July 31, 2023, Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: Dinner: chicken, mashed potatoes, squash, sugar-free chocolate pudding, and unsweetened iced tea. (photo: without flash due to phone charging difficulty.)
Monday, July 31, 2023
R.I.P. Paul Reubens
July 31, 2023, Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: R.I.P. Paul Reubens, 70
Mutts, Avocados, Raspberries
July 31, 2023, Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: I like mutts, avocados, and raspberries. (I am not such a fan of cake, although I do like frosting.)
More Antibiotic
July 31, 2023, Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: My infectious-disease doctor was just here in my hospital room. He told me that require another six weeks of intravenous antibiotic with a PICC line (outpatient at home) to control my blood infection and my bone infection in my right ankle. I can be discharged probably in 48 hours when that is set up at home. He mentioned something about the blood tests being negative, but I don't understand about that. As per my podiatrist, I didn't need the bone-biopsy surgery that was scheduled for today because he already knows that my right fractured Tibia is infected. My right Fibula is also fractured.
UPDATE: My podiatrist was just here in my hospital room. He took a culture from within the diabetic ulcer in my right foot and bandaged it. I am wearing yellow hospital socks on both of my feet. The diabetic ulcer in my left foot is basically healed.
CANCELED !!!
(selfie) ... GOOD NEWS !!! July 31, 2023, Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: My podiatrist CANCELED my scheduled surgery today for a bone biopsy for my right fractured Tibia !!! My right Fibula is also fractured, both from two falls in April 2023. As for now, I remain in the hospital due to a continuing blood infection, where I am receiving intravenous antibiotic. I require discharge from my infectious-disease doctor and from my podiatrist. Also, I just spoke with another doctor (internal medicine), and I informed him of my medical situation. He told me that he will get back with me soon, so going home seems to be in my near future. I would use an oral antibiotic.
Breakfast
July 31, 2023, Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: Breakfast ... Yes, the carbs are a bit high for a diabetic diet. (I'll be careful.)
Sunday, July 30, 2023
Dinner
July 30, 2023, Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida, Dinner: meatballs, egg pasta, broccoli, and melon. (roll & diet cola: skipped)
Father-in-Law Day
July 30, 2023, Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: Happy Father-in-Law Day to my father-in-law Bob (R.I.P.). He was not only down to earth but also larger than life. Here I am with Bob and my mother-in-law Lorna (R.I.P.) at our wedding reception on February 4, 2006. Bob, you are sorely missed and forever in our thoughts and our hearts. Of course, we also sorely miss Lorna.
Aileen Santos Marie Angela Santos
Cheesecake Day
July 30, 2023, Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: I do NOT like cheesecake all that much.
Video: Nebulizer
Sunday, July 30, 2023, Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: I recorded a short video from my hospital bed for my YouTube channel. This video shows me this morning partially partaking in a breathing treatment, as I have been doing a few times per day here in the hospital, similar to what I do at home. I have included some text below as a medical update to explain why I am here in the hospital.
Nebulizer Treatment (July 30, 2023)Here at Delray Medical Center in Delray Beach, Florida, a few times per day, I receive breathing treatments in the form of nebulizer treatments. This includes a steroidal mist that I inhale to reduce my lung inflammation and/or a bronchodilator mist (Albuterol) to relax and increase the capacity of my lungs. I have also been taking steroid pills for my lungs and for my right-ankle fractures.
At home, I use a bronchodilator (also Albuterol) in my nebulizer, but I don't use a nebulizer steroid. In addition, I use a prescription of a powdered bronchodilator (also Albuterol) and a powdered steroid. I also occasionally use a personal emergency inhaler that contains Albuterol.
(I have been in the hospital for about two weeks.)
I am now also working with my infectious-disease doctor and with my podiatrist in regard to fractures of my Tibia and Fibula in my right ankle from two falls in April 2023. My podiatrist scheduled a bone biopsy of my Tibia for tomorrow (Monday, July 31, 2023). A recent MRI discovered fluid within my ankle.
On and off, at home, I have been wearing a knee-high medical boot to support the fractures in my right ankle. My infectious-disease doctor and my podiatrist requested that I wear my boot from home. I worked with a physical therapist yesterday, along with a new shoe on my left foot, when I attempted to sit in a chair at the hospital, but the pain in my back was too intense and produced profuse sweating. My right ankle is swollen and is somewhat painful.
My infectious-disease doctor told me that I continue to have a blood infection, so I am continuing the intravenous antibiotic that I have been on since I arrived at the hospital earlier last week; I'm not sure when I restarted it because I have been bouncing around with intravenous and oral antibiotics due to a recent bout with cellulitis in my right foot/leg due to lingering diabetic ulcers. I was receiving a six-week-long regimen of daily intravenous antibiotic for my cellulitis.
