Watching Someone You Love Suffer

About a month ago my husband's cheeks turned red.  A few weeks later he went to see a doctor who told him he had foliculitis.  She prescribed some cream, told him not to shave, and gave him some antibiotics.  Well a few days later he broke out into pustules and it hurt him so badly for me to apply the cream.  We called the doctor and they didn't seem to understand how much pain he was in and how bad the pustules were.  They told him to wait out the antibiotics.  We called back the 24 hour line and they suggested Cetaphil Cleansing wash.  We got some of that and then his face was on fire.  I called again and insisted he see someone.  He met with a Nurse Practitioner who actually recognized the severity of his situation.  She put him on a stronger antibiotic and told him to come in to urgent care the next day.  His white blood cell count was 15.8.  The next day, a Saturday, we went to see another Nurse Practitioner.  She immediately started him on IV antibiotics.  They left the port in and told him to come back the next day for more.

The next day (Sunday) we went back and my husband was feeling dehydrated and dizzy so they ran more blood.  His white blood cell count was up to 18.  They called Lowell General and had him admitted directly.  While there he saw an Infectious Disease doctor and the Hospitalist.  They tested for all sorts of bugs and my husband went through all sorts of blood draws (he is TERRIFIED of needles) painful salves, bandages, medications, IV bags, IV antibiotics, and pussing.  A LOT of pussing.  The pustules on his face would burst.  Eventually they wrapped his face.  Poor guy looked like he'd had plastic surgery.

Anyway, through all of this I was there to hold his hand and was there from morning til night.  It was hard on me but hardest of all was knowing he was in so much itching burning pain.  He was in the hospital for five days.  They prescribed him strong antibiotics and new ointment to put on his face.  He found that taking hot showers helped so he spent a week in the hot shower just letting the water open his pores.  Then I would put the ointment on it.

Today we saw the dermatologist.  And I noticed something new.  The pustules were coming back.  So now the plan is to increase the antibiotic from twice a day to three times a day.  He sees the same Infectious Disease doctor from the hospital in less than a week and then the dermatologist and his PCP the week after that.

In the end the hospital report suggested it was MRSA and some other unidentified bug.  My husband is a real mess.  I thought it was over but it's not quite there yet.  I would post pictures but I don't want to gross you out.  Anyway, bottom line is it sucks to be in that much pain and it sucks to see someone you love in that much pain.

Bergeron for the Gold

Bergeron and Team Canada for the Gold, Loui Eriksson and Team Sweden for the Silver, and Tuukka Rask for the Bronze.

Team USA I salute you.  You made it to the finals.  You just didn't make it as far as you expected.  Is that arrogance that the country is appalled?  I don't know.  You played valiantly but Team Canada was destined for Gold.  And even I am surprised you lost against Finalnd.  I don't know enough about Finalnd other than Tuukka Rask's ability to totally kick ass hen he's on.  And he was ON.  But I raise my beer to you tonight team USA.  Next time pick Torey Krug as a defenseman and I'll root for you too.

It's unfortunate that Patrice Bergeron didn't look happier about winning the Gold.  I think he is suck a good alternate captain he was concerned for teammate Loui Eriksson, which makes him a totally cool guy.

All in all it as a good Olympics for the Bruins.  I feel badly for Chara whose team never won.  But Chara as a single player can't win the competition.  And Krejci played exceptionally well too.

I'm proud of my Bruins.

GO BRUINS!!!  Now kick those Sabres asses Wednesday night!

Team USA vs Team Finland

I have gotten a lot of flack for rooting for my Bruins over Team USA.  I would root for Team USA if they had picked Torey Krug, an excellent defenseman.  Maybe next Olympics.  But I'm a Boston Bruins fan through and through.  Now They will bring home 1 Gold, 1 Silver, and 1 Bronze.  That's pretty good.  I personally am rooting for Team Canada tomorrow because I'm half Canadian.  But if Sweden wins, that's okay too.  Loui Eriksson has worked hard this Olympics, as well as Patrice Bergeron so I will be happy either way.

And as for the people who called me a commie I'd just like to say go screw.

Team Finland dominated this game.  They played well and deserved to win.  Tuukka Rask got a shut-out which I thought should have been pointed out more.  And go Tuukka for wearing his Bruins Mask.  I know it has the Finnish flag on the sides but I thought it brought him good luck.  He made me proud today and I think if he had played yesterday the Finnish team could have beaten Sweden and plaed in the Gold/Silver round.

And for the record, and I think I mentioned this in my last post, I was rooting for Team USA Women's Hockey.  And no I am not a jinx.  I don't care what you say Gary.

