A voyage in the Hospital...

Bamboo · 11-14-2009, 07:10 AM

I brought the boat down the coast getting to "home" @ Sailfish Marina (where the "Sea Deuce" has been docked for nearly 17 years) last Wednesday. Thursday I visited my cardiologist because I've had something attacking my body since mid August. I had on and off joint pain and swelling, head and stomach aches, elevated heart rate, slight fever at times with low body temp other times, painful red "soft spots" on my hands and feet that came and left (now I know them to be Osler's nodes) and a general lack on hunger and energy. I saw a General doc twice (with a full physical included) and two different blood draws and a CAT scan on my head- all of which showed nothing and no reason why I was having these issues.

I went to a cardiologist- (I had MRSA in early '04 then by June '04 I needed open heart surgery to replace my mitral valve and repair another one) who has Marfan syndrome, which I also have. I had a echo which showed my heart to sound and look great, with the valve crisp and clear. I have a St Jude's device- artificial heart valve, meaning also that I'm on Coumadin blood thinners. A second visit confirmed I had something, and went to see a Rheumatologist and his blood/urine tests showed no real abnormalities. All of this was in NY- but my home and family (wife and three boys- 6, 7 and 14) are all in FL. My heart doc immediately sent me to a Infectious Disease doc who wanted me to have blood cultures drawn at the Hospital. That Friday I also visited the Cleveland Clinic in Weston, FL to a heart doc there (they installed my valve and it's one of the best hospitals in the USA). The ID doc calls me this last Wed and says I have to report to the Hospital ASAP.

By this time I'm scared, point blank. I'm not a worry-er, nor do I get ruffled in the times I need to retain a calm head and point of view. Long story short I have a Gram Negative bacterial infection. It's on my heart- which is endocarditis- specifically Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans prosthetic valve endocarditis. It's a rare superbug on par with MRSA. I've done some study and the ID doc gave me some studies- (here's the bad news) in these studies there was a 18% mortality rate and surgery rate was 23%. I may have to have all my teeth removed (what the h*ll do you say when you hear that? lol). The good news is that nearly 80% were "cured" on antibiotics alone, but that treatment means IV therapy for up to (and mostly likely) 6 weeks, most of which will be in the "brig". The good news is that I feel fine and do not feel like I should be here at all. I have minor head aches is the extent of my current symptoms.

Nearly all other patients have some type of sign outside their room relating to diet or medical needs, but I had nothing. I like to bring a bit of sunshine everywhere, and for some odd reason I'm a happier person in the brig than outside. Perhaps it's the need to maintain a positive attitude. Since I had no sign I had one made up- "Pink Champagne on ice". Some get it, some do not. I tell them "I can check out any time I like". One RN even responded that "I could not leave" however, and still did not get it. I was and still am laughing over that one.

I have the support of my friends and neighbors, the other captains at "work" (Sailfish), my owner and everyone at his companies, and of course my close and extended family. I feel YF is part of my extended family and wanted to share what I am going through here. I have a great wireless signal in my room, the staff here is great, surprisingly the food is good, and while I may have to be here for up to mid Dec I'm in good spirits. I'm at Palm Beach Gardens MC room 357. I stole a wheel chair yesterday from another wing and Nurse "Ratchet" stopped and questioned me (I thought for sure I was busted) but she asked the wrong questions and I was released with no violations. It's my small victories that keep me up.

If you have time put in a request with the whoever you think is upstairs to look over me, please. While I am strong, I do need the all the support I can get.

William "Bamboo" McCue

NYCAP123 · 11-14-2009, 07:29 AM

May lose all your teath? Have you mentioned that to your wife?

See, there's good sides to eveything. Get well soon.

Ken Bracewell · 11-14-2009, 11:16 AM

I have been spending my own fair share of time in the hospital(s) over the past couple of months. Last month we learned that my wife has breast cancer and she is being treated at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.
It sounds like you've got enough experience to know these things, but here are a couple of bits of wisdom I've picked up:
~Always have someone else with you when you're visiting with the docs. An extra ear will help to retain and interpret what they're telling you.
~Your friends and family will certainly offer you plenty of help and support; don't be too proud to take it. Don't feel like you have to pay them back- that will come in time. Allow them to assist you and that will help them to cope as well.
~Stay away from the Internet!!! Self diagnosis or reading more about your condition will only serve to scare the hell out of you.
~Laugh
~Laugh
~Laugh

I wish you the best of luck and a speedy recovery.

K1W1 · 11-14-2009, 02:31 PM

Hi,

I am sorry t read that you are not doing too well this week.

If I can be nosy can you say how old you are?

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

revdcs · 11-15-2009, 02:13 AM

Hi William,

Sorry to hear your bad news.

You will be very much in my prayers over the coming weeks.

Do keep us updated and keep your spirits up.

With all good wishes,

David.

