The usual suspect

And to no one’s surprise, Lump is infected with… Pseudomonas.
 
That brings us one step closer to coming up with a treatment plan, but we’re still waiting for some important test results. Specifically, we’re waiting for susceptibility results, which will tell us which antibiotics can be used to treat it. Recently when I cultured Pseudomonas in my lungs, we were surprised to find it was less resistant than usual and was actually susceptible to multiple antibiotics. I have a hunch, however, that the current infection is leftover from the last time I had abscesses in my incisions, and that particular Pseudomonas was extremely resistant and had very limited treatment options. The susceptibility results are critical to determining what kind of treatment I’ll be getting, and we can’t really move forward without them. I’m hopeful that MAYBE they’ll come through tomorrow and we can get this show on the road.
 
Today’s adventure was getting an MRI to determine whether or not the infection has gotten into my bones. I had an MRI a few years ago the last time I had abscesses, but I had forgotten how unpleasant it was. I’m not usually claustrophobic, but being shoved into that little tube definitely had me a bit freaked out. It was also startlingly loud, and took way longer than I anticipated. All in all I spent around a half an hour in the machine, though I did request a brief break in the middle. And for some of the scans I had to repeatedly hold my breath for 20-30 seconds at a time, which was difficult. All in all it was NOT a fun experience! But thankfully it’s over, and hopefully I won’t have to get another for a long time, if ever!
 
On the IV front, unfortunately IV #3 didn’t even last a day. My team advocated very strongly for me to get a longer lasting type of IV called a PICC line, but apparently Interventional Radiology and the IV team are extremely stingy about them. Instead, the IV team put in an ultrasound guided IV, which THANKFULLY has actually lasted for over a day and is still going strong! And even more thankfully, tonight Interventional Radiology FINALLY told me that I could get a PICC line, so that should be happening sometime tomorrow. I’m really looking forward to NOT being a pincushion anymore!
 
On a lighter note, as is tradition, I have decorated my room with the latest batch of Pole People! A few staff members remembered them from previous hospitalizations, and a bunch of new-to-me staff have been pleasantly surprised by them. I hope you all enjoy them too!