Home...

from the hospital at last! I went to the emergency room around 1:00 AM Saturday, with bloody diarrhea, and dehydration. They decided to admit me for observation, and give me fluids, draw blood for testing, then do a CT scan of my abdomen, after reviewing my recent medical history. After telling them my reaction to Cipro earlier in the month, they went ahead and treated me with it! I didn't claim an allergy to it, but told at least 2 different people about my body's extreme reaction to the stuff. Once I stopped putting food in my mouth, I stopped running to the toilet, and settled in for the night. After the CT scan. I was moved to a regular room on the fourth floor. The night nurse went to check on treatment orders.

I guess I was used to MDACC always telling my what was going in my IV's, cause I didn't think to question... Around 5:55 AM I awoke with an urgent need to run to the toilet, the first since arrival at 1:00. The diarrhea was back! I made it, but discovered, to my dismay, that there was no toilet tissue to be found! I called the nurses station from the throne, and after bringing paper towels at first, the right supplies were brought. I was tired and groggy, so washed my hands, and crawled back into bed. At 8:00AM, I was again awakened with the very urgent message to RUN!!! This time I was more alert, and decided to check and see what the night nurse had hung around 4:00. I about had a coronary when I saw that I had been given Cipro in my IV! I clamped it off, though it was almost finished by that time, and called the nurse, so angry I was sputtering! She came to see what was the matter, and it took a while to explain why I was so upset. She went to check my chart, and it had been noted that I had had a bad reaction to Cipro, but, since I didn't say I was allergic, they prescribed it for treating my diarrhea! I raise such cane about it that they quickly listed it as an allergy! I had been given another antibiotic as well, and they continued to treat me with it, as well as prescribing it to be taken for 10 more days now that I'm home.

When the Dr came to see me, we discussed my recent bouts with diarrhea, and he decided to order a colonoscopy, and a scope of my stomach and esophagus. He also told me what MDACC most likely saw on my chest CT, there are what he called NODULES in my lungs. I asked what they were, and he said, they were considered cancer until proven otherwise...

So, I came in with diarrhea, and they started me on a clear liquid diet, and laxatives, to clean me out for the procedures. All the while giving me IV fluids, and the other antibiotics. I told the Dr about my family history, and that I was scheduled for the colonoscopy on 6/23, but, since I was there, I was glad to get it done now.

Saturday was a blur of up and down to the toilet. At bed time, they told me that I was scheduled for a 6:00 AM enema! By this time, I had a RING OF FIRE where my butt hole had been, despite cleansing with gentle baby wipes, and applying soothing creams all day, so you know how thrilled I was at this news! I told them I didn't think it was going to be necessary, and they tried to convince me it wouldn't be so bad... Since I knew I couldn't have anything by mouth after midnight, I asked for some Tylenol around 11:45, for the headache I had developed. I slept about 1 1/2 hours the whole night.

When 6:00 AM rolled around, I talked them into putting a HAT into the toilet, to show that there was nothing left inside, and they didn't insist on the enema. A small victory for me! I was told that my procedures were scheduled for 10:00AM. At 9:45, I received a call that there was 1 procedure ahead of me, an emergency had come in. I waited, and waited, and waited... My headache was back, with a stiff neck, and my mouth was so dry, I expected to see camels if I looked inside...I called my friend Lois, in Maryland,to let her know what was happening, and asked her to let my other friends know. I finally was in such agony I called the nurse's station to see if I could get something more for my headache. They had given me a small dose of morphine in my IV when I first got up, since the Tylenol had long since worn off. By this time it was 11:40, and my mouth was almost sticking together! They arrived to take me for my procedures before they could give me anything. When I got to the room, it was discovered that my IV had infiltrated, and they had to start a new one, but finally, they gave me the good stuff, and I was gone...

They found nothing wrong on the upper end, and only colitis on the other, most likely caused by the Cipro given to me back on May 7th. No other problems there, so that is good, and I won't need another for 5 years. I was discharged this morning, and am feeling pretty good...no dairy for 10 days, but so far so good...