Diane, so glad you are able to come home just for a few hours. Does
everything look different?  You have really been through a terrible, painful
time and I'm so glad that you are improving and looking to get over all of
this.  You are in my prayers daily.  Hoping it won't be long until you are
back for good.
Gwen

On May 10th I woke to a very good low pain day. Cooked myself bacon and
eggs for breakfast and settled into my recliner to watch Martha Stewart
at 11am.  I started getting stomach cramps and thinking I had to go to
the bathroom, tried that.  Nothing. I broke out into a hair-drenching
sweat as the cramps became worse. After abut 4 hours and proof that a
bm wasn't going to stop the pain I started getting chills. A temp of
almost 103 sent me to the ER in an ambulance.

The ER took me immediately to trauma center where I was quickly
diagnosed with a severe case of diverticulitis with a perforation of
the colon. My white cell count was over 20 and my bp was dropping to
dangerously low levels and pain control was withheld for the most
excruciating 6 hours of my live. Worse than  childbirth. I stayed in
the trauma center as a possible surgical patient on IV abx and fluid
for 2 days. Then I was in ICU for 3 days until it was determined that
the abx were working and we would avoid surgery because I was so high
risk for healing wounds as well as clots.  I developed a pelvic abscess
from the perforation that had to be drained. I was in the hospital for
a total of 22 days and then sent to a nursing home for rehab as I could
no longer stand and walk. When I "woke up" after about ten days, I
couldn't move at all but little by little regain the ability to move
around in the bed, feed myself, roll over etc. My bowels are now under
my control and we are working on retraining my bladder since the Foley
is out. UTI's doesn't help.

However, Enbrel notes pelvic abscess as a possible side effect. I'm off
enbrel and will never take it again.  This infection was no where on my
radar till it hit that morning.  I've always been a supporter of Enbrel
but I must say, if you are having sinus infections and UTI on Enbrel,
you could have much worse and not even see it coming. BE CAREFUL!  I
wouldn't want to wish this experience on anyone.I felt like I was dying
although the doctors kept telling me I wasn't.  Apparently I wasn't the
only one who thought I looked that way. The private CNA my husband
hired for me told me the other day that she thought this job wouldn't
last very long.  Her name is Diana and she is very helpful and
supportive. The hospital and nursing home staff is so understaffed. I
don't know what I would have done without her.

That's all for today.  My email is full and bouncing back anything I'm
sent. I'm here another few hours and will try and check replies before
I leave.  I'm not taking the time to read the newsgroup but I do
include ASA in my prayers and hope that you all are doing ok.  LOVE YOU
ALL!

Cyberhugs,
DianeW

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential
is invisible to the eye. --Antoine de Saint Exupéry

It all sounds awful. Thank God that you made it through that
horrendous experience.

I wish you a continued speedy recovery.
    Rose   @}>->--
    Being educated means that rather than fearing the unknown, one seeks to understand it. RB

    Please remove "Ima" to reply.

{{{{{{Diane}}}}}  What a horrible experience. How unfortunate we are at the
mercy of these meds!

DeeTee

On May 10th I woke to a very good low pain day. Cooked myself bacon and
eggs for breakfast and settled into my recliner to watch Martha Stewart
at 11am.  I started getting stomach cramps and thinking I had to go to
the bathroom, tried that.  Nothing. I broke out into a hair-drenching
sweat as the cramps became worse. After abut 4 hours and proof that a
bm wasn't going to stop the pain I started getting chills. A temp of
almost 103 sent me to the ER in an ambulance.

The ER took me immediately to trauma center where I was quickly
diagnosed with a severe case of diverticulitis with a perforation of
the colon. My white cell count was over 20 and my bp was dropping to
dangerously low levels and pain control was withheld for the most
excruciating 6 hours of my live. Worse than  childbirth. I stayed in
the trauma center as a possible surgical patient on IV abx and fluid
for 2 days. Then I was in ICU for 3 days until it was determined that
the abx were working and we would avoid surgery because I was so high
risk for healing wounds as well as clots.  I developed a pelvic abscess
from the perforation that had to be drained. I was in the hospital for
a total of 22 days and then sent to a nursing home for rehab as I could
no longer stand and walk. When I "woke up" after about ten days, I
couldn't move at all but little by little regain the ability to move
around in the bed, feed myself, roll over etc. My bowels are now under
my control and we are working on retraining my bladder since the Foley
is out. UTI's doesn't help.

