From Retirement Medical Issues

At the three week follow up with the surgeon we found that the 1% chance of infection had landed on lucky me.. I had a very serious MRSA infection that required another surgery immediately to clean out the artificial hip.

The second surgery was exactly one month after the first, on 1/22/15. The recovery was more traumatic than either of the previous surgeries. My neuromuscular condition worsened and I was very weak. At home I had a 6 week course of intravenous antibiotics twice a day. We started having virtually round the clock caregivers. Fortunately the infection was cleared up by the antibiotics and I eventually stabilized, although my walking was more impaired than after the surgery of the previous month.

#7.4 of SA7. Retirement

Here’s a description of my condition after the two left hip surgeries that I sent to Bosmat Eynav when Irina Tsoy was encouraging me to go back in the pool.

I’m in much worse shape physically than when I saw you before. I’m not even sure I could handle getting in and out of the pool. I can’t walk without a walker, and even with the walker I’m very slow and wobbly. I have fallen multiple times, fortunately so far all at home on carpet, without major injury. I finally had the second hip replaced. The good news is both hip surgeries were very successful. The bad news is the left hip became infected soon after the surgery (MRSI), probably from bad conditions at the rehab place I went for physical therapy. Having those 2 surgeries within a month of each other (12/23/14 and 1/23/15) really wiped me out. Then I had six weeks of very strong antibiotics intravenously for an hour twice a week at home. This made me nauseous, I lost my appetite, and lost 25 pounds, some of which I have now gained back. I need a lot of help so I have day and night caregivers. My daytime caregiver is a large, strong young man from Belize. When we go out he pushes me in a wheelchair, and we bring the walker too. If I came to the pool he would drive me. My acupuncturist is a very sweet, gentle, positive healer. She insists I will get stronger and be able to walk again. She’s urging me to exercise in the pool. That’s why I’m checking with you.