Also, I am dealing with lingering diabetic ulcers, which nurses have been attending to with iodine-based medication. I wear special medical shoes (and orthotic shoes) at home due to my lingering diabetic ulcers. My podiatrist has been tending to them recently at home (and in his office) every two or three weeks for around 10 years.
For some reason, I have been focusing on my sleep apnea difficulties here at the hospital by using a ventilator (on and off) when I sleep. I stopped using it here because it's too uncomfortable. I attempted this sleep apnea thing probably about ten years ago with two sleep studies. I do have a CPAP (sleep apnea) machine in storage, but I haven't used it due to nasal and sinus difficulties. Several years ago, I had sinus surgery, but I never returned to it after I had eight polyps in my nose and sinuses removed. At the time of surgery, I had all eight of my sinuses cleaned and expanded.
I am expecting to engage in another sleep study at home after I leave the hospital, but that's not a critical aspect at this point in time.
I initially entered the hospital due to severe pain due to a herniated disk in my lower back. A doctor here told me that the situation is too small to fix with surgery, so for now, I am using powerful pain medication and a prescription muscle relaxer to survive. My physical therapist tried to help by sitting me in a chair, but the pain was too severe, even with powerful pain medication.
Well, that's about as close to an explanation as I can muster at this time.
DON'T forget about my usual several-times-daily injections of insulin.
https://youtu.be/OYDfw8PfHuA
Lunch
July 30, 2023, Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida, Lunch: roast beast (pot roast?), rice, green beans, applesauce, and unsweetened iced tea.
Belgian Grand Prix
Sunday, July 30, 2023: It's 9 a.m. here in southeastern Florida (Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida), and I am watching a live broadcast of the Belgian Grand Prix on Sky Sports F1 (on ESPN2). This is the 12th race of the 23-race Formula 1 auto racing season for 2023.
(NOTE: I missed most of the beginning race because the TV in the hospital is screwed up. My wonderful wife came to visit me, and found the channel (ESPN F1), so I was able to watch the conclusion. I missed last Sunday's grand prix in Hungary due to TV troubles.)
Today's circuit (track) is Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Stavelot, Belgium.
The first 11 races were in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Miami, Monaco, Spain, Canada, Austria, Great Britain, and Hungary.
This season, there are two races in Italy and three races in the United States (Miami, Austin, and an inaugural race in Las Vegas). The Grand Prix in Imola, Italy, earlier this season was postponed due to poor weather conditions: rain and flooding.
Formula 1 racing is the only sport that I actively follow. There are 20 drivers on 10 teams (constructors). Only one driver is from the United States.
Breakfast
July 30, 2023: Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: Breakfast ... orange "wedges," scrambled eggs, sausage, oatmeal, and coffee
Nebulizer Treatment
July 30, 2023, Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: (around 3:20 a.m.), Nebulizer Treatment: bronchodilator (Albuterol) ... was scheduled at 2 a.m.
Saturday, July 29, 2023
Next?
July 29, 2023, Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: I just received my usual fast-acting insulin injection within my belly, plus an oral steroid. I am awaiting an injection of my usual slow-acting insulin.
Nebulizer Treatment: at 2 a.m. of inhaled bronchodilator and, I think, inhaled steroid, as well. I opted for NO ventilator through the night.
Nebulizer Treatment
July 29, 2023, Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: (around 8 p.m.) nebulizer (breathing) treatment (inhaled bronchodilator, plus added inhaled steroid this time) ... Next Treatment: 2 a.m.
Dinner
July 29, 2023, Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: ravioli, spinach, melon, unsweetened iced tea
Lunch/Medical Update
Saturday, July 29, 2023, Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: Lunch ... Although I didn't eat anything, but the pineapple. (not hungry) ... My physical therapist forced me to sit in a chair with extreme pain in my back due to a herniated disk, even though I was under the influence of powerful pain medication and an oral muscle relaxer. (I was recently told that my herniated disk, which just appeared while I was lying in bed, is too small for surgery and can only be pain-maintained with medication.)
This after, I then wore a knee-lengthed, medical boot to support my right ankle that has a fractured Tibia and Fibula from two falls in April 2023. I also wore a short boot on my left foot. (At home, I normally wear medical boots on both of my feet due to lingering diabetic ulcers.)
I then returned to my hospital bed quickly after a session of sitting in a chair with profuse sweating.
I am anticipation a bone biopsy of my right Tibia due to fluid on Monday, July 31, 2023.
