Just so you know...

[Rami]

Hey guys,

As of tomorrow morning, I am going to be in the hospital for several days. To prevent my leg from deteriorating further and to get it on the road to healing again, I am going to be hospitalized and immobilized for several days with my leg elevated, while having the compression bandage changed frequently and receiving IV antibiotics.

I still plan on approving uploads and working on CFS2 during that time, but the bandwith will undoubtedly be slower. I'm looking forward to even modest healing; as of now the pain is near-constant, and I'm not sleeping well as a result. The skin ulcers on my left leg are also large and very uncomfortable.

I frequently work on CFS2 as a way of keeping my mind off the pain and to have something else to focus on. While in the hospital, I also have a book on the Battle of Britain and another on Teddy Roosevelt (my hero) which I intend to read. I will use this opportunity to pull all of my doctors and nurses together and get them all on the same page, so that we can devise a plan of action to get things moving forward. Amputation still looks to be the best way forward, but every scenario of treatment has considerable risk.

At 38, I refuse to throw in the towel, sit at home, and collect disability. I told my students today that I may not be able to continue teaching until my physical condition improves, and right now no one seems to know how to make that possible. Seeing their faces upon hearing this news, and knowing my own passion to teach, was very hard for me. When you do something you love and its getting ripped away from you due to forces beyond your control, not only does it feel grossly unfair, it also feels like you're having part of your soul torn out.

I've known for some time this was coming up, it's one of the reasons I pushed hard to get Leader and BoB uploaded before admitting day.

I have all the current files for the Battle of France loaded on my laptop...so I'll work on that tomorrow once I'm in the hospital and settled, while focusing on getting much-needed rest and relief. Rest is paramount right now.

[Blood_Hawk23]

My prayers are with you.

My hope is that the amp isn't needed. In the end it didn't save my Grandfather. Actually it compounded the problem. Though as you said you're only 38 and not 74. Still, rest up and do what you're told. -- Just to clarify this, No racing the kiddies with the wheelchairs. The nurses get mad when you do that. Trust me.

'til Later,
John

[Captain Kurt]

Keep that positive attitude Andrew. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

[Fibber]

...just relax and concentrate on getting well. Remember what I had written you. The amp. is the LAST option! Just "NEVER give up, NEVER give in!!!!" Best wishes for you there guy.

[Allen]

Best of luck!

[p14u2nv]

Good luck to you Rami, I wish you the best.

[grover1]

All the very best to you, Rami! Really hoping for a speedy recovery and you'll be in my prayers.

Chris

(I'm over at the CFS3 Forum)

[Rami]

Good morning,

I survived night one. My IV that they put in down in the ER fell out during the evening, then my veins went wonky. They poked me twice more in my left arm and one in my right to start another IV with no luck. They ended up putting up one in my right hand.

They also never put my leg back into a compression bandage, so I had a very uncomfortable night. But that's being corrected this morning. I hope today goes better, and I really appreciate all of the support. It means so much.

[Fibber]

I HATE that IV in the hand. I have had those things everywhere and the most painful, uncomfortable one I EVER had was in the blasted hand. Can't even scratch without wondering if it will pull out. As the old saying goes "Ouch, I bet that will leave a mark!" and to paraphrase Tweedy bird "It did it did!!!"

[Rami]

I HATE that IV in the hand. I have had those things everywhere and the most painful, uncomfortable one I EVER had was in the blasted hand. Can't even scratch without wondering if it will pull out. As the old saying goes "Ouch, I bet that will leave a mark!" and to paraphrase Tweedy bird "It did it did!!!"

Fibber,

Luckily, I was asked before I did it. I am left-hand dominant, so they put it in my right hand. So in case a cute nurse comes by...

[highpockets]

[No Dice]

Very sorry to hear that, But what can be said............
That sucks..........

[Fibber]

Rami;

If the compression is a normal type of treatment for this condition and they ignored repeated requests for compression bandages, along with a worsening condition, I would advise you to seriously consider retaining a proven track record medical malpractice law firm.

You might have gotten a doctor who is still "practicing" so that some day they will get it right, trying something new as a personal theory, or staff that is just too indifferent or lazy to do it. Chewing out the hosp rep only results in you feeling better, they hang up the phone and could care less.

I once was employed as a medical insurance field representative, fancy rephrase of medical malpractice investigator, and have seen people sue for less and win.

[Rami]

Good evening,

I wanted to pass along an update to all of you. For the time being, my leg continues to be stable, if not improving somewhat. The wounds are shallowing, and look as well as they have in months. I continue to see a nutritionist in Boston, and am still working on losing weight.

Because the risk of severe complications is very high, including a high likelihood of failure and/or additional surgery, the thought of amputation has been tabled for now. I want to be aggressive treating this, but certainly not reckless or foolish. We are working on contacting research hospitals throughout the United States (The Cleveland Clinic, the Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, etc.) to see what options there are that may not have been considered, or could be attempted, given the complicated set of issues I have.