Canada VS Sweden

A Bruin will win the gold and another Bruin will win the Silver.  And if Finland defeats the USA, another Bruin will have the Bronze.  Patrice Bergeron may not have scored the game-winning goal today but he was part of a team effort and that effort beat the US Hockey Team.  Now my parents are Canadians but I was born here in Boston.  Which makes me half and half.  So if the USA had won today's game I wouldn't have been disappointed other than the fact there's no Bruin on the US team.

Loui Eriksson is on the Swedish team which beat a Tuukka Rask-less Finland.  Where Tuukka was I'm not sure.  I heard a rumor he was ill.  It would take a lot to keep him from playing a game.  Anyway, they beat Finland and are guaranteed either a silver or gold.  Canada beat Team USA so they're guaranteed a medal as well.  It should be an interesting bronze medal game.  Hopefully Tuukka's back in the net.

I'm looking forward to seeing the Bruins play again.  I can't wait for the season to start up again.  Put Chara back where he belongs.  With competent players. Nothing aginst Team Slovakia but I wish they had one at least one game.  Chara can't single handedly win games.

Okay, I'm moving in 10 days, I should go pack.  I'll comment again after the Bronze Medal game.  

4 Snakes and 6 Guinea Pigs Welcome...But No More!

We just put down a deposit on our new apartment.  They are letting us have the snakes and guinea pigs provided we don't get any more.  It's a great 2 bedroom apartment with no upstairs or downstairs neighbors.  Just one next door neighbor.  The landlord is responsible for snow removal and there's parking right outside the apartment.  The walls are interesting colors.  The kitchen is Blue and brown, the bedroom is purple and the second bedroom is bright orange.  We will be repainting at some point.

The heat, hot water, and gas for the stove/oven are included in the rent so that makes it even more affordable.  We don;t use that much electricity so we're golden.  We've decided to drop our phone line as it's just too much of an expense.

The best thing is it' even closer to Jason's school and there are lots of car places in the area.  The only major downers are that there's no laundry and dishwasher.  I've been without before I can do it again.  There is a closet that looks suspiciously like it housed a washer and dryer at some point so I will ask the landlord about that.

It's a great place but it will be weird having to get new doctors.  It's abut 30 miles away from where we live now so things will be different.  I will miss parts of my current community but not others.  I'll miss the speedbumps like I'll miss another hole in the head.  Ha ha ha.

Now I just need to work out the logistics of moving.  We'll need a truck and movers, volunteer movers I might add.  There might be pizza involved as a thank you.  If I was rich there would be money involved.

Anyway, things are going to work out, I have faith.

They CAN do it without Big Zee

Patrice Bergeron stepped up as Alternate Captain in a big way, scoring two goals against Ottawa.  Final score 7-2.  In a way I feel badly for Ottawa.  Their hearts just weren't in it.  And I feel badly for my cousin Kenzie who wants them to win the Stanley Cup especially this year.  Sorry Kenz, the Bruins are a force to be reckoned with.  When they play a consistent 60 minutes, which rarely happens.  They usually have to come back with a spanking third period.  They can do it a lot but not all the time/  As much as it pains m to say it, I don't think the Bruins will bring home the Cup.  Not unless they come back from the Olympic break really kicking ass.  They have more away games than home games which isn't a good sign.

But I have faith the Bruins will go far in the playoffs.  They just need to pull it together for all three periods.  And Tuukka needs to play consistently.  Tuukka's great, don't gt me wrong, but there are some nights he's just off.

I look forward to seeing the Men's hockey in the Olympics.  I'll be happy as long as one Bruins wins the gold, silver, and bronze.  And Team USA can win too I guess.  I think it's funny that the only three Americans on the Bruins are Kevan Miller, Torey Krug, and Matt Bartkowski.

Go Bruins!

Can the Bruins hang on without Big Zee?

Big Zee (Zdeno Chara) got a great honor at the Olympics.  Not only is he on the Slovakian Men's Hockey team, but he got to carry the Slovakian Flag.  But how are the Bruins doing without him?  Well thy lost in overtime to the St. Louis Blues.  We'll see how they do tomorrow, the last game before the Olympic Break.

I watched the opening ceremony just so I could see Chara carrying the flag.  He looked so happy.  I hope Slovakia medals.  I'm routing for Team Canada for Patrice Bergeron and of course I'm rooting for Team USA.  If those three teams could medal I'd be happy.

I have great news, the repeat arsenic test came back negative.  My GI doctor thinks the first test I must have eaten something with arsenic in it.