I am still receiving an intravenous antibiotic due to a blood infection. I am still receiving my regular insulin injections, and an oral steroid and a nebulizer-bronchodilator for my lungs. I decide in the evening whether or not to engage in using a ventilator for my sleep apnea, which I have addressed maybe 10 years ago with two sleep studies. I remain inhaling four liters of supplemental oxygen.
UPDATE: The hospital I usually go to (Boca Raton Regional Hospital) has much better food. Unfortunately, I needed to go to Delray Medical Center via ambulance, which is closer to my home.
Today Is ...
July 29, 2023: Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: I prefer ravioli, stuffed shells, and manicotti to lasagna.
July 29, 2023: Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: I do not particularly like chicken wings.
July 29, 2023: Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida
July 29, 2023: Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida
Friday, July 28, 2023
Prefer Dark To Milk
July 28, 2023, Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: I prefer dark chocolate to milk chocolate.
Medical Update
Today, Friday, July 28, 2023: Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: I'm still here, and rather confused.
So, my infectious disease doctor was here this morning. I am working with him and with my podiatrist in regard to fractures of my Tibia and Fibula in my right ankle from two falls in April 2023. My podiatrist told me that he wants to do a bone biopsy of my Tibia on Monday, July 31, 2023.
My infectious-disease doctor apparently told me that I continue to have a blood infection, so he will be continuing me on the intravenous antibiotic that I have been on since I arrived at the medical center earlier this week; I'm not sure when I restarted it because I have been bouncing around with intravenous and oral antibiotics due to a recent bout with cellulitis.
My infectious-disease doctor requested that my wife bring me my boot from home that I have been using to support my fractures in my right leg. He is continuing me on the intravenous antibiotic. I will have the bone biopsy done on Monday.
Also, I am dealing with lingering diabetic ulcers, which nurses have been attending to with iodine-based medication. My podiatrist has been tending to them at home every two weeks for many years.
For some reason, I have been focusing on my sleep apnea difficulties by using a ventilator (on and off) when I sleep. I attempted this probably about ten years ago with two sleep studies. I am expecting to engage in another study at home after I leave the hospital, but that's not a critical aspect at this point in time.
I have been experiencing severe pain due to a herniated disk in my lower back. I was notified that the situation is too small to fix with surgery, so for now, I am using powerful pain medication to survive. A physical therapist will help me to evaluate my situation.
Well, that's about as close to an explanation as I can muster at this time.
DON'T forget about my usual injections of insulin, and steroid pills and my (bronchodilator) nebulizer breathing treatments for my lungs.
Thursday, July 27, 2023
Medical Update
July 27, 2023 - MEDICAL UPDATE: Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: Echocardiogram is good; nebulizer (bronchodilator) treatments are OK (photo below), as I use them at home; intravenous steroid working well, although not/never required at home; on supplemental oxygen, as I use them at home; urinating normally, as I do at home, so NO need for a Foley catheter to continue
BAD NEWS: I must re-engage using a CiPAP machine for sleep apnea; it has worked quite well here in the medical center over the past few days; I attempted it many years ago (with two sleep studies); I will try it again, this time with a sleep study at home.
BAD NEWS: My herniated disk in my lower back is too small for surgery, so I must maintain pain using medications.
BAD NEWS: The result of a recent MRI shows that I now have an abscess within the bone in my right ankle from two fractures (Tibia and Fibula) due to two falls in April 2023. However, my lingering diabetic ulcers within both of my feet are healing well.
What's Going On Today?
July 27, 2023 - Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: I sometimes like a Crème Brûlée.
July 27, 2023 - Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: I lived in New Jersey from the mid-1990s until 1998, when I moved to southeastern Florida. I moved to New Jersey from Long Island, New York, in the mid-1990s.
July 27, 2023 - Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: I do like the occasional scotch.
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
MRI Finished, Steroid
July 26, 2023, Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: MRI finally completed of my fractures in my tibila and fibula (both fractured); liquid steroid administered through a port system intravenously for lung health to assist ventilator; and a nebulizer (bronchodilator) administered as I complete regimen at home several times daily.
What's Doin' Today ???
July 26, 2023, Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: As for bagels, I prefer a straight Sesame bagel, but I must say that I prefer a plain bialy to any bagel, with plain butter or sometimes cream cheese.
July 26, 2023, Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: Well, yes. I do like Coffee milkshakes, but I prefer Black-and-White shakes (chocolate syrup with vanilla ice cream). I believe that I enjoy straight chocolate shakes best: chocolate syrup with chocolate ice cream. Well, no: Black-and-Whites are actually the best.
July 26, 2023, Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: My heartfelt love goes to all of my many aunts and my many uncles out there. I love you all.
July 26, 2023, Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: My love goes to all of the disabled people out there, including myself.
