I found out today that I have a super bug called Vancomyacin Restistant Enterococci or VRE. Enterococci are a group of gram-negative, round-shaped bacteria that commonly live in the gut, although they can cause infection anywhere in the body. They are resistant to several antibiotics, but in the past, physicians could rely on the drug vancomycin to effectively treat enterococcal infections. In recent decades, however, some enterococci have become resistant to vancomycin. The two main species that cause problems are vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis, with E. faecium being the most common. As a result I'm quaranteed in hospital but at least I have my own room..lol No one has to wear masks or gowns just some gloves when they come into my room. I just have to wash my hands frequently. I'm not sure but I'm kinda thinking this VRE is the reason I got sick again. They say there's usually no symptoms but it is a possibility especially with a weak immune system like mine. One side effect is getting UTI's which I have had a couple just recently. This bacteria lives in the bowels and stomach so yeah I think its affecting my GP. The doctor told me a lot of these cases happen on the surgical ward which is where I was my last visit a couple weeks ago. It also doesn't help that I've spent basically 3 months in hospital so I'm not surprised I got this super bug unfortunately. I'll be getting antibiotics and I'm hoping that it clears up soon so I don't keep getting sick.
Four years ago I had another bug called the Helicobacter pylori or H-pylori bacteria which also lives in the stomach. Symptoms are abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, bloating, belching, and black stools. I had H-pylori twice but was tested three times, the third being negative. They test it with the carbon urea breath test in which the patient drinks the carbon urea breathe test and then blows into a balloon. They are then able to detect if the bacteria is in your system or not. A large course of antibiotics were given. Something that can be very tough when your sick and trying to keep pills down especially when they're huge pills and a lot of them. Gastroparesis is such a catch 22 situation sometimes. It makes you extremely nauseated and vomiting and inorder in stop these symptoms you need to keep pills down, well you can't when your experiencing severe nausea ans vomiting.
GP Sucks!...period.
Thankfully, yet again, I have an awesome doctor! This one actually sits down at bedside and talks with you, isn't at all rushed to get to the next patient, he answers all your questions and is genuinly sincere. He is one doctor that thinks outside of the box and is wanting to get a plan set in place for the diabetic GP. He is setting up an appointment with a physcologist to talk to them about relaxation methods and ways to treat and cope with anxiety.Obviously things are not working so well with my health so something's gotta change and this doctor is willing to help and that's all I'm asking for, a new care plan and someone who is there who won't give up on me and my health.
I've been in hospital for 6 days now and considering the VRE I'm doing relatively well. I'm up moving around today which I wasn't yesterday so that's always a good sign. I got sick once today but not at all yesterday. The nausea and pain are settling down slowly but surely. They have me on potassium, zinc, erythromycin, zpfran, gravol, domparidone, lyrica, ativan if needed, and morphine or diludid. Depending on how bad my pain gets I can choose accordingly. I'll be starting more antibiotics most likely tomorrow for the VRE. I'm allowed to go home even if I still have the infection so that's good because I'm hoping to be home in the next couple days:)
One thing that has helped me living with diabetic GP is having a "care plan" in place. My endocrinologist wrote up a care plan for me to use when I go to the ER. She listed medications that I need, erythromycin for stomach motility, buscopan for spasams in the stomach, cesamet for nausea, morphine subqutaneously because I'm a very hard IV start so giving me morphine sub-q I can get it faster and it also last longer if they give it to you in the muscle rather then through the IV or picc line in most of my cases. She also states that I need antimedics. And if my blood sugars are low not to give juice because the acidity is to high and can cause nausea and vomiting. If I have a low sugar then I need glucose tabs, gel,glucagon, or straight glucose IV. My care plan has helped me so much when going into the ER. It definitely takes away some anxiety I have when first going to the ER. I get anxiety because I have no idea what kind of doctors are on and if I'll get the right medications or not. This care plan has helped tremendously and I recommend that everyone talk to your doctor to get one set up. Im wanting a new one in place as I live in a different town then where I was at when using my older care plan. Plus its a few years old and something's can be added or changed. I'm going to ask the doctor I have right now in hospital to write one up for me. Care plans can be and are a huge life savor. Honestly things have gotten a lot easier overall by just having one in place.
That is all for now:) Happy Tummy Day Everyone! :)
