The Old Folks Home

[microchick]

Great news @lovesfarms and I can well understand how you feel right now.

We were taught that bacterial infections build slowly. Viral infections hit fast. Well one minute sicker than a dog the next. I'm so glad they figured out what was going on with him.

Those biologics are murder. I was living like a hobo long before Covid thanks to methotrexate. While I'm curious to know what form of RA I have, I'm also scared because it would probably mean going back on a biologic. After the methotrexate experience, I have no desire to go there.

Is his rheumatologist/gastroenterologist aware of what is going on and what has caused it? It might make a difference in how they approach his treatment.

 

[CSolis]

Thank you for all the prayers! After all the imaginable tests his fever finally broke. The infection team says they don't believe it was bacterial, and if it was viral then the antibiotics were useless. They believe the humira he takes for crohns was fighting his immune system. But the IV was helpful in combating the diarhea. So this afternoon they took him of the antibiotics and if he doesn't get more fever spikes,diarhea or dehydration he's looking at coming home tomorrow afternoon. They said viruses tend to have more fever spikes the bacterial infection. But to think a simple cold virus could all that!

Praying that things keep going in the right direction for your DH. Get some rest now before you get worn out.

 

[Sally PB]

OK, you've clearly been driving stick for a long time but I'm going to ask a question anyway:
When you are going to stop do you downshift through the gears or use the brakes and push in the clutch at the end? Kid next door downshifts, I can always hear him coming home. But he does not hear me saying "brakes are a lot cheaper than transmissions".

I don't down shift. I press the brake, put in the clutch, take the car out of gear, let out the clutch, and slow to a stop. This is on dry pavement/our dirt back roads. In the winter, if it's slippery, I'll downshift instead of using the brake. Like on my driveway, coming down the curvy hill.

At a stop light, I have my foot on the brake only. When the light turns, I put in the clutch, put it first, and drive away. Yeah, I'm that annoying person in front of you, Mr. Impatient Guy who then passes me before the next light.

At least I'm starting to look the part of the little old lady driver.

 

[lovesfarms]

Great news @lovesfarms and I can well understand how you feel right now.

We were taught that bacterial infections build slowly. Viral infections hit fast. Well one minute sicker than a dog the next. I'm so glad they figured out what was going on with him.

Those biologics are murder. I was living like a hobo long before Covid thanks to methotrexate. While I'm curious to know what form of RA I have, I'm also scared because it would probably mean going back on a biologic. After the methotrexate experience, I have no desire to go there.

Is his rheumatologist/gastroenterologist aware of what is going on and what has caused it? It might make a difference in how they approach his treatment.

I asked them to send ask his tests to the primary Dr, all his Drs are from the same group but I considered sending an email to his gastroenterologist. He's scared to come home tomorrow. And so am I, but the reason I'm scared is cause today I started with a sore throat. Friday and Saturday I had symptoms that could easy have passed for an allergy and then I felt fine. If I still feel the sore throat tomorrow, I think I will go to the urgent care center to see if I have his virus. They will likely make me get tested for covid. But if his virus is active in me, he couldn't get it again could he? Or could it give him a back set? He didn't have sore throat or coughing but my throat is real ticklish.

 

[lovesfarms]

Praying that things keep going in the right direction for your DH. Get some rest now before you get worn out.

Thank you.

 

[microchick]

I asked them to send ask his tests to the primary Dr, all his Drs are from the same group but I considered sending an email to his gastroenterologist. He's scared to come home tomorrow. And so am I, but the reason I'm scared is cause today I started with a sore throat. Friday and Saturday I had symptoms that could easy have passed for an allergy and then I felt fine. If I still feel the sore throat tomorrow, I think I will go to the urgent care center to see if I have his virus. They will likely make me get tested for covid. But if his virus is active in me, he couldn't get it again could he? Or could it give him a back set? He didn't have sore throat or coughing but my throat is real ticklish.

It depends on whether or not you have the same virus he had. Depending on the virus, you usually have a degree of immunity after infection but do they know for sure what his virus was? Was it gastrointestinal? If it was then your sore throat is probably something different and yes, you would have to take cautionary care around him.

