Not Waiting Anymore!

The waiting is over for the decision of what to do. Dr Emerson came by just before I got back tonight with the Big Decision. I suppose we've known all along what that decision was going to be, but the reality of it seems harsh. Sharon called me to see where I was when he came in and I was about 10 minutes away. He went to visit with another patient while I was getting here and came back in just after I got in.

The decision is that the stem part of the implant is to come out along with a good dusting and cleaning of the area while they're there. This is what we have been dreading, both for the possible outcomes and just plain for the experience of going through the whole thing again! Sharon is taking it rather well, and I, well, it doesn't matter! We had even talked this afternoon that this was a real possiblity because of the continuation of and the amount of drainage that was being collected. She will go into surgery around 3 PM Central time tomorrow (Friday) and the operation will take an estimated 2 hours. That means that I'll see the doctor somewhere around 6 when he's done. I'll post a note when I find how it has gone.

Dr E's forecast of a successful replacement when the infection has settled down and everything is calm again is somewhat better than it has been in the past. He shared some techniques tonight that he hasn't mentioned before that give us much more hope than we've had before along these lines. Obviously, if you recall my post of Monday night, we didn't feel too promising then about those prospects. He does indicate the need for a "traction device" that will help keep the leg stabilized in the interim. He does NOT want to use a "through-limb" pin because of the possibility of further contamination, but will provide "something" that we can use traveling and when we get back home. He wants at least two more weeks here post-op. We'll play that by ear as it comes.

On the bright side, Sharon's sister June is coming down for a visit. She will be a welcome addition to our merry little band and, if nothing else, having her smiling face here to talk with is going to be such a blessing. She will be another caregiver and that will also be so much help.

If I may plagarize a little, That's the way it was!

Cheers!

Joe

Just after I closed out the above, Dr Baum, the infectious disease doctor came in and gave us a further update. She had the nurses pull a culture from the drainage tube last evening and it grew a staph culture. That weighed heavily on Dr Emerson's decision to go in for the removal. Dr Baum has prescribed an antibacterial drip as well as the antifungal she is already on. It is pretty obvious this staph is relatively new. Over the last couple of days, the incision has begun to look NOT happy! In fact, while Dr Baum was looking at the incision tonight, she found two new spots that were beginning to "erupt" with a drainage. This is what happened when we were in Ft Worth in '91 and began that whole removal process.

Just when you think you're at the bottom, you look down and danged if someone hasn't dug a ditch in the bottom! Looks like this is going to be a long ride!