However, Enbrel notes pelvic abscess as a possible side effect. I'm off
enbrel and will never take it again.  This infection was no where on my
radar till it hit that morning.  I've always been a supporter of Enbrel
but I must say, if you are having sinus infections and UTI on Enbrel,
you could have much worse and not even see it coming. BE CAREFUL!  I
wouldn't want to wish this experience on anyone.I felt like I was dying
although the doctors kept telling me I wasn't.  Apparently I wasn't the
only one who thought I looked that way. The private CNA my husband
hired for me told me the other day that she thought this job wouldn't
last very long.  Her name is Diana and she is very helpful and
supportive. The hospital and nursing home staff is so understaffed. I
don't know what I would have done without her.

That's all for today.  My email is full and bouncing back anything I'm
sent. I'm here another few hours and will try and check replies before
I leave.  I'm not taking the time to read the newsgroup but I do
include ASA in my prayers and hope that you all are doing ok.  LOVE YOU
ALL!

Cyberhugs,
DianeW

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential
is invisible to the eye. --Antoine de Saint Exupéry

Now here is a great email to see. Glad to see you post. And glad you are
still around to do it.
Duckie

Diane W,

good to see you post. I hope all goes well from here on out. I hope you heal
quickly and make a full recovery. I know it has not been a very easy road
for you to travel.

I am glad that Kelly and your family have been there for you during this
time.
I am glad you got a very helpful and supportive CNA.

We include you also in our prayers and thoughts and hope each day is a
better one for you.

On May 10th I woke to a very good low pain day. Cooked myself bacon and
eggs for breakfast and settled into my recliner to watch Martha Stewart
at 11am.  I started getting stomach cramps and thinking I had to go to
the bathroom, tried that.  Nothing. I broke out into a hair-drenching
sweat as the cramps became worse. After abut 4 hours and proof that a
bm wasn't going to stop the pain I started getting chills. A temp of
almost 103 sent me to the ER in an ambulance.

The ER took me immediately to trauma center where I was quickly
diagnosed with a severe case of diverticulitis with a perforation of
the colon. My white cell count was over 20 and my bp was dropping to
dangerously low levels and pain control was withheld for the most
excruciating 6 hours of my live. Worse than  childbirth. I stayed in
the trauma center as a possible surgical patient on IV abx and fluid
for 2 days. Then I was in ICU for 3 days until it was determined that
the abx were working and we would avoid surgery because I was so high
risk for healing wounds as well as clots.  I developed a pelvic abscess
from the perforation that had to be drained. I was in the hospital for
a total of 22 days and then sent to a nursing home for rehab as I could
no longer stand and walk. When I "woke up" after about ten days, I
couldn't move at all but little by little regain the ability to move
around in the bed, feed myself, roll over etc. My bowels are now under
my control and we are working on retraining my bladder since the Foley
is out. UTI's doesn't help.

However, Enbrel notes pelvic abscess as a possible side effect. I'm off
enbrel and will never take it again.  This infection was no where on my
radar till it hit that morning.  I've always been a supporter of Enbrel
but I must say, if you are having sinus infections and UTI on Enbrel,
you could have much worse and not even see it coming. BE CAREFUL!  I
wouldn't want to wish this experience on anyone.I felt like I was dying
although the doctors kept telling me I wasn't.  Apparently I wasn't the
only one who thought I looked that way. The private CNA my husband
hired for me told me the other day that she thought this job wouldn't
last very long.  Her name is Diana and she is very helpful and
supportive. The hospital and nursing home staff is so understaffed. I
don't know what I would have done without her.

That's all for today.  My email is full and bouncing back anything I'm
sent. I'm here another few hours and will try and check replies before
I leave.  I'm not taking the time to read the newsgroup but I do
include ASA in my prayers and hope that you all are doing ok.  LOVE YOU
ALL!

Cyberhugs,
DianeW

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential
is invisible to the eye. --Antoine de Saint Exupéry