Started feeling a little odd Monday night. Had quite a bit of pain on Tuesday. Wednesday afternoon we went to the ER.
Now the consensus at the time was a urinary tract infection. And while there was a good amount of evidence pointing in that direction the infectious disease doctors are kinda particular on that issue. You see, not all antibiotics work on all bacteria. So they spend half their time bacteria hunting. It’s been four days. Those doctors have come up empty.
So because the urine panel refuses to grow any bugs the doctors are now back in “discovery mode.” Had a chest x-ray. Inconclusive. They were looking at the wound. It looks good (and really really smaller since my last post.) Their running blood panels and sputum panels and solar panels. So far nothing.
If you’re an adult in this country you’ve undoubtedly heard that doctors 1. do not like to admit that they don’t know something, and 2. they are taught to behave this way of medical school. It’s for this reason that when my doctor visited me earlier today the discussion was limited to what “was known” there was no discussion about what was “not known”.
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I kid you not, the guy in the room down the hall from me just had his telly monitor go flatline. Every alarm on the floor went off. The nurses were all screaming. One person, the Eastern European CNA, casually walks down the hall saying “he playing you.”
I can’t tell you what happened but many people were wrong… and one person was right.
– – –
Anyway, because my doctor is so awesome I had no concerns about giving him a little side-eye and asking if we had a plan to resolving the actual underlying issue here. And he said that while the antibiotics I’m on might not be ideal they are providing some systematic relief. When I came in on Wednesday I was spiking pretty good fevers. Those seem to have stopped. (Focus on what they know.)
So there you have it people. My ears also hurt, like I have an earache. Have some ringing in them too. Been coughing to beat the band (actually kinda giving myself a headache.) So here we are. Confident in not knowing what’s going wrong.
I have a lot of other things on my mind, but I’m not going to get into them right now. But in another post (soon) I will update you on some of the things that I’ve been doing like writing waltzes in the style of mid-sixteenth century Austria, teaching entry-level maritime skills to young mariners, writing my own translation (with narration) of Stories From Panchatntra from the original Sanskrit, and consulting with the crew at SpaceX about a new type of ceramic (now this is just a theory of course) which should be able to decrease weight and lower reentry temperature by several hundred degrees.
But that’s it for now. Yes there will be a call on Sunday at 3:30. Here’s the link: https://jb.jb03.com/call/e35vvpp9
Thank you for the update.
You certainly continue to be in our prayers
Have you on the “God Bless” list.
…Have your doctors on the “God give em a clue” list.
Bosco.
Sounds like there’s a ton going on so I’ll get to the point: my uncle’who recently passed, developed the formula for the re-entry of the Space Shuttle. Oh. and he was also on them GPS development team. He never used the system because, “Of course I know where I’m going. I designed the program.” Point being is I’ll ck his notes to see if there’s anything that can add with the re-entry of SpaceX project. Behave yourself.
L
Counselor,
May I suggest that you remind them of your knowledge in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral, as well as several unique skills you’ve learned in Hong Kong? Undoubtedly they will elevate you to the platinum care deserving of a person of your stature.
Always in my prayers Jim ❤️
Thank you for the progress report Jim. Praying God will give the doctors wisdom and for miraculous healing.
Jim,
Sorry to hear about your bothersome and frustrating situation. My brother was one of the founders of the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine (improvediagnosis.org) after seeing so many people treated for a disease they didn’t have. I had a Dr. tell me that physicians prescribe Gabapentin, when they don’t know what is causing the pain. Scary stuff.
Keep fighting the fight. Love to hear about all the good things you’re doing with that awesome brain of yours. I continue to be amazed by your breadth of knowledge.
Blue Skies,
ME
Hang in there Jim. It’s gotta be frustrating as hell when they pretend to know what’s going on despite not solving it. Hope the ringing, fevers and whatever’s behind em goes away and gives you some peace. Ideally, with some answers.
Always good to see a post from you but unfortunately they are usually linked to a hospital visit – never good. Could write an epistle on the reality of the medical field, but will save that for another time. Hope they do figure out the cause and things improve quickly. Thinking of you- best, Ethan
Greetings Jim.
As you can tell, I don’t get to all
My emails promptly. This one I am looking at 5:00am. I figure most will wait for me. I have so many other priorities. Like walk my dog, write, talk to neighbors and then if I have the motivation I might look at any lingering emails. It doesn’t imply I am not compassionate, only that there are many to open and close before I reached yours.
By the time you read this I’m sure you will be clear, home and on your way to the next venture. Physically speaking, you are on a very unique journey,
it is all the stuff you mention at the end of what is in your mind you don’t want to get into which offers me interest.
I agree the docs are human and often have no answer. I have attempted to create personal connections with my docs. I learn much asking them questions which alter their thoughts for a moment. I learn most didn’t go to medical school to be told by their employer to increase their patient load and how long they can spend with each.
They are burdened presently being an employee. One told me recently the days of a private practice for a physician may be leaving. He said how fortunate hypnotists are they can have a private practice. They have become body mechanics. I have been on this earth long enough to recall going to the doctors office who approached all areas.
I like the part where everyone was running around screaming with their own fears and one says, “He’s playing you!” They were to anxious to realize what was.
It is the doc who says, “ I don’t know but I will find out!” That is brilliant. My phrase with clients is, “ I don’t know everything but I have been around the block a few times!”
I recall a great poem, somewhat, there are no answers to life but like books written in another language or doors locked without keys, we need to work through the question to arrive to an answer. I’m sure I butchered that up but you get it. The docs need to explore their question before arriving to an answer.
Yes Jim, you are a magic man with the journey you have taken on and mix humor with your irritation. Sort of like Jumbo Shrimp.
I never got to know you personally but I am sure you are one of these , one in a million type of guys. One day we will meet and I can pick your survival brain. After over 50 years I am still curious of the unique, the strange, the special mind like yours.
I figure one day when I take my last breath with my last client I will say, “there now I have!”
I wish you well Jim on this dry special journey. A great book of yours is in the making.