Reasonable Health (part 6)

During the next few days, I received IV antibiotics every 6 hours (12am/6am/12pm/6pm) and the tube that runs out of my liver/back was regularly flushed and drained.  Each day, my fever subsided till it remained between 97 and 99 degrees.  After a few days, the doctors decided to do another CT scan to look at the abscess.  It turned out that it had only shrunk a couple of centimeters (from 6cm to 4cm).  I think I was hoping that the abscess was shrinking much faster.  Then Doc D came in to speak with me about the progress.  He was a gastrointestinal specialist (they deal with the liver) and he stated plainly that I was right on track in my progress.  He said that this was a large abscess and it could take months to completely clear up and that I just needed to be patient and allow my body to do it's thing.

Doc D also stated that these abscesses are relatively rare, but that they are very curable and I was right on schedule.  That made me feel much better.

After Doc D spoke with Doc A and Doc B, they all decided that I was actually doing quite well and that I could go home soon.  Doc A came to see me and mentioned that I might be going home, as soon as today (Thursday).  After she left, Doc B came in to see me again and this time was much more cordial.  She spoke to me while looking at me (which made me feel better) and she was kind in her tone.  She said that I could go home but that she needed to speak with the other doctors first.  After some confusion as to whether I was going home on Thursday or possibly the next day, the decision and paperwork was together for me to go home on Thursday.

I was happy and a little scared.  I knew that I was going to have to take over doing the IV antibiotics at home around the clock on the 12s and 6s.  I also knew that I was going to be sent home with a drain bag hanging off of my back.  Fortunately I was visited within a few hours of heading home by visiting nurses that helped me learn how and what to do when (with the IV antibiotics).  It is an interesting process and not one that you would want to have to do at 5:30am.  However, I was home and that was a huge victory in itself.  Be it ever so humble indeed.