Infection To Insult To Injury

OH MY GOD! Enough!

My ARM is infected. RIGHT THERE. About a quarter inch up from where they wedged the damned IV into my wrist. See the big reddish blotch? Note how warm the skin is there? Observe the menancing way it appears to be creeping up towards my shoulder?

Do you know what kind of infections you pick up in hospitals? Bad ones! The sort of infections that sneer at industrial-strength antibacterial soaps and trip gaily over pools of Lysol.

I might just have to rethink all of that D&C ambivalence I was so recently touting. You know, now that this last one is TRYING TO KILL ME.

I am going to go bathe in hydrogen peroxide and Neosporin. If I don't make it I want you to know that I died with bitterness in my heart and charity towards none.

PS I am actually a little alarmed by this development and am keeping a watchful eye upon the limb in question. Don't worry that I won't order a Medevac from the Mayo at the first sign of trouble, real or imagined. I was always the kid in the nurse's office saying, "My arm hurts when I twist it above my head like this. I think we should do an MRI." Come to think of it, my arm DOES hurt when I twist it above my head like this...

Comments

[esther]

You have phlebitis. Soak it in epsom salts. If it continues to creep, call for antibiotics. It can travel fast, is nothing to play around with. Good luck, and what a crappy thing to happen on top of a really shitty thing.

[julia]

I know you didn't ask, but I think I'd get it checked out much sooner than later. Like you pointed out, nosocomial (Oh my God! I have waited my whole life -- since freshman microbiology, anyway -- to use that word in a real sentence!) infections might be nastier than your average infection.

Good luck!

[Sheridan]

Good God! Can it get any worse for you??

I think Americans aren't much that into the whole Easter thing, but I hope a good solid chocolate bunny does the trick.

[Emily]

Oh for the love of...damn Julia. I'm so sorry this is happening. Come to think of it you can take your arm to the emergency room and if they don't do something with it, you can smack them and tell them that your arm now has a mind of its own, you know because of the INFECTION. I'm thinking of you my dear.

xxoo,

[Lisa S (& Riley, Bella, & Adelyn)]

I was finally going to bed!! My son had surgery today and now I will be compulsively checking his IV site for infection, and his PENIS, which is what was operated on today. Like, I'm going to have to wake him up, NOW. Sweet dreams for me tonight! Thanks ALOT.

Please get better soon. I'd hate for you to have to stop updating while your arm heals. It's not your writing arm, is it???

Seriously, what a shitty development. I hope you are well and that this is just a spider bite or something. But not the really poisonous kind, of course.

[Wavery]

Draw a line around it marking the red skin from the normal. Check it in the morning. If it's advanced too far, screw the stoicism, go in.

Sorry, assvice.

[elisabeth]

oh, good LORD, I will not ask "what next" for fear of finding out.......do indulge in lots of chocolate bunnies, or those lovely little carrot shaped Lindt chocolates full of hazelnut puree.

[Christine]

I assume that after they put you on antibiotics we're going to discover that you're allergic to them. Please feel better soon.

[Mollie]

I'm in a panicky mood already, so just do me a favour (because you are in service to me) and GO TO THE DAMNED DOCTOR.

Ack.

[crissy]

Delurking to say: Damn - when it rains, it pours, yeah? But take heart: Eventually, it WILL get better.

Hell, eventually, it can't get any worse! ;)

Hope your "eventually" comes soon....

[KatBT]

Jeebus cripes, as someone in this IF blogosphere aptly coined. (Just can't remember who.)

Can a girl get a flipping break?

And FWIW, I'll agree with Wavery and others on the assvice. Draw a circle around it. If it continues to spread red, go to the doctor. I've had cellulitis (and that's NOT the fat on my ass but a skin infection)... it advances quickly and you'll need a round of antibiotics if that's what it is.

God, can you just get a freakin' break?

~kat

[Lioness]

Julia, I don't mean to be an alarmist but I am worried, and now even more worried bcs you are too nosocomial infections can be very very nasty. This: "the menancing way it appears to be creeping up towards my shoulder", unless you're exaggerating for literary purposes - and I hope you are, doesn't sound good at all. I realise the last thing you'll want is to see another doctor but can you show that arm to someone you trust? Hell, even if you don't trust anyone now, you need to be seen, what antibiotics are you taking? You're likely to be sleeping now and I hope your arm didn't throb all night. Please GO HAVE IT SEEN.

[oliviadrab]

GOOD LORD! Not good. I agree with the concensus, get thee to a bottle of antibiotics. Jeez, Julia, that sucks. And you weren't even sharing needles recreationally or anything.

[Ninotchka]

WAAA, Julia! I hope the infection clears up. I'd be totally freaked out too. Yuck. Feel better, girl.

[Libby]

Goodness gracious Julia, what the hell? This sucks giant hairy balls! I hope that you get better soon. I agree with everyone else, please get it checked as soon as possible.

Sending much love your way.

[jen]

You poor thing. How much more? (Shaking my fist at the universe). That just sucks.

[Jo]

Oh for sweet fuck's sake.

Wishing you speedy healing and effective antibiotics. Good Lord.

[Tine]

Chiming in: Go to the doctor NOW, not later! My FIL recently had a similar infection, and it moved FAST.

[Debe]

yep, draw a circle around it, in fact while your at it, draw lots of circles, in different colors, that will make the wait until it kills you more fun

(hope you get better soon!)

[Jenn]

I gotta agree, get some antibiotics. It's not something to mess around with.

[Danae]

Fuck the hydrogen peroxide & Neosporin - bathe in vodka! And bring a straw with you.

Love you, J. Get well, girl.

[Scully]

Please go to the doctor NOW! I'm not kidding. Go NOW!

Hydrogren peroxide will damage the tissues and is not recommended. Neosporin prevents infection, it doesn't cure it.

You need a doctor and antibiotics. I speak from experience.

Please go to the doctor.

Please.

[Christy]

Please get it checked. I ended up in the hospital on antibiotics for a few days with the same thing. I'm a nurse & called the doctor at the first sign of redness. It creeped up my arm so fast! Of course it was after a week stay in the hospital after an HSG botch job. Us infertiles are so fucking unlucky! Sorry to hear about your shitty week. I love your site. I went through an unsuccessful IVF at the exact same time as you and it was great to "go through it" with you. I also have a 3 year old & crack up at your Patrick stories. Hang in there!