I brought Penny to the ER this morning with a likely infection.
The last few days her abdomen has become increasingly tender and distended. Yesterday the skin was red as well, so when we went for a port reaccess, we had them take a look. The plan was to schedule an urgent out patient scan today or tomorrow, but we were told to head to the ER if she ran a fever, since an infection is a possible cause.
This morning Penny looked flush and felt warm, so I checked her temperature. As I expected, she had a fever, so we made our usual preparations to head to the ER.
While we were in the waiting area, the pressure on her abdomen ended up perforating the skin by an old incision. That is releasing the pressure a bit, but is also another thing to deal with as it drains.
Blood is being drawn now to check for infection. Antibiotics will be started after that. Transport just arrived as blood was being drawn, so Penny’s now off to get a CT scan to check for the location and extent of the presumed infection.
As they wheeled her away, Penny was resting reasonably comfortably. She’s had more frequent and severe intermittent pain for several days, but we have managed to keep it under control this morning for the most part.
We won’t know for sure what the next steps are until the scans and blood work come back, but I’m expecting they will want to start with IV antibiotics, which probably means admission later in the day.
Comments
Mary Hulst: Praying right now.
Marie VanderLinde : Praying for relief of pain, and wisdom when the tests are back.
Sandra Kay Navis: Praying that God will pour grace and peace into your lives along with healing.
Dawn Mulder: Praying💛
Alisa Tigchelaar: Praying now on the phone with my friend Catherine for the things that Susan mentions. We're grateful for Penny's support team and hope that she has comfort mentally and physically, that she can get back to her knitting soon. 💗
George Monsma, Jr.: Sorry to hear of this new complication. Praying for a quick and accurate diagnosis, and prompt and effective treatment. It was good to talk with Penny by the elevators at Lemmen-Holten when I was there taking Ellie for some X-rays yesterday.
Laura DeHaan: Prayers that this infection is brought under control rapidly!
Mike Borst: Thanks for the update; praying for a definitive dx and effective treatment.
Susan Langeland: Praying for definite answers, the right antibiotics and relief all around for Penny.