Despite this uncertainty on how to improve my condition, I am adapting fairly well to teaching in a wheelchair, and my wife, children, mother, and my faith continue to be a major source of strength, as well as levity. I am also now seeing a therapist who has training and expertise in working with people who suffer with chronic pain. This has also been very helpful.

Easter was very pleasant and pretty low-key...lots of leftovers to enjoy. My kids loved their Easter baskets we made for them and the egg hunt in the backyard. No real "downers" on this post...I am simply enjoying the crest of this wave for as long as it lasts.

[highpockets]

Hang in there Rami. I am praying the doctors have and "ah ha " experience with a treatment plan that works!

Your plight reminded me of this "hang in there" story.

http://acepilots.com/usaaf_rsj.html

[Rami]

Hey guys,

While I am happy to be home, the hospitalization was not really a success. The hospital which I went to did not, despite my repeated requests, put my leg into a compression wrap, which is the normal course of treatment in addition to elevation and IV antibiotics. They only had my leg in elevation, and because of that, my leg swelled once release from the hospital until arrival at the wound care center, where I have my compression bandages applied and removed, to 6cm larger (48cm) than it usually is without it being in compression, and this already is a swollen state.

Accordingly, I called the patient relations department at the hospital and chewed them out for their lack of effective treatment, and I checked an admitting nurse in the emergency department with another local hospital to ensure that they do allow for compression dressings to be applied/administered during hospitalizations. If I have another episode like this and hospitalization is required, I will go there. I also have my leg back in compression, which is helping to reduce the edema and tenderness, not to mention making me piss like a race horse.

On the positive side, they did extensive lab work on my blood, and all of my blood levels and numbers are well within normal limits, and I continue to rejoice in the fact that my blood sugar remains normal and I am not diabetic. That would only further complicate my condition.

[Rami]

Fibber et al,

If it makes you feel any better, amputation may not be the best option now either, because it's too dangerous to do anything with the veins because of my body's adaptation of making collateral veins to get around the clots. They don't want to make my venous flow worse.

But without improving my venous flow, amputation is really risky, even if it's the best long-term option. So while I'm laid up, we are gonna get a huge think tank going between my doctors and nurses, and figure out what to do. What everyone seems to agree on is that spending seven hours a day or more on my feet frequently is the crux of my current episode, and so that's why I'm likely going to have to throw in the towel at my school. I have a lot of options...I could teach online, tutor, do historical research, or write, since I have considerable skills in all these areas. But it's not the same as having about one hundred and twenty students and faculty who consider you an awesome, caring, geeky, tough, and fair teacher, and a colleague who will scorch the earth to help anyone make their own lessons better.

But whatever I decide to do, I need to keep my leg elevated as much as possible. So we'll see where this all leads.

Oh, and thanks to everyone so far for responding, you all are awesome!

[huub vink]

Rami,

Good luck, take care and make sure to be back soon!

Cheers,
Huub

[Killer Svend]

Rami,

I am really sorry to hear about your painful disease, I don't know how we got our portion of diseases, I am now twice as old as you are and has never suffered of any serious disease, Thanks God for that.

Unfortunately,I can't do anything to help you Rami, I can only wish you a quick recovery and be relieved from your paine and be back here as soon as possible.We need you badly. Also thank you and the team for the new BoB, it took me 20 minutes to install and now are we flying again over England.

All the best to you from Killer Svend

[glh]

Best wishes to you, sir. I trust your medical people will find a workable solution.

[Robert John]

Godspeed.

RJ

[Rami]

Hey guys,

Doing better today. They're doing an MRI tomorrow morning. The sixth IV attempt seems to have worked to this point. I was also able to clean up somewhat and feel vaguely human again. The pain is managed pretty well as long as I keep my leg elevated. The food is okay, trial by error is teaching me what to order and what not to order.

Yesterday kinda sucked. I felt like a zombie much of the day because I barely slept Thursday night. Between the pain and not being able to use the bathroom until this morning, I just felt lousy. So after the morning, I just laid low.

The skin ulcers are beginning to granulate, meaning that my body is slowly starting to generate the basis for growing new skin. They may keep me the hospital and/or rehab through this process, which could be as long as three weeks with IV and/or oral antibiotics. They could also send me home in a few days and do IV infusion from home, but no one is quite sure what insurance will pay for and how all of this is going to play out.

I've had plenty of visitors....that part has been very nice.

Oh, and Typhoon Willy...

Too late, hence the padded cell.

[gius]

Best wishes Rami, my thoughts are for you...

Giuseppe

[No Dice]

Hang in there Rami,

If prayers and best wishes help..You have hundreds from around the world, all in your favor.

Focus on getting some rest.

[Rami]

Hi,

Well, some good news. Looks like I'm going to be admitted. I look quite fetching in a hospital gown, n'est pas?