Wednesday, September 8, 2010

A very frustrating day. The good things of the day were that Tim was feeling ok this morning and we (Tim's wife Angie, Beckie to drive and I) left Soroti at 6am.  Travel went very smoothly, putting us in Kampal in a fast 5 hours. We were able to get right in and be seen. But that is about where the positives seemed to end. The British doc didn't take us seriously at all. He talked of bursitis or gout. I told him again and again of the past few days and he responded Tim is a young guy so his low blood pressures are normal, fever is no big deal and pain is to be expected. He even went so far as to say I shouldn't have given the big antibiotics. He tried twice to do a needle aspiration and got nothing. Then sent us to ultrasound where they could see a big pocket of fluid but not in the joint, above it. (I would have sworn that the fluid drawn off in Soroti was from within the joint not above it but I have no proof).  He did culture the fluids- positive for pus but no organisms seen. So he sent us home (to the guest house) and said we could come back at 2pm the next day to make sure the fluid pocket hadn't reformed.  When pressed about abx he said Tim could stay on the Levaquin but all he needed was PO. So, tired and discouraged but trying to be happy that at least Tim wasn't so sick we headed out to find something to eat.  (I want clarify this point- Tim is better as we left but still not great.  Limited range of motion in the elbow, tired and still a little sick.) So we sat down to lunch and Tim laid down on the booth in the restaurant.  I wanted to cry.  Fever was coming back and he was again increasingly weak and tired.  The elbow was hot, swelling again and more painful to move. Now what?!  We headed to the guest house to unpack, rest and re-group. We called the British doc and were again blown completely off. But he did say we could come back to have the fluids drawn off again if we wanted to help with the swelling in the joint. Gee thanks. We worked on a contact at the international hospital that at least seemed to take me seriously on the phone and wants to see him first thing in the morning.
Now, I'm sitting here, 9:45 at night, Tim's pressures are back down below 90, fever back up over 100, pulse tachy.  I don't want to give IV fluids or abx because then he will feel better by morning again and they won't take us seriously. So we are pushing PO and trying to wait. (still with good output I think) And again I won't sleep because I know sepsis goes bad fast and every fiber of my inner IIU nurse is screaming that it is insane to not treat what I know shouldn't be ignored.  Ahhhhh!  There may very well be another 2am post tonight. Please keep praying.

3 comments:

pastor art said...

Jennifer, I just want to thank you for your love and care for Tim. God is using you as an advocate for Tims well being. We are certainly praying for healing.
Be patient with the doctor and pray for him to be given insight so that he would act properly.
By the way I am Tims pastor from St. Catharines, Art, and we are praying for you all.
May God be given the glory in this.

Dusty/333 said...

Ohhhh Jen, how terribly frustrating and Impossible to not want to bang your (or their) head on a rock:( Ivan and I are lifting all of you up! Be strong and know that fever does not have to be a terrible thing! The body is attempting to fight the infection the way God designed it to do!!!! Bugs hate heat, hence we boil everything to kill bugs! Let his body fight this until the Dr's get a clue!!!! You know what to do... basic basic basic PUSH FLUIDS? I'm not being sarcastic or naive here, this is an honest question? Is there any way to get your hands on Garlic? Seems innocent enough to ask, since I know you've moved to a more populated area? IF you can get your hands on some do it!!!!! Start giving it to him a clove at a time every few hours..... It's God's antibiotic!!!!

chiperific said...

What are you doing? Caring for God's children. Duh.

And keep it up. God is not going to throw something at you that you can't handle. Trust this, it's a promise.

But, I don't know how the HIPAA monster feels about you posting all of Tim's issues...
Just kidding. Keep us in the loop. Informed prayer is more fun than vague cries for support.