Bamboo · 11-15-2009, 07:00 AM

I'll be 44 at the end of the month. While I'm feeling quite good, I know that does not mean all's well. I'm still worried about the teeth decision. I am doing research on what I have, and I've posted the worst I think- I'd much rather have the bad news up front and in detail. Does not mean it all applies in my case, but I'd rather be prepared for the worst than be blindsided. I'm confident the IV therapy is all I'll need, and am hoping I might be able to go home in perhaps a week. My new IV is once daily, and that bolsters my chances of getting out of here. I put a very nice reclining lounge chair outside my room and a sign above it- "FREE ADVICE" ... on the bottom in smaller letters it says "worth every penny". I don't want to spend too much time in my room so I sit there often and get a laugh once in awhile.

travler · 11-15-2009, 10:21 PM

i hope you recover soon being in the hospital is not much fun been through a couple of bad heart infections my self had a pick line in my right arm for 60 day's once and 95 days the other time , i now have a diffrent view of life and enjoy each day & the people around me as much as possable

wish you the best travler

Bamboo · 11-22-2009, 08:33 PM

I'll be here in the hospital until Wed/Thurs perhaps, which is the time left taking the stronger of the two antibiotics. The other antibiotic will be home therapy- once daily. The bacteria attacked my heart- specifically the area around my artificial valve. It appears to have done no damage, but that is the weak spot of anyone with a artificial heart valve. Obviously we had to be careful, because if it did do damage the fix was open heart surgery to repair or replace the valve. Looks like I'm out of the woods at this point- and there is no way to express how grateful, humbled and lucky I am for all the support, prayers and love I've received.
William "Bamboo" McCue

NYCAP123 · 11-22-2009, 09:10 PM

Good news. Thanks for sharing.

K1W1 · 11-23-2009, 12:18 AM

Hi,

Good News there Bamboo.

revdcs · 11-23-2009, 03:16 AM

Hi William,

Excellent news!

But my prayers will continue.

With all good wishes,

David.

Capt J · 11-23-2009, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bamboo

I'll be here in the hospital until Wed/Thurs perhaps, which is the time left taking the stronger of the two antibiotics. The other antibiotic will be home therapy- once daily. The bacteria attacked my heart- specifically the area around my artificial valve. It appears to have done no damage, but that is the weak spot of anyone with a artificial heart valve. Obviously we had to be careful, because if it did do damage the fix was open heart surgery to repair or replace the valve. Looks like I'm out of the woods at this point- and there is no way to express how grateful, humbled and lucky I am for all the support, prayers and love I've received.
William "Bamboo" McCue

I'm glad to hear that things are looking up for you. I hope that the antibiotics will knock it out. Do the doctors have any idea how you got the bacteria?

Loren Schweizer · 11-23-2009, 10:19 AM

BambooMan:

Sorry to hear of your medical troubles. Your attitude is very good in light of what you're going through. Keep it up.
Listen: after 20+ years of not going to the dentist, I had to go as a result of a chipped tooth. Long story real short, they ended up--apart from the crown which I am yet to receive--doing laser surgery on all my gums. I was told that there is a relationship between the state of health of one's teeth & gums and.....one's heart.
Treatment included two antibiotics--Doxycycline and Amoxicillin the fine print of which includes the side affects of blurry vision and, how to put this delicately, the trots. On the plus side, I lost sixteen pounds in less than a month. Huzzah!

I'm sure you have great Docs...and I'd be happy to recommend a great dentist in Pompano Beach.

Get better.

NYCAP123 · 11-23-2009, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loren Schweizer

BambooMan:

Sorry to hear of your medical troubles. Your attitude is very good in light of what you're going through. Keep it up.
Listen: after 20+ years of not going to the dentist, I had to go as a result of a chipped tooth. Long story real short, they ended up--apart from the crown which I am yet to receive--doing laser surgery on all my gums. I was told that there is a relationship between the state of health of one's teeth & gums and.....one's heart.
Treatment included two antibiotics--Doxycycline and Amoxicillin the fine print of which includes the side affects of blurry vision and, how to put this delicately, the trots. On the plus side, I lost sixteen pounds in less than a month. Huzzah!

I'm sure you have great Docs...and I'd be happy to recommend a great dentist in Pompano Beach.

Get better.

Note to all: dental problems don't go away. Did the same thing. Finally went and was told 'we won't talk cavities. I have to work on 13 teeth'. Every 6 months ever since like my life depended on it.

Stay healthy Bamboo.

Seafarer · 11-23-2009, 04:03 PM

Learned from an early age to diligently tend to my teeth - going for a checkup every six months is less pain and cost in the long run.

Besides heart issues, tooth infections can go right up into the brain where a bacterial bloom can mimic a brain tumor, and the lasting results can be devastating to such life-enhancing brain functions as vision, hearing, memory, cognitive ability, and so forth.

This is the first I've heard of an artificial valve/cardiac infection affecting the teeth, though. Please tell us more about this?