FG Update

Well some may recall I thought I had a PM infection. The leads, not the pocket, as the pocket area was fine. I felt terrible for a long time about 3 almost 4 weeks with non-stop fever from 99.5 to 100.5 (37.5 to 38), sluggish, general malaise, no energy, sleeping 9-10 hrs, and WBC count of 11,000 with elevated SED rate twice normal, and elevated C reactive protein 5X normal. I was really scared as I shared here on the website. I had 2 negative sets of blood cultures, and I felt better after that but still quite little progress so went for a chest xray as I had a little cough, and they said you have small areas of pneumonia at both lung bases. The doctor put me on 2 antibiotics for 2 weeks. I got a little better every day and after 10 days felt nearly normal but it took another week to feel normal, as I do now writing this. My COVID test was negative. 

What a fright! Faced with possibility of PM removal and then put it on the other side!! So glad it didn't happen. Thanks to all who helped out with well wishes and suggestions. Just wanted to let you guys know what happened.

FG

5 Comments

What a relief

by Gemita - 2023-06-30 03:37:05

FG, I am so pleased your pneumonia was finally identified and appropriately treated.  That is such good news.  What a worry though.  As we get older and especially after a trauma, our immune system (like everything else!) becomes weaker and we may be more prone to getting bacterial or viral infections.  All we can do is to seek early advice to prevent complications and this is exactly what you did.

Why is the body so good at hiding a diagnosis though?  It really doesn't do us any favours, does it.  As a matter of interest, which antibiotics did they give you?  Thank you so much for this update.  I was wondering how you were doing

Welcome back!

by Lavender - 2023-06-30 10:04:47

Glad to hear that you're on the mend.  I understand how draining pneumonia can be! My guy has been dealing with it for weeks. He too had a chest xray showing lower left lung involvement.  He's been on seven prescription medications including prednisone, allergy type med, two kinds of antibiotics and other stuff like nasal rinses and now mucinex. Long journey!

Glad it wasn't your pacemaker leads !  
May God completely heal you and bring your strength up to speed. 

Antibiotics

by FG - 2023-06-30 22:50:17

Hi Gemita they put me on 2 weeks of both Levaquin and Cefdinir. I saw the head of the Infectious Disease dept at a large regional hospital that I work at. He said specifically: "I'm putting you on this combination not only to treat the pneumonia, as it will also be effective in keeping the infection from seeding your leads. Your leads won't be fully epithelialized for about 12-15 weeks." I was at 10 weeks when I started the antibiotics. Apparently when leads are fully epithelialized there is little risk of lead infection even with bacteremia. 

Excellent Feedback

by Gemita - 2023-07-01 03:00:11

FG that is excellent feedback, thank you so much.  You couldn't have asked for better advice and coming from the head of the infectious disease department too.  I will research those two meds.  Hubby is still showing signs of pneumonia infection which is proving difficult to completely eradicate.

Thank you too for the important information on epithelialization of leads at about 12-15 weeks when there is less or little risk of lead infection even with bacteremia.  That is extremely reassuring information for those of us with older leads, although clearly we should never delay treating pneumonia!  So happy for you and hope all goes well in the future

wow

by Tracey_E - 2023-07-01 09:59:05

Glad you are ok!! 

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