Sorry I have not been around the past 2 weeks.  It wasn't really planned this way.  

My mother had her mitral valve replaced on 3/15 and I had planned on visiting her from 3/20 - 3/29 to help her adjust at home.  I should know better - nothing ever goes as planned.  I arrived on 3/20, but she was still in the hospital.  No problem, another day or two and we would still have plenty of time.  She ended up staying in the hospital for 10 days - 5 more than planned.  Her complications were not major, but nothing to ignore either.  I am disgusted with the hospital and lack of management of care and the extra risks they put my mother in.  As it was, I ended up with a major bacterial respiratory infection from my mother's roommate.  Thank goodness my mother was already being treated with antibotics so she did not get as sick as I did.  I got my mom out of the hospital and got her settled at home and things were going pretty well, other than the fact I was obviously getting sicker by the day.  I left on Thursday.  I apologise to anyone that might have been on the plane with me - I tried to stay to myself - I even changed my seat to sit in the back row to avoid contact with people.  I was very sick.  By Friday morning I had a fever over 101, no voice, could barely breathe and was not totally aware of what was going on around me.  Went to Urgent Care - they went into panic mode, did the chest Xrays, masked me, started me on major antibiotics and codeine cough syrup and told me to go home and not move for 2 days.  The rest of Friday and most of Saturday I don't remember.  Sunday I came out of the fog and became aware of my surroundings and today I feel human again.  The voice is still rough and the cough is hanging around, but I can breathe without total concentration.

My original plan had been to check in from time to time while I was gone, but due to hospital incompetencies and my illness, it never happened.  Sorry.   I'm glad to see Sakina and Curlgirl kept things in good order and everyone behaved themselves.  Hello to all the newbies.  It feels good to be back!

I'm sorry to hear that you and your mother have had such a terrible time. Hospitals are supposed to be places of healing- but it seems that I just keep steadily losing my faith into that as the time goes by and I read the news and hear of people's experiences. It's good to see you again and to know that you both are doing better now! ;) Take your time to rest- we'll behave.

Very sorry to hear of all your trials but glad you’re both back home again and on the mend. Had been wondering, thought you’d gone bikin’ somewhere ! That’s the trouble too with hospitals it seems these days, you can easily pick up the latest bug around so being a doctor or nurse is certainly a real commitment. It’s a wonder all visitors don’t insist on face masks before entering, that would set a precedent ! Imagine the looks you’d get !!  :o Next thing people would be wearing oxygen tanks, white overalls and goodness knows what else !

Which reminded me. Although I’ve no idea what happens as I’ve never been to a healer, I sometimes used to go along last year with a good friend who is a qualified Reiki healer to a weekly communal meeting of several other local healers as well. Usually there were at least 8 to 10 other qualified Reiki healers attending all led by a guy who was a Reiki expert of at least 40 years standing. He’d make us sit still, close our eyes for about half an hour and try to get some sort of “group energy” thingy going, and although I never felt a thing (!) they did relate afterwards of some interesting though far too spooky for me energy experiences.  Still don’t understand it all and not really sure I want to !   :-[

Nope I think I’ll stick to long healthy mind blowing walks in the force 10 gales on our local beaches thanks !  ;)

BB, I'm so sorry you got sick!  It sucks to get sick away from home, especially to the degree you did.

I'm glad you're on the mend-we did miss you around here and are glad you're back!!!

Oh man!  I hope your feeling better! :)

omg, BB, that totally sux! Thank goodness that you were able to get your mother and yourself out of that miserable place. You should file a complaint at the very least.

Hope you and your mother recover soon, and will choose a different hospital next time.

So that's what was going on...I was wondering where you were. :-?  

Sorry to hear about everything that happened with you and your mother.  I actually wasn't aware that you could pick up things like that in a hospital.  I guess it sounds silly, but I didn't think a hospital would put someone with a contagious infliction in a room or an area of the hospital where others could be exposed, I thought they would quarantine them.  

Rest up and feel better soon. :)

Oh,BB I hope you get better soon! :)  It really suxs to feel like "road kill" when you're away from home and you just wanna be home!!  Glad your road to recovery is now "visible" and you'll be back to feeling good in no time!! ;)

Oh BB,  I am soooo sorry you got sick.  Taking care of an ill parent is one thing, but to be sick yourself while caring for them is even more difficult.  I am glad tho you are recovering and I will pray for you to continue in good health.

Debr

Thank you all for your thoughts.  I'm doing much better now.  I no longer think about every breath I take and I almost sound normal again.  ;D  The antibiotic is doing a great job - medical science is a wonderful thing.

We also figured out what was happening with my mother, so she is now on a fast tract for heading home again.  If any of you are familiar with the blood thinner, Coumadin.... can you imagine what happens to the blood when you confuse taking a 2.5 mg tablet with taking 2.5 tablets??!!  :o  Thank goodnes she didn't suffer any serious damage!  They have her medication levels all back to normal now and she should be home again in the next day or two.

