Tag Archives: cellulitis

Cancer, Health, Home/Life, Our Shetland Sheepdogs

Thoughts on my Health and the Year 2023

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Morning Walkies with Toshiro and Sachiko

Morning Walkies with Toshiro and Sachiko

Morning Walkies with Toshiro and Sachiko

After a week-long stay at the hospital with a few days of septic delirium, a week of IV antibiotics, and a month of Cipro, this is a loud-and-pronounced call that I need to focus on my health and getting control over my leg lymphedema as best I can.

Despite my best efforts for walking 60-90mi each month with the pups, doing frequent showers and moisturizing, I still seem to be getting cellulitis and sepsis several times each year. My last echocardiogram shows that it’s taking a toll on my heart health as I repeatedly get pumped full of IV fluids and antibiotics.

So, my goal now is to be thorough and persistent with my physical therapy at Kaiser and Virginia Hospital Center, to do more frequent/longer walks and cycling, and to hopefully get my leg into a healthier long-term state.

Or, at the very least, to be able to enjoy long walks, hikes, and cycling again?

Today was an exhaustive visit, but one of the best visits I’ve had with Kaiser about my short-term health, long-term health, and long-term treatment:

  • Yes, I do have a slightly enlarged heart and decreased ejection fraction, but it’s due to pseudomonas and sepsis as a blood infection. Seeing increased heart size and changes to ejection fraction are common. They’re scheduling me for a transesophageal echocardiogram in 2-3 weeks to verify my recovery once the Cipro is over. They’ll also schedule me for a full panel of bloodwork to verify my bloodwork, recovery, and level of immunity/immunocompromised.
  • Yes, I do have Stage 3 Lymphedema of my left leg. It’s pronounced. They want to photograph it monthly, document it, and do more aggressive physical therapy to see if we can’t see some recovery, improvement in mobility, decreased neuropathy. I’m being referred to Virginia Hospital Center (VHC) for my lymphedema care.
  • They’re documenting that I have a severe reaction to a flea bite, not uncommon for my lymphoma, lymphedema, decreased immune response. Pseudomonas itself was likely acquired during frequent clinical visits. MRSA and Pseudomonas are concerns given my health and history.
  • They recommended a Bifenthrin Insecticide fogger for front yard and back to reduce mosquitoes and insects, fog yard every 2-3 weeks. Safe for both me and our dogs. They recommended spraying my pants and shirts with Permethrin and/or DEET, to wear long pants and shirts for all walks outdoor exposure due to severe reaction to flea bite.
Cancer

Ongoing Joys and Checkups of Lymphedema

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Video Visit with Dr. Yoho (Kaiser-Permanente, Tysons, VA)

Dr. Yoho emphasizing that I need to exercise my lymphatic leg more, that I need to elevate it more, and that I really need to wear compression stocking as much as possible.

I’ve been neglecting and tolerating my swollen leg, especially with the high heat of mid-summer and the pain of taking long walks.

I ought to get more compression stockings, clean my leg and check for any cuts or changes, wear compression stockings and exercise it every day, and wash the compression stockings (wear clean stocking) each day.

Cancer

Lest I Forget How 2022 Began

ICU Stay at Reston Hospital (Reston, VA)

ICU Stay at Reston Hospital (Reston, VA)

LEST I FORGET HOW 2022 BEGAN

Ambulance ride, hospitalization, and ICU from December 28th, 2021 until January 3rd, 2022. Admitted for cellulitis of left leg, septic shock (pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterial infection), high heart rate and low blood pressure, sinus-tachycardia.

1) Be thankful every day for good health and being at home surrounded by loved ones rather than hospitalized surrounded by medical.

2) Try to avoid further health issues in 2022.

Cancer

Two Hospital Stays in a Month’s Time

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In the span of a month (from mid-January to mid-February of 2021), I was hospitalized twice at Reston Hospital Center, Progressive Care Unit, in Reston, VA…

…with both stays, I quickly developed cellulitis of my left leg followed by a high fever and sepsis.  Since my lymphedema has become so large, I’m told I can expect frequent cellulitis due to stagnation of blood and lymphatic fluid in my left leg.  I need to exercise it as much as I’m able, bathe and moisturize it to prevent cracking, bleeding, and infection, and expect more frequent bouts of cellulitis.  Once my current regimen of antibiotics is over from my latest hospital stay, I’m hoping to start taking Lasix to reduce my lymph retention.