemy.
I am now at home and happy to be here. My dog, Ozzie, rarely leaves my side and I have NEVER felt weaker than I do now. On the positive side, my house has never been cleaner; my housekeeper boiled or bleached everything including the air returns, my bathtub, my sheets and the furniture. I purchased all new make-up because all of mine was thrown away for fear of contagion and I haven't had to cook because the church has provided me with casseroles galore! I also lost about 15 pounds when I was in the hospital and perhaps the biggest positive is that I was able to stop smoking!! There are changes that I have to make. such as giving up my lavender scented soap in exchange for a surgical cleanser, but that isn't a real sacrifice.
It is not an experience that I would care to repeat and it makes me appreciate my little home and the little things like going to the bathroom by myself, going outside and feeling the wind on my face, taking a bath and soaking in the whirlpool. I even enjoy doing my exercises again. I got the hospital statement from Blue Cross and the total bill is $125,967.28 of which I owe $1,325.00. Thank god for insurance!
The week before Christmas I noticed that I had a small wound on my face that caused my face to swell. As each day passed the swelling increased until finally the wound abscessed. The pain was intense and finally on Christmas night I had my mother take me to the Emergency room where the doctors lanced it, placed gauze in the wound to keep it open and draining then sent me home with antibiotics and instructions to see my personal physician the first thing Tuesday morning. When Tuesday morning arrived I made my way to the doctor's office and was promptly sent back to the Emergency room where the doctors were told to admit me for IV antibiotics and scheduled me for surgery to put a drain in the abscess to alleviate the pressure and allow drainage. Unfortunately, I also tested positive for MRSA. I was to remain in the hospital until January 10.
People say that there can't be anything more demoralizing than being in the hospital over Christmas and New Years but, I can honestly say that there is one thing worse than that and that is contracting MRSA. When you have MRSA you suddenly become persona non gratis... that is to say that you feel like a pariah and that any moment the natives will be coming after you with stones in their hands. Every time a person walks into your room they put on a gown, place a mask over their face and wear gloves and if they do not gown up then the staff stands at the doorway and talks to you from afar. I suppose the combination of the time of year, the feeling of being a pariah, the inability to chew without pain because the abscess was on my face and the pain from CRPS made the New Year dreary and grey.
This is something that I would NOT wish on my worst enemy.
I am now at home and happy to be here. My dog, Ozzie, rarely leaves my side and I have NEVER felt weaker than I do now. On the positive side, my house has never been cleaner; my housekeeper boiled or bleached everything including the air returns, my bathtub, my sheets and the furniture. I purchased all new make-up because all of mine was thrown away for fear of contagion and I haven't had to cook because the church has provided me with casseroles galore! I also lost about 15 pounds when I was in the hospital and perhaps the biggest positive is that I was able to stop smoking!! There are changes that I have to make. such as giving up my lavender scented soap in exchange for a surgical cleanser, but that isn't a real sacrifice.
It is not an experience that I would care to repeat and it makes me appreciate my little home and the little things like going to the bathroom by myself, going outside and feeling the wind on my face, taking a bath and soaking in the whirlpool. I even enjoy doing my exercises again. I got the hospital statement from Blue Cross and the total bill is $125,967.28 of which I owe $1,325.00. Thank god for insurance!
Being sick is not fun but
being sick and having MRSA just plain sucks!
No comments:
Post a Comment