Gary D.

[Jorbar1551]

I had a staph and strep infection at one time that lasted for about 3 months. First it was a small rash that i took antibiotics for, then it somehow got into a small cut, and turned into a cyst, which then turned out to be a pilonidal cyst (basically a cyst with a tract that would drain out through an opening about 6 inches away from the actual cyst). went to a giants game, and the cyst actually popped and drained all the puss. went to the doctor the next day, and they said the cyst was about the size of a golf ball so they lanced it. had it removed bout a month later. they said that if the puss got into my blood system i would've been in the hospital for a long time.

glad it wasnt anything serious gary, and get back into the water

 

[fedfirediver]

Hey Gary:
How are you doing??? Havent heard from ya in a couple of days. I hope you are recovering well.

Jim

 

[Gary D.]

Day 19 (Thurs):

Nothing much has happened over the past 6 days and for the first time in my life I’m doing exactly what the doctor ordered. Been down 22+ hours a day with the arm elevated as much as one can elevate a frickin arm. Taking the meds ON TIME and Wobbles is documenting everything.

I’m eating a bit better and the internal parts started working once I got off the pain meds.

We went to the doc today. He looked it over and said “There is a remarkable improvement and we saved the arm”. Just hearing that about plugged me up all over again thinking how close I was to being a tri-pod.:11:

I finish off the antibiotics at 0630 tomorrow then go to a high dose anti-inflammatory for what sounds like quite a while. I have an area about 6” long and the width of my forearm from my elbow towards my wrist that is as hard as a rock. Time will tell on that one.

He wants me using the sling but to start using, NOT abusing the arm for little things. I go back next Thursday (Day 26) to see him again. Maybe light duty for a while after that visit.

I put my arms side by side and they look like they are from two different people 20 years apart. There’s lots of loose skin on the left one.

Yesterday I found out that my neighbors to the east were at the hospital during the same time I was. Seems that her mother had a serious staph infection in her elbow. Small world.

Other than that not much has happened. Got a new team pager and we are setting all kinds of snow records. We had a normal winter worth of snow just in January. Neither one is doing me a darn bit of good at this point.

I was up for 5.5 hours today and like last week it about kicked my butt. :mooner: Tomorrow I’ll increase it a bit and keep working on it. When I hit my limit every joint in my body hurts. How in the world do lazy people just lay around all the time?

Anyway, I on the mend, I want to get back to work and diving. This prison camp sucks but I see a bondsman at the end of the tunnel.

Gary D.

 

[do it easy]

Glad to hear you're on the mend. Thanks for the update!

If the driveway gets too deep, have the dispatcher send the dive team to your house- you can tender while they shovel.

 

[Rick Inman]

Well, you picked a good tme to be out of the water, that's for sure. The water is going from icy and freezing to freezing cold and run-off dirty.

Oh, wait. You guys like freezing dirty water.

Never mind.

 

[Gary D.]

You can be a butthead at times. Say "HI" to P for us and we may need a White House deco in a couple of weeks when I can go back to a normal diet.

Have you seen that poor guy I saw at the pool? I need to apologize to him.

Time to go for another horizontal deco. I hope it lasts all night.

Gary D.

 

[Belmont]

Hi Gary,

Had about the same last summer, in the right calf.
I'm left with a 4 x 12 inches area that's hard as rock.
It seems it's was the place bacteria did the most damage.
The toxins they secrete is like rattlesnake venom.
It kills the muscle cells. I posted last august on this.
My calf is still bigger than the other by about 10 percent.
Still with a red skin patch that I expect to have a long time.
The hardness is still mostly there but it's separated in patches.
It should dissipate in time. I spent my horizontal time reading up on SB and
everywhere else about diving .
You probably got a tiny shard of wood in your skin.

It's good to see you are surrounded by good people and close friends.
A special appreciation to those in the health field who are so devoted.

Take care and all the best to you.

 

[Rick Inman]

Have you seen that poor guy I saw at the pool? I need to apologize to him.

Yup. I've updated him on you. He enjoyed your conversation - probably more than you did.

Yes, we WILL do the WH!

 

[DennisW]

Holy crap!! I haven't read this thread since I posted a while ago. You dodged a big one there bud. I'm glad you are getting better.

 

[james croft]

Just remember that what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. Take care of yourself.