Monday, June 9, 2008

THE DAY MY LIFE CHANGED FOREVER - PART 5







Very simply Septicemia is the presence of bacteria in the blood (bacteremia) and is often associated with severe disease. Septicemia is a serious, life-threatening infection that gets worse very quickly. This was going to be fun.






I was scheduled for surgery at 4.00pm and it was going to take an hour...or so, my neurosurgeon, Carl said. Oh yes we were on first name terms by now.

Having been cut open a few days before that, I was a touch more tense, knowing what to expect and was jabbering on like a monkey in an amazon rain forest, to the nurses wheeling me to theatre. Yes Mr Macdonald, nothing to worry about Mr Macdonald, we'll have you back in the ward before you open your eyes Mr Macdonald, you'll be fine Mr Macdonald


3 hours later I woke up in my ward with my girl holding my hand asking if I was OK.

NO I WASN'T, I WAS IN EXTREME PAIN, felt like I hadn't had water for six months and just wanted to PUNCH someone. I felt TERRIBLE. A syringe in the upper outer quadrant of my butt nudged me back into the land of nod.

The next few days were HELL, well maybe not, but it felt like it.

I couldn't understand why I'd sailed through the first op and was struggling so much through the second.

Carl, my NS....first name terms remember, articulated it perfectly. "We had to scrub a helluva lot of infection off, flush it out and keep scrubbling and flushing until it was gone. We then had to cut some of the bone away coz we couldn't get all of the infection off it." He brought his monologue neatly to a close with...." It was a lot worse than I thought."

Now that explanation scared me so I can imagine you reading this and going "BIG OUCH".

I then had to deal with an intrvenous drip and a drain. Drip and Drain, Drip and Drain Drip and Drain until the blood cultures came back clear of infection.....three times. This took over a week, flat on my back since I coudn't move..

The other reason I felt so bad was that I had gone into the original operation a strong healthy male.
I went into the second operation very very ill. Makes perfect sense I guess.
Pop in for Part 6 tomorrow
At last I was seeing that the light at the end of the tunnel was not a giant locomotive coming at me at speed.






11 comments:

Bob said...

Omg Dougal what the hell! It's such a terrible neck injury, hope you feel a little better by now. I didn't noticed that you get an injury because I didn't get a lot of times to visit all blog entries because of finals. I remember my neck injury but it was not as serious..
Give you all peace, goodness and heath that you need mate!

For sure you will be back without escuses ^^

Cheers,
Bob

dougal said...

Hdey Bob, thanks mate, appreciate your visit and good wishes..You are right NO EXCUSES.

Mike Groom said...

that shot of the back of your head just shows the seriousness of your injury. Thank goodness you had the strength to pull through. I'm sure it could have been far worse.

KaliLilla.com said...

OUCH! Dougal, what a story! Can't wait for the happy ending.

Marbella said...

That scar is just mind-boggling. So scary and so fierce to see. Shows how really bad your injury was...did I say scary? Did they take off the scaffolding? Can you still move and be alright? Your face is so different...guess it´s the thinness you show, but really, truly, I love your look now. I´ll just bet your girlfriend says the same thing. For all you´ve gone thru, you still look like Dougal, and still have the look of life in you. Do take care. Goodness! What a time you have had. I so admire your strength. Thanx for what you said today on my blog. I will remember that *daily* deal every day now and do what I can do thinking of amigo Dougal getting better! Take care!
Lynda

Anonymous said...

Dougal, such an ordeal you have been through these past weeks. You are surely in my prayers for continued recovery. Your positive spirit will surely help. God has His hand on you!

dougal said...

Lil, thanks for poppimg in, yup happy ending coming.

Lynda, at least something positive came out of it...a new look, ha ha.

Suzette, thank you for your prayers, there are people out there a lot worse off than I am. I'm alive and I can walk.

Michael said...

Dougal, sheesh man! I often think "what if" stuff like this, but to see a buddy like you going through it makes me sick to my stomach!

dougal said...

Life is a gift Michael is it not. You've had injuries, you know what I'm talking about man.

Otter Christy said...

Holy smokes Dougal. I just cannot even imagine how hard it's been. I'm without words. You're story is really gripping and inspiring and pretty scary, too. I smell a BOOK.

dougal said...

Christy,Christy,Christy thank you for comments about my story...I dunno, I think a full length book like this would leave people feeling pretty depressed yeah.