Holy Crap!  That's a big, dangerous mistake!!!  I'm glad its been sorted out and she's recovering!!!

(((((((BB))))))
I am sorry to hear of all this.
But you are both on the mend already! And that's what counts!  :)
Nice avatar too :)

Most important is that you are getting better. I'll have to seacrh on what that valve does.

I was sick most of the first three months of this year with two bronchial infections and one intestinal, but seemingly NOTHING compared to what you just went through! So how long before you can bike again? Sometimes these linger long after symptoms are gone and re-infection is a concern. Best to take it easy for a while and reduce stress  :o (if that is at all possible.)

It's seems worse when you're not in your own familiar surrounding, too. Did you have major chest pains with this? I sure did!

LaDiosa, I've heard too many instances where poeple pick up staff and bacteria infections at a hospital. I've pretty much lost faith in the whole medical thing, especially after the fiascos with my MIL in the last year of her life.

rodent wrote on Apr 8^th, 2007 at 11:23pm:

Most important is that you are getting better. I'll have to seacrh on what that valve does.

The mitral valve controls the movement of blood between your hearts upper and lower left chambers.  I know because last year, I was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse.  It's asymptomatic and not a serious condition.  Well, at least not in my case.  They only found it because I ordered an ultrasound of my heart.  I was having chest pains which fortunately turned out to be nothing but acid reflux:P  I'd never heard of having a mitral valve replaced though.  It's good to know that, that's possible just in case my condition would ever become worse.


rodent wrote on Apr 8^th, 2007 at 11:23pm:

LaDiosa, I've heard too many instances where poeple pick up staff and bacteria infections at a hospital. I've pretty much lost faith in the whole medical thing, especially after the fiascos with my MIL in the last year of her life.

Wow, these stories are really frightening.  Last year, I lost a cousin in who was only in her mid twenties, and a girlfriend who was my age, due to hospital mistakes.  They both died as a result of infections they aquired while giving birth.  My cousin was in a coma and to add insult to injury, when the inserted her breathing tube they unknowingly punctured her lung and that's actually what killed her.  Although, they were two people I knew I still didn't feel that these types of things were so common.  I'm beginning to loose faith in the "medical thing" too. :(

La Diosa; problems with the mitral valve are not uncommon.  My boss had his repaired last year.  I know several others that have had theirs either repaired or replaced.  Repair is the easiest to recover from.  If they replace the valve, it would be replaced with either a tissue (animal tissue) or mechanical valve.  My mother received a tissue valve, which is easier to recover from than a mechanical valve, but the longevity is not as good as the mechanical.  A tissue valve lasts about 15 years.  For this reason, it is usually only used on elderly patients.  Mechanical valves will last much longer.  My father had his over 20 years and believe me, the technology has greatly improved since his!  I hope you don't have any additional problems with your valve.

Yeah bikerbraid, my doctor told me that mitral valve prolapse is pretty common.  I just wasn't informed that I may have problems with it in the future.:(  Hopefully, I won't.

According to the Mayo Clinic:

Quote:

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a disorder that affects one of your heart's valves — the mitral valve. It occurs when the valve doesn't close correctly, allowing backward leaking of blood in your heart. Mitral valve prolapse affects slightly more than 2 percent of the adult population in the United States. Men and women appear to develop MVP in similar numbers. In most people, MVP is harmless and doesn't require any changes in lifestyle. It also doesn't shorten your life expectancy. In some people with MVP, however, the progression of the disease requires treatment. Although MVP is a lifetime disorder, many people with this condition never have signs and symptoms. When diagnosed, people may be surprised to learn that they have a heart abnormality because of the absence of signs and symptoms. When signs and symptoms do occur with MVP, they can vary widely from one person to another. They tend to be mild, develop gradually and may include: A racing or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) Dizziness, lightheadedness Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, often when lying flat or after physical exertion Fatigue Chest pain that's not associated with a heart attack or coronary artery disease

Hi BB,

 Glad you and your mother got better. I was watching a show on 20/20 about how the pharmacy can accidently give you the wrong medicine or dosage. Thats pretty scary. That happened to my husbands grandmother due to a medical mistake in the hospital so she passed away.

Good Morning Bikerbraid,  I was thinking of you and wondering how you are feeling.  I know from your last post, you had been very sick.  I do hope you are better.

Debr

Thank you for your thoughts.  I'm doing much better, but still have a persistent cough. I finished the antibiotics but still need the cough syrup occasionally.  I know that this will take a long time to clear up, so I will be patient.  :)

You're welcome, BB  :).  Have a great weekend.

Debr

bikerbraid wrote on Apr 13^th, 2007 at 1:04pm:

Thank you for your thoughts.  I'm doing much better, but still have a persistent cough. I finished the antibiotics but still need the cough syrup occasionally.  I know that this will take a long time to clear up, so I will be patient.  :)

Take care both.... :)