Breakfast, NOT Eaten
July 26, 2023, Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: I didn't eat my breakfast, other than the banana.
Dinner Last Night
July 25, 2023, Dinner last night, Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida. It was OK.
Tuesday, July 25, 2023
This Evening & Later
July 25, 2023, This Evening, Delray Medical Center in Delray Beach, Florida: nebulizer treatment (bronchodilator, same as home); dinner; liquid steroid (reduce lung inflammation) rendered through intravenous port; Percocet (pain medication taken orally for compressed-disk in lower back and two fractures (Tibia & Fibula) in right ankle. (more pills later this evening.)
New Roommate, New Test
Afternoon, July 25, 2023, Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: I had yet another nebulizer treatment of my usual bronchodilator (Albuterol) that I use at home several times daily, but I am now out of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and put back into a regular room with a regular seemingly retro-stoner from a 1970s Frank Zappa album of a roommate who upon my entrance serenaded me with fairly well a cappella versions of pop songs from the 1960s and 1970s, specifically "California Dreamin'" by The Mamas & The Papas, and "Lucky Man" by Emerson, Lake, & Palmer (ELP). I then received a quick, rather painful medical test, where a doctor extracted blood from my right wrist using a syringe with a small, thin needle to test the levels of gases and other stuff in my bloodstream (oxygen, carbon dioxide, sodium bicarbonate, etc.). My roommate now wants everyone to know: "God save the King !!! God save the Queen !!!" He's a cool dude. He even has his retro-version of "Ruth Underwood" with him.
Today Is ...
July 25, 2023: I am in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida. I LOVE Hot Fudge Sundaes. When I was a kid in the 1960s and 1970s, I often ordered them with the fudge on the bottom, so I could save the fudge for last, after I ate all of the ice cream. Almost all of the fudge normally ended up down there anyway.
July 25, 2023: I am in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida. I am not such a fan of eating wine and cheese. I do like drinking a fruity red wine (Chianti), while eating pieces of very dark chocolate.
July 25, 2023: I am in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida. I used to sew a little, when I was a young boy in the early 1960s, as taught by my paternal grandmother.
July 25, 2023: I am in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida. I am not such a fan of the Merry-Go-Round ride.
Eating Breakfast
July 25, 2023, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: Breakfast
Uploaded YouTube Video
July 25, 2023, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida
I uploaded a video of myself onto my YouTube channel:Sleeping with a Ventilator: 2nd Night (July 25, 2023)
I am sleeping yet another straight night (just two nights in a row so far, the first starting July 23, 2023), with a bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) ventilator attached to my face here in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida, on July 25, 2023. This time seems rather mellow compared to my first time last night, which seemed chaotic, surreal, and quite scary, as it was technically my first time doing this.
I have attempted using a CPAP machine at home many years ago, which was slightly different than what I am using tonight. I wasn't successful years ago because the timing and the intensity of the air blasts were not correct. More importantly, I had polyps growing within my nose and sinuses, which rendered the machine useless. I ultimately had surgery to remove all eight polyps removed from my nasal passages and all eight sinuses, plus I had all eight of my sinuses cleaned and expanded. I never returned to my CPAP machine. It's still in our storage locker. So, here I am, trying again, using a slightly different method.
I had planned on doing a little Star Wars Darth Vader dialogue, but I don't think it will be anywhere as nearly effective. I'll try it. Last night's panic with higher air intensity made it seem like a good idea at the time. Now the air flow just seems lame, and just makes me thirsty and my nose itch.
I'll try making a short video for scientific purposes. Thank you for indulging myself.
https://youtu.be/tCzGPrxjkUU
Monday, July 24, 2023
What's Going On Today?
July 24, 2023: I sometimes like slowly sipping on expensive smoky tequila. I also like pounding cheap shots of tequila with salt and lime wedges. I also enjoy tequila in a Tequila Sunrise and in a Frozen Margarita WITH a salted glass brim.
July 24, 2023: Hello to all of my cousins. I love you all. ❤️👍🙂
July 24, 2023: I am needing much more than self care these days. Many thanks go to my wonderful wife and terrific mother, plus all of the medical staff here at Delray Medical Center.
Herniated Disk: Remedy
***July 24, 2023, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, Florida: MEDICAL UPDATE: My nurse told me that my herniated disk in my lower back is too small for surgery, so I have to deal with it medically, meaning with pain medications.***
Another Nebulizer Treatment
July 24, 2023: I am receiving another bronchodilator (Albuterol) nebulizer treatment here in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Delray Medical Center in Delray Beach, Florida, as I give to myself at home several times every day.
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