Things are about the same but I must say the area where they have been putting in the catheter and then replacing it within a month is very sore. It looks less than beautiful. I think it looks like I have been in a fight with a butcher knife and the knife won. It is still so very sore and I am sure it will take a good deal of time before it feels much better. I do not heal quickly and these incisions are quite deep and extensive. It itches and it is very difficult to sleep with the pain and discomfort. I am sure I will adjust to it because I did the last one.

Thank each of you for your continued support and good wishes.

Had the procedure done today (changing the catheter that was put in last month. It was just not acceptable). I told them what had happened the last time during the procedure and how badly it hurt when I awoke and felt all the pain and I did not want to do that again. I was assured it would not happen and it did not. They always take blood and the lab lets them know the findings. They knew I was low on platelets but the lab must not have been prepared for the numbers. They ran the test and it showed 11,000; they ran it again because they thought it must have been a mistake…but no! That is just me because it was 11,000 the second time. I received two units of platelets before the surgery.

This catheter seems to be much like the first one I had and is lighter weight and I think will be much better. That area is so very sore because of all that has been done there in the last month. It is cut and bruised quite badly and again has large, deep stitches that will have to be removed in the future. I am taking Darvocet for the pain and it is helping but I am still hurting a good deal but it will soon be better. I still have the pressure bandage on it and will have it taken off and the area cleaned in the morning at dialysis. Since the surgery was today, I missed my regular dialysis day and will have to go Thursday and then again on Friday. I asked if I could just skip that day and was told no because it was too hard on my heart and kidneys. I am to be the first one on in the morning and have to be there no later than 5:00. That will work quite well because we are going to Comanche to see Alan in a school play on Thursday evening. Will have to make it a quick trip because I have to be back Friday morning for dialysis. Amazing what you will do for your grandkids and love every minute of it.

I will say I am glad this day is just about over. It was not one I was looking forward to but I made it through and will be fine.

Heard from the dialysis center today and they had heard from Dr. Hudgens about the catheter. He wanted to do the change in the morning but I told him that was not possible. Our oldest grandson, Alan, has off Friday from school and is here for the long weekend and the college graduation is tomorrow evening and since Arthur is the Registrar, it is a busy time for him. They said the Tuesday and Thursday slots were full for a period of time and Dr. Shorie does not want to wait that long so I will go in Wednesday to have the procedure. I have many questions this time about the failure of the last one and want some answers before we start. Also, I want to let them know about me waking up and feeling the pain of the surgery and make it clear I want to be kept under the entire time. I know it was a mistake but it was a painful mistake.

Dr. Shorie was at the dialysis center Monday morning and we talked about my new catheter. He is not impressed with it because it is so low and instead of forming a bow it goes up and comes down in a steep fashion (you can trace the route through my skin). It has been giving me some problems and he said it always would so he told the floor nurse to call and talk to the doctor about replacing it. That was certainly not what I wanted to hear but I do feel something needs to be done. The dialysis lines continue to jerk during the dialysis sessions and it is not natural. It is still very painful and they have not been able to remove the stitches because it seems to be taking so long to heal. I really dread what may take place about all this but whatever happens will be OK. I should know something about it all tomorrow (Wednesday) at dialysis.

The visit to Dr. Rojas, the infectious disease doctor, went well. He reaffirmed what Dr. Shorie is doing about the steph. Continue with the Vancomycin for a total of four weeks from the time the catheter was replaced so that will be for 2½ more weeks. Then they will take another blood culture to see if it is all gone. He said usually the first two weeks of treatment would have been enough but with my multiple problems, it will take a longer period of time. It will be a total of six weeks of Vancomycin and that should kill out about anything.

The catheter is still quite sore and this one is much longer and seems to be larger than the other one. I will get used to it but will be glad when the stitches are removed. They are very tight and uncomfortable.

I have to have blood again on Thursday but the platelets were 22,000 and that is higher than they have been in a very long time.