Am I out of the woods? Long story but I have to share!

Hi everyone, its been a long time since I have been on. First off, I suffer with Fibro, lupus, and shogren's with connective tissue disorders, joint disorders and on top of all that I had a back surgery in 2008, and, knee replacement in 2009. I'm 53 years old and in 2010 was granted my SSDI.

Over the past 5 years, since my knee replacement. I have lived in a flair that seldom ever stopped. I was never. Able to recover from the knee surgery and my leg has been in constant pain. I have gotten sicker and sicker and two weeks ago I told my husband heneeded to sit down with me and let me show him all the bills and insurance policys etc. I told him I was dying and didn't think I would be around in two weeks. Prior to this I can't even be gin to tell you how many doctors I had seen, how many tests were run and how many doctors refered me to a Psychologist or Psychiatry or both. I. have taken so much medication my brain and cognative functions are a mess as is my vision.

Last Saturday I was in so much pain that I desided to take a warm bath. . All was well, when the water got cold I went to get out of the tub. That's when the bottom fell through. Unimaginable pain. I could not stand and had to call my husband to get me out and onto the bed. I took some pain meds and waited out the night. Sunday it was worse and we went to the Emergency Room where we waited 4 hours to get to the room then waited for a doctor. More pain meds ,xrays, and Finally got a doctor to agree to drain some of the fluid from my knee. But, as usual,got sent home with a prescription and recommendations to follow up with my doctors,and,my blood work,bones they xrayed and fuid was all ok.. once again we went home. 3 hours later we got a call and was told we needed to get back to the hospital, They were ready to admit me. I have a Staph infection.

I got back to the hospital within an hour and of course the right hand didnt know what the left was doing so after raising hell and demanding to see the on call orthopedic doctor, I was admitted. Ad rushed to surgery. My surgeon said I had the worst case of staph he had ever seen. My leg errupted like a volcano.. The removed the artifical knee and cut out tissue and cleaned for about 3 hours.


All that to say this.

When I woke up I was pain free. Yes the gaping hole where a knee should be is pretty tender. But all the other pain everywhere in my body was gone. I am on IV antibiotics for the next 6 weeks at the least and it will be one or two months after that before we will put the knee in.

I have to believe it was the infection that brought out the vengence we all feel from autoimmune disorders and fibromyalgia.

Right now, two weeks after the surgery, I am pain free. IF THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE, MORE THAN THE FIBRO GOING ON INSIDE YOUR BODY , Please push your doctors hard. My doctor said I would have been dead within just a few days.
I don't know how or what its going to take to be heard... I had to cause quite the timper tantrim in the ER or

I seriously wonder if any of my diagnosis are right. Infection is dangerous and will shut your body down.

I praise God this illness is on the road to recovery. Is it really possible the pain may be gone? I don't know. Thanks for listening to my rambles.

Wow, I am glad you push through and got an answer to your problem. I am a retired nurse and I saw so many cases similar to yours. I would receive the patient from ER and I heard how they were sent home 3 times before they got admitted. I worked the ortho floor and yes your very lucky all that didn't spread into your blood or organs. Sorry you had to go through all that. I have bad knees, but not going to have surgery until the day I cant walk. Lol

Take care of yourself. Your so young to have so much going on.

Minny -

Incredible! I'm glad you're feeling so much better, but - -

yes, it does just go to show you how dismissive our medical world can be! I hate to think what would have happened if they hadn't gotten around to looking at your test results! 

Take it easy - enjoy the feelig good!

Debbie

Thank you everyone for your encouragement.

Sherrine, its funny you were talking about the probiotics. I am taking that. And they are making me eat my weight in Activia. Not my favorite yogert but a patently the one they fee is best.

I do feel very lucky and blessed to be alive. Its been two weeks and I still can't wrap my mind around it.

I have not had a Lupus or fibro flare since. I hope all that stays scaled back.
We have a long way to go. My Dr. Told me yesterday that he won't even consider putting the new knee in until May or June.After I have been off the antibiotics for6 weeks with stable blood work. They are also still not ruling out doing a blood transfusion. I asked them too wait and see what my own blood does first.

Thanks again
Stephani