Any chance you could have a sinus infection secondary to your allergies? Post nasal drip kind of sore throat? Another different bag of worms entirely. Treatable with antibiotics and steroids.

Definitely do consider the urgent care. You have been in the hospital, germ factory USA. An ounce of caution for both of you.

Feel better

 

[lovesfarms]

It depends on whether or not you have the same virus he had. Depending on the virus, you usually have a degree of immunity after infection but do they know for sure what his virus was? Was it gastrointestinal? If it was then your sore throat is probably something different and yes, you would have to take cautionary care around him.

Any chance you could have a sinus infection secondary to your allergies? Post nasal drip kind of sore throat? Another different bag of worms entirely. Treatable with antibiotics and steroids.

Definitely do consider the urgent care. You have been in the hospital, germ factory USA. An ounce of caution for both of you.

Feel better

They couldn't find anything else but they did find rhinovirus/enterovirus. The last test they did was on the liver because his liver enzymes were elevated but they couldn't find anything. He has an active fistula and I wondered if it had something to do with that. Sometimes I think when someone's health problems are so complex drs do some guessing. You know, with covid around, it makes things more fearful too. But it probably want good getting 4 wks of antibiotics and now it goes another week before those teeth get pulled cause he missed his appointment now

 

[microchick]

Any chance the teeth that need extracting aren't causing the problems with his liver enzymes?

Not comparing of course but I once had a dog who had to have teeth extracted. Vet did a pre surgery lab because she was over 10 and her liver enzymes were all messed up. Granted some of it was due to the fact that she was old but after a round of antibiotics the liver enzymes improved. We had an ancient kitty that did the same thing. Once we got a bad tooth pulled...a story all by itself...she improved tremendously.

Could the fistula be causing problems....it wouldn't be a fistula if it wasn't. But I bet real money they have considered that as an overall result of his Crohn's disease.

It's a balancing act isn't it? The good news is that he is on the mend and coming home. Now you need to get a good night's rest and see if you feel better in the morning.

Have you ever tried a Nettie pot or irrigation bottle for your sinuses? I swear by mine and use it daily for my allergies and post nasal drip. Oh, I hated it at first. I still swear that whoever devised it used it as a model for water boarding but once I got the hang of it I wouldn't be without mine. I usually irrigate every night before I go to bed that way my allergies aren't so apt to bother me overnight.

Feel better, both of you!

 

[CSolis]

Things have been a bit bizarre around here tonight. Baby Jay has been stuffing stuff down in my collar. He gets in his dish full of seeds and meal worms, and when he's had enough to eat, he gets more for storage. Didn't know jays have stashes but apparently they do. If it's not between the keys of the keyboard then under the keyboard. Tonight he started shoving stuff between the pages of my notepad laying here, then sticking his whole head under the page, then lifting the page as high as he could and letting it drop. Next was a napkin from the table, and he ended up on the floor with it doing the same thing. He ended up under Gator's head as Gator laid calmly on the floor.. I swear it looked like Baby Jay was playing peek a boo with Gator.
Jay has begun to hitch rides anyway he can. If not on my shoulder, then on my head or Gator's back. I wonder if he thinks this is an amusement park or something. He's been so good for me, keeping me laughing at his antics. I've encouraged him to go outside to play and he's finally going back out for a few hours at a time. First day back out was a 10 minute visit to the deck and straight back in the house. Makes me wonder if he didn't suffer from a bird attack. Cardinals are territorial too. But he's much better, bathing in Gator's water bowl and getting into everything.

 

[microchick]

You need to get some pictures and movies of Baby Jay. your stories are amazing. What a character he is.

You are probably right about him clashing with another bird. I think blue jays are territorial also. At least they act that way at my feeders. They are always pecking at one another and chasing off the other birds. Maybe his wing got hurt that way or maybe he had a run in with a cat? Got his wing grabbed and wrenched.

That might make him decide that in the house is better than outside.