Septicemia: Blood infections

This doctor never took a CULTURE. He went ahead blindly giving me intrevenous antibiotics one time a day then just sent me home. Astounding?

Thank you for remembering me. I have so many conditions that I do not remember the one you are referring to. Ask me again. In the mean time you caught me at a good time. My heart is racing as I try to make a commitment as to have two heart operations. One of the problems is A-Fib. (Heart races irregularly fast and slow. Problem for heart attack or stroke from blood clots The other is calcification closing the artery. The Watchman device is a good way to go for the A Fib but: At age 83, over an hour under general anesthesia, using dye that is harmful for my already overloaded kidneys might have me on dialysis, continuing on with my fourteen other health issues including three autoimmune diseases, Rheumatoid and Psoriatic arthritise's diabetes hypothyroidism, glucoma (Low vision) , PTSD, Bipolar, and a wonderful anemia called Pancytopenia "It is always so cold". etc, etc, I am tired of being strong. I am now very, very frightened, extremely frightened. Of course I have thought of suicide (Many times) but keep pushing it to the side. So if I do not have the operations and let things happen naturally W H A T I F ? I instead of having a heart attack and dying right then and there: What if I have a stroke and am PARALYZED? That is a no no. Dammed if I do and dammed if I don't. Do not worry. It is true that at this point in time suicide fits the bill, but not yet. Perhaps If I do the Watchman operation I will die from that and then all is settled. >I am making sense but it seems I am going in circles. And then the doctor who wants to do this operation has a god awful attitude (She thinks her s..t t does not stink.) Sooooo I am offered another doctor with a staffer who has a splendid concerned attitude Some how she without trying but just by talking to me I am calmed but still apprehensive, I will see this new doctor in June. Please do not judge me to harshly as I am but just another pitiful human being. Crying again.

Hello @peach414144

Thanks for the update. I am sorry to hear that you are dealing with so many health problems and difficult decisions. This can create a great deal of anxiety and stress.

I am very glad to hear that you will be seeing a doctor who is kind and a good listener. The fact that you said you were calmer when she talked with you is a very encouraging sign.

I can tell by your post that you are seeing the worst-case scenario for all of these different decisions. I think it might help if you try to visualize a happier ending to the upcoming procedures and think about how much better you will feel afterward.

Do you think you could paint some better pictures of more positive outcomes?

It is nice of you to care for me but the different pains will still be there. The inflammatory arthritis, the PsA nails falling off, exposing th bare skin yeowch. etc., etc. Cannot even take an Advil for fear of bleeding. But there are so many other people all over this world with worse conditions so I must pray for them. It does all of us good to do whatever we can in any way we can with the greatest of love. Sorry I dumped on all but sometimes it just has to be. Love, love, love.

It is nice of you to care for me but the different pains will still be there. The inflammatory arthritis, the PsA nails falling off, exposing th bare skin yeowch. etc., etc. Cannot even take an Advil for fear of bleeding. But there are so many other people all over this world with worse conditions so I must pray for them. It does all of us good to do whatever we can in any way we can with the greatest of love. Sorry I dumped on all but sometimes it just has to be. Love, love, love.

@peach414144

I do understand what you mean about having multiple, painful conditions. It is very difficult to continually deal with them. Aging is a tough process for some of us.

You never need to apologize for dumping your feelings when you post on Connect. Connect is here so that we can all share with each other and encourage each other.

Perhaps today you can offer an encouraging word to someone either on Connect or by phone or by sending a card? Can you do that?

Hi "Peach", I am curious....did you have a UTI/kidney infection that did NOT show up in culture (no bacteria)? I have been going through gross hematuria with blood closts and what was kidney pain for a long time but never showed up in culture. I talked my NP into prescribing antibiotics and finally the 3rd one (cephalexan) has seemed to work, although 10 days after finishing it had a little visible blood in urine the morning I saw my urologist so he said it was not an infection. I did ask him for antibiotic and he prescribed a prophylactic nitrofurontoin mono 100 mg to take at night. Since my visit to him and starting April 2 my urine is back to normal. He wants to do a repeat cystoscopy and scheduling a CT urogram (after having a CT scan without contrast and ultrasound 4 months ago which all came back "normal" as did his first cystoscopy). I still think it was an infection that did not culture, but subsequent antibiotics have cleared up?