In hospital for 26 days

Hi All, I have posted before and want to give an update. They put original pacemaker on my right chest on the outside December 2nd. Couldn't put it inside because of blood infection. Finally on December 19th got internal pacemaker. They let me leave hospital on the 20th and after a 6 hour drive home from California to Arizona I am finally home. I have a home health nurse and will still have to be infused for two more weeks with antibacterial fluids, My question is this. Will I feel extremely tired and listless for how long? It seems as though all I do is sleep. I am sure that is not good. Any information you can give me would be so appreciated. Thank you.

5 Comments

sleep

by judyblue - 2013-12-22 08:12:26

I agree, you should be exhausted! It took me 3 months before I did not come home from work and collapse on the couch every day. I thought I would never have any energy. I am still not anywhere near where I was prior to September 24th. My pacemaker was a complete and unwanted surprise.
And I could not sleep well. So if you are sleeping, do it!
Do it often and well, my friend.

Wonder why

by Theknotguy - 2013-12-22 08:12:36

Let's see.... Infection, temporary pacemaker, permanent pacemaker, six hour drive, in hospital most of December, still on intravenous antibiotics, and all you do is sleep all the time?? I'd be dead.

Gosh Kaysmitt, give yourself some time! You're not expected to jump back from all that like a rabbit! Just the infection alone would knock most people down and you were in a hospital where you don't get any sleep. Did you leave your Wonder Woman outfit in the closet?

I'm always amazed people think they should be superheroes and not be affected by trauma. That isn't the case. Based upon what I went through (I won't go into details here.) it took me a month after initial trauma just to start feeling like I would get back to normal. You've still got two weeks of IV antibiotics.

Time frame I'd give you is four weeks after you get off the IV antibiotics. The stuff they give you in the IV will really knock your socks off. I was on IV antibiotics and it felt like they'd run a semi tractor trailer through the room.

You can have someone check with one of those vitamin / supplement stores. They have pro-biotic pills that will help take the edge off the IV antibiotics. Unfortunately the antibiotics kill off good bacteria as well as bad so you need to introduce good bacteria into your system.

Hang in there. Life does get better.

Theknotguy

Infections

by fishfighter - 2013-12-22 09:12:16

In the last 13 months, I been hit 4 times with a infection. IV treatments in all. I sitting in a hospital room as I write this fighting one now. The bad thing is, once you get a staff infection, you never get rid of it. It's always with you and can come back on the attack as it is doing to me now.

Every time after a infection, it took a good 3-4 weeks to jump back in the game. Here is a hint, eat a bunch of yogurt. That well help a bunch to put back "good bugs" in you that you need.
Just don't rush things and take it easy.
Paul

Good Suggestion Paul

by donb - 2013-12-22 11:12:17

Having numerous surgeries since year 2000 I've picked up the hospital bug a few times also. As Paul mentioned after receiving IV antibiotics or oral as well, you lose most of your normal good bacteria important to your body. Taking yogurt does a good job getting you back on track. It's been part of my diet for years. As I also had blood infection this summer & needed IV Vancomycin for 7 weeks for treatment I was put on yogurt immediately at my care facility which prevented my normal body stay in balance. Having battled C-Diff a number of times which is not fun. Also there are even worse hospital bugs which can be picked up regardless how much precaution is taken.
DonB
motcb

All of the above

by Zia - 2013-12-23 02:12:30

...are absolutely correct. I would only add to be sure the yogurt you use is really "live culture" as so much of the commercial "yogurt" is not live. They kill the germs that make it so that it can sit in the store's fridge longer than it should. The germs in it are what you need to keep your gut healthy.

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