"Worst case scenario: we amputate your leg to save your life
— Hospital ER Surgeon, in conversation with me, March 10th, 2025
Soooooo it's been a while. Miss me? How did your March go?
To say mine was "eventful" would be a colossal understatement. I spent three weeks in the hospital battling a septic infection that had half of my legion of doctors convinced I would be dead before the end of the week.
Not that they told me.
They told my wife. Gave her the whole "Might want to get your affairs in order" speech.
Yep. March was the cruelest of months at Casa Thornton.
I didn’t know any of this (not then anyway).
Here’s what I did know:
I had cellulitis. That infection in turn got into my blood stream, giving me a case of blood poisoning, and my leg got “septic.”
That’s when my kidneys shut down.
I can also now speak with authority on what two solid weeks of having your medical team treat your intense pain with oxycodone.
I quit taking that stuff the first minute I felt able to. I don’t understand why anyone would want to risk addiction to this particular pain killer: yes it deadened my pain, but the hallucinations were so unpleasant, and it was not the sort of “high” I would think I could ever enjoy.
Lots more to share, but I still tire easily, so that’s got be it for now.
Stay tuned!
OMG! Heal well. Heal soon.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jerry!
DeleteI am very sorry to hear about your illness. I hope now that your recovery will be swift and straight forward.
ReplyDeleteThank you Janice! Doing better than anyone (except me) thought possible!
DeleteDamn, Dude, that don't sound like fun at all. Hang in there.
ReplyDeleteThank Amigo. Better every day!
DeleteWow! I'm sorry to hear about this, but I'm glad you're getting through it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Steve!
DeleteYipes! All the best.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rob! And thanks for the support when I needed coverage for my turn in the rotation!
DeleteYikes, Brian, hope you're on the mend and will make a full recovery asap. Hugs and flowers.
ReplyDeleteThanks Liz! My family and friends I have to say, have been incredibly supportive, and that has helped more than I can say!
DeleteYikes! That's about the worst, Brian. I'm a former hospital director. So glad you are here to write about it!!! Gentle hugs, Melodie
ReplyDeleteThanks Melodie! My next post is going to cover the power of positive thinking and the conversation my internist and I had about her belief that mine had a lot to do with my recovery.
ReplyDeleteGet well, get strong, and you are in my prayers. Love ya!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Eve! And of course, right back at ya. And double thanks for the prayers!
DeleteWow Brian, I'm so happy to see you here after that terrible ordeal! Be sure to drink plenty of fluids & follow your doctor's orders. I had sepsis myself in 2019. In my case, all we can figure out is that I caught it from doing yardwork & mowing the lawn, because there are a lot of pathogens in the soil. The one that hit me was Streptococcus milleri constellatus. I always used to be kind of chunky, but now it is six years later & I can't keep weight on any more. I know, it's a weird problem to have & not necessarily a good one.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteDefine 'stoic':
Brian Thornton
Brian, you lightly clued in Rob and me, asking for a sub whilst you were in the hospital. But you glossed over how ƒ-ing serious it was. I am so glad to hear you fought this thing and, though battle-scarred, you've won. You definitely earned writer-of-the-year award.