MIA

I know, I know - I am MIA as far as you guys are concerned! It's not shyness or anger at AOL. I have a systemic infection of pseudomonas aerogunosa or something like that and while I will spare you the details of this rebound effect, let me say that I originally went to the learned dermatologist who always discusses the book I am reading with me. He told me my rash was nothing to worry about, and handed me a tube of Topicort. I disagreed. We argued! He assured me it was nothing major and the Topicort would cure it in a week or two. I still argued with him. He finally offered to culture it. I agreed enthusiastically. He was shocked! Then he told me if the culture showed nothing, he would need to biopsy one - totally cut one of them out and have it tested. I totally agreed! We were both shocked!

That was a Monday, 3 weeks ago. On Friday a girl in his office called me to say she wanted my pharmacy number to call in a script for Cipro. I asked what I had? I was told she didn't know anything. I was tempted to just agree with her, but asked her what was in my file. She said there was a lab report. I asked her patiently to read it to me. She gave me the name of the infection and nothing else. I have called back at least 3 times to leave messages to get information. I haven't talked to him yet.

At the end of the week, I still had some spots not healed. So I called the office and said I still had some and had read that I should take the Cipro at least 2 days after the rash was gone and requested another week. I was told I didn't need it and not to worry, everything was going to be fine. I disagreed, but was again talking to someone other than the doctor. So I let it go, deferring against my better judgment. I had a strep throat rebound on me once, and I know a rebound is very intensive.

This weekend I realized it was back. Not on my skin, but internal. Like my mouth. Not a rash, but a coating. My throat, etc. I was terrified that it did this and went to my internist, since the infection was no longer just a rash on my skin. He was a bit mystified by the whole thing. He called my dermatologist to get the best possible antibiotics because sometimes they prefer to give two for this, and the lab would have provided the names. I am now on Cipro for 3 weeks, as of Monday. No improvement as of today, Wednesday. If anything it's maybe worse.

If no one can tell me how to get this out of my mouth I am not eating anything or drinking anything other than a few sips of water when I can't take being thirsty any longer. I will not give details as to why - just trust me. For one thing, my mouth tastes like an ashtray and I do not smoke. I can't think of many tastes that are more abhorrent to me. But I could still eat, if it was just the taste. I have left a message now with my dentist, and for my internist, letting them know I will not eat or drink. Next the same to my dermatologist.

My vertigo is worse or I would go sit in someone's office until I get some answers. I also need to call the neurologist, since I had blamed the taste change on the new sleep stuff. It started a few days after being on the new sleep stuff. I need to find out if the new sleep stuff ever encourages this infection.

I will set up and start writing in my new journal soon, once I can eat and this crap is out of my mouth. I have decided, irrationally, that this infection caused my vertigo. I believed this when I had the skin rash, that if I had Cipro long enough, the vertigo would go away. I think I maybe got it in January.

This is very odd, since I have the immune system to beat all - I haven't even had a cold in a billion years. But this is an infection that immune-suppressed people get in hospitals. I can't recall being in a hospital for any reason except a few weeks ago when I was already on the Cipro and had to pick a friend up. I was in the recovery room for maybe half an hour and then we left. Before that, I guess it was the outpatient hospital for my shoulder surgery almost 2 years ago?