Today is probably the first day that I have felt better than death warmed over. I entered the hospital on October 21, so I am already here twelve days.
Getting here was no easy feat. Although it was clear that none of the three doctors I saw was able to manage my infection correctly. When I told my primary doctor that I really needed to go to the hospital, she poo-pooed the idea, noting that hospitals have all their own bacteria.
When I went to the surgeon (same word, different meaning in Slovak), I looked defeated. I told the doctor what my primary had said and expressed disappointment. She, in turn, made a referral to yet another doctor, a dermatologist who would decide whether hospitalization was justified.
The primary problem is a leg infection, so it must seem strange to send me to a dermatologist. But, in fact, dermatologists do more than treat acne. The doctor looked at my legs, told me that hospitalization was necessary and promised I would go within a few days. When she described my wounds to the hospital, they told her to send me that very day.
I needed time to prepare, so I went on Friday. Dropping the dog off at the babysitter’s, I picked up my lawyer/friend, Martin, and off to the hospital we went. A glitch here and there, and I was led into a room with two existing patients.
One patient, Pavel, was youngish and spoke good English. The other man used his computer as a television set and blared insipid movies all day. I was glad when they both left on Monday afternoon. Subsequently, I had a de facto private room until Thursday, when an imp of a man arrived and destroyed my sense of serenity.
This patient, who remains in the room with me, is deaf but can read lips. Apparently, they don’t teach sign language to the deaf in Slovakia. When he speaks, it is at an ear-splitting volume. Additionally, he will speak randomly out loud to no one, or sometimes to a person only he can see. He also makes gestures as if speaking to an imaginary person. For fun, I sometimes yell for him to shut up, although he cannot hear me. However, last night I was already asleep when he began speaking loudly to himself. I got his attention and angrily told him to shut up. He did. Originally scheduled to leave the hospital on Monday, I was saddened to learn of his postponement until Wednesday. I am keeping my fingers crossed that he departs tomorrow.
First receiving an intravenous antibiotic infusion for generalized bacterial infections, a stool sample revealed that my body was fighting an uncommon variety of bacteria. A change of antibiotic was made. My legs also caused so much pain that the doctor prescribed a very strong pain reliever. It’s not so strong; vodka works better.
A few days ago, the doctor told me that my blood levels were poor and that I had a vitamin deficient, all due to my body’s lengthy fight of the infection. At this point, my blood was essentially as useful as colored water. If I needed anymore good news, they found a different type of bacteria infecting my urine. So, they would be switching antibiotics.
To boost my body’s ability to fight the infection, they requested permission to give me a blood transfusion. I agreed.
Living in Slovakia, when people ask whether I have Slovak heritage, I have always been proud to state that, no, I have no Slovak blood in me, only Polish and Rusyn. But for the moment, at least, I do in fact have Slovak blood coursing through my veins. So, I now consider myself a provisional Slovak.
I am unsure of how much time I have left here in hospital. I was originally scheduled to depart today. But that was before they found all the other problems. Fortunately, I can see healing, albeit slowly, and the pain has decreased. But I’m not going to tell the doctor that, because I still want the strong pain reliever. You know me…