Winter  2004

 Friday, January 9, 2004
 Jake called Terri this a.m. as I was leaving for work.  They got the last cultures/sensitivities back from earlier this week and Jake must be admitted to the hospital for IV antibiotics and observation again.  His abdomen, groin, and back areas are affected.  Besides being very scared, he is also in a lot of pain.  This is not his ulcer… it is the same problem he had a little while ago when he ended up in and out and in Abbott’s ER for the weekend. It is a MRSA infection.  The doc told Jake that there are different stages of MRSA, and unfortunately, Jake has the worst.

 The doc told Jake that the Vancomycin won’t work on this infection.  They are going to try Genomycin (spelling?).   Jake will be admitted to the hospital (he was told he’d stay about 1 week), then probably be moved to an extended care facility (he was told for about 2-3 weeks).  His apartment complex, which is assisted living, will not allow IV’s, even though his (visiting) nurse would handle it all.  The doc then told Jake there was a chance that this won’t even eliminate the infection.  Jake is panicking again because the doc mentioned “life or death” situation.  I wish they would remember that Jake is only 20 years old.

 A little while ago Jake called again.  He’s going to Regions Hospital in downtown St Paul.  It seems that Abbott’s ER is backed up by 3-4 hours and they want to get him started on antibiotics ASAP.   No, I cannot explain why  he must go through the ER to be admitted as an inpatient for IV antibiotics because I do not understand why.   I’m just grateful that they are helping him.

 Terri calmed Jake down and told him to try to take this one step at a time.  He desperately wants Terri to drive up there.  I don’t know what we will do.  After he is settled  in and calmed down, he will probably be ok. 

 Jake reacts to antibiotics in a couple ways, and it’s always predictable.  -diarrhea and nausea-  Terri suggested maybe he should request an NG tube for nutrition because he was probably going to be losing his appetite (again).  He wasn’t happy, but he agreed.

 About the ulcer:  the skin edges are healing faster than the bone, soft tissue, etc.  So there is a good chance he will need more debridement.  I don’t think the MRSA has hit that ulcer. 

Saturday, January 10, 2004
 Jake called (collect) and is in total panic.  They admitted him to Regions hospital, got the IV started and then he was immediately transferred to Lexington Health.  I assume it’s an extended care facility (nursing home).  He is sharing a room with someone (MRSA???).  There is no phone by his bed, and when he was able to use a phone, his calling card did not work – it immediately switched to MCI and he had to make a collect call to Terri.  He again pleaded with Terri to drive up.  Sometimes, as much as they would like to, Moms (and Grandmoms) can’t fix things, and it usually hurts them more than the child.

 We are hoping that once he eats something and gets caught up with his sleep that he will feel better about this.

Jake is usually a very ‘up’ guy – normally things just don’t get him upset.  And of course he is very social so I think that having a room mate will probably help him.

The most worrisome fact is that they are running out of antibiotics that will work for that stupid MRSA. 

Tuesday, January 13, 2004
The MRSA infection is in his groin, abdomen and back.  Jake’s symptoms are pain – a burning pain.  Remember the ER/inpatient visits to Abbott a couple weeks ago?  That is what this is all about.

 Well, I do not want to get too optimistic but yesterday Jake said the pain was not as bad as before (the start of the new antibiotic).    Now that he has a few days of that new drug under his belt, the GI symptoms are starting to appear. 

The nursing home staff are very nice people.  Jake has really lucked out as far as care is concerned.

Friday, January 16, 2004
 Jake's doing better.  His ulcer is looking good.  He saw the doc yesterday and was told to come back in one month and maybe they won't have to do the flap surgery.  So that’s good news.

 He was eating when Terri called him.  She asked him what he was eating, and he said, "Roast beef.........I think."  He said the food’s not that great.  The aide did confirm that it really WAS roast beef.  He then had to ask Terri to stop laughing.

Saturday, January 24, 2004
 Jake was discharged from the nursing home late yesterday afternoon.  He called today.  He’s very happy that he’s home.  The wound nurse is coming on Monday and then we will know how that ulcer is progressing.  Jake mentioned that the vacuum they used at the nursing home may not have been as up-to-date as the one he is used to. 

 And he’s happy to hear that he will be getting his computer back on Monday.  All his phone numbers and important data is on that pute.

 I am assuming the MRSA has resolved.  Otherwise they would not have let him come home.  I’ll ask about that next time I talk to him.

Saturday, February 07, 2004
Jake is again in the nursing home.  He was experiencing nausea, loss of appetite and extreme ‘burning’ pain in abdomen, groin, back, and legs.   The doc did a urine culture and it came back as MRSA so here we go again.  The original infection did not completely clear up the last time he was here.   Since he has been there his nausea has abated, and his appetite has returned,  but he is still experiencing low back pain.  We don’t know if the pain is related to the MRSA but if it isn’t I sure hope they find out the cause.
Sunday, February 22, 2004
Jake was discharged from the nursing home on Thursday.  He is feeling much better.  The pain is mostly gone.  They gave him double doses of antibiotic.  Unfortunately, he still has a yeast infection, most likely due to the antibiotics. 
 

Tuesday, March 2, 2004
This is the note that Terri left for me:

The results of his urologist visit today conclude that he now has another UTI and a prostate infection. He won't know what the "bug" is, or what it will respond to until at least Monday.

The doctor said if it will respond to Cipro, he'll be on it for 6 weeks.

I asked him if he was OK, and he said, "yes, but grrrrr...."

Damn roller coaster.

Love

Terri

 
I guess that about says it all.
 
Thursday, March 4, 2004
Jake will be having a minor surgery (local anesthesia) next Monday.  The wound (butt ulcer)  is much smaller now, but there is a small pocket forming.  The doc is going to open it back up just a little bit and then continue the wound vac.  Jake was told the insurance would not pay for the plasma procedure but now it seems they might have changed their minds.  Jake is very excited about that.
He's on an antibiotic (of course) for his latest infection.  I don't think he's real clear about what the bug is,  but he's pretty sure it's not staph or he'd be back at the nursing home by now.  The doc didn't give Jake a choice of antibiotics this time.  It's something he hasn't taken before (as far as we know) and it's bothering his stomach (of course) but he said he's dealing with it.