Saturday, July 22, 2006

Of ingrown toenails

Gee, I am sorry it has taken me two weeks to do an update on John.  I hadn't realized so much time had gone by.  I have been so busy trying to catch up on work at home that updating this journal just kept getting away from me.  John and I have been away at Hershey about five out of the last six months.  There is a lot of work I have had to catch up on at home. 

Let's see.  Last entry, two weeks ago, we were waiting for Hershey to call to change one of John's meds to bring his counts back up.  Well, the med dosage was changed.  And his counts never came back up.

Well, not until a couple of days ago.  They are finally higher.  Let me explain.  John has been given shots to artificially stimulate his red and white blood cells.  He has to go to the doctor's office daily to get the Neupogen shot (the one for white blood cells).  The home nurse no longer comes (long story) so he has to go to the doc everyday.  These shots are to bring up his counts TEMPORARILY.  I say temporarily because they only work for a short time.

Now, the reason why he is getting the Neupogen shots.  John has had a fever for about a week and a half now.  Today it is finally gone I think.  Anyway, he has two ingrown toenails.  When he saw Dr. Claxton about two weeks ago, Dr. Claxton told him one of the toenails must be removed as soon as possible.  Like before he gets blood poisoning.  The only problem is, it can't be taken out until his white blood counts get higher.  That is why the doctors are giving John daily Neupogen shots to raise his counts.  Fortunately the shots can be given locally.  Meanwhile, John has been given an oral antibiotic to take.  If at any time he gets a high fever before the toenail comes out (because the toenail is causing a very bad infection), then the oral antibiotic won't be enough, and John will have to go back to Hershey and be hospitalized and put on an IV antibiotic for 24/7.

Oh, and one more thing.  John was supposed to go to Hershey for an appointment after he had his toenail worked on (He was going to have it worked on sometime next week.).  His appointment date to go to Hershey was a week from Monday.  But that's not going to work out that he see Dr. Claxton before he gets his toe worked on.  Now he has to go to Hershey on Monday (in two days - April 24).  Because he has this rash on him.  And I guess they are concerned it might be Graft Verses Host Disease.  I was speaking with Hershey on the phone today and told them about the rash, and they moved John's appointment up one week.  So anyway, John and I will drive up on Monday the 24th, and as always, I will pack a bag for each of us, just in case we have to stay.  I don't think we will have to this time, but I always pack, because all too often it happens. 

Okay, well that's about it.  Please pray for John.  He has been through so much.  He is in good spirits though.  He is my very strong and positive guy.  But prayers that he would get better soon so that he doesn't have to suffer so much would make me happy. 

Love you all, Krissy :) 

19 comments:

  1. Sorry to hear that John has such bad ingrown toenails.  At least you now know the cause of the fever.  I had problems with ingrowns when I was in school years ago, although nothing like what John is experiencing.  I was going to have the offending sections of nail cut out, but when I saw the needles and tools they were going to use on my foot, I decided to take treatment into my own hands.  I walked out, told Mom we were leaving and headed home.  I spent the next several years "training" my toe nails how to grow.  Fortunately they cleared up, and I have had no problems from them since.  I only wish it were that simple for John.

    Give him my best.

    Greg

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good luck to John, hope everything is OK after the toenails are dealt with.

    ReplyDelete
  3. enjoy the weekend:) and good luck with the toe

    Deb

    ReplyDelete
  4. Good luck... sending positive vibes your way
    hugs
    d

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sweetie,
    I am so sorry about John's toe.  You would think that a toe wouldn't cause so much trouble.  But when someone like John get something like this it plays havoc in his body.  I am so sorry.  Of course I will pray for him.

    I have been telling Gary about John (and you, of course) from the very beginning.  Your John is, indeed, a very strong and positve guy.  I am sad to hear that John has, yet, another obstacle.

    Sending love, hugs and prayers, Lu

    ReplyDelete
  6. Goes to show how something small can cause a whole lot of something. Best wishes to ya.

    Brenda

    ReplyDelete
  7. John2 and I are praying this weekend for a good appointment for John on Monday.  We do hope you guys can return home.  If you can't we will find a way to take care of Michael even with John's bad knee... I will get Dad to take me there, or if you are there a long time I will pick him up and bring him to my place =).  Many prayers... LOVE YOU!!!!  P.S.  Call us when you are rested after your appointment to let us know how it went!  xoxoxoxoxoxoxox
    http://journals.aol.com/valphish/ThereisaSeason

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sending prayers from Texas to you my friends today.  I pray that full recovery will soon come your way.  Love you barbara

    ReplyDelete
  9. As always...my thoughts and prayers are with you both.    You guys have Loads of love coming from all over the country!
    Nancy
    http://journals.aol.com/nhd106/Nancyluvspix/entries/1243

    ReplyDelete
  10. you guys are always in my prayers. i hope those toenails dont cause to much trouble by causing an infection. i pray that everything is ok and you wont have to stay at hershey. stay strong
    noelle

    ReplyDelete
  11. Prayers coming as always Krissy!!! For you and John... Thank you so much for letting us share this journey with you... it is very eye opening and you and John are such an inspiration for me daily!

    be well,
    Dawn

    ReplyDelete
  12.  I am sending my prayers for you and John.    I hope he gets those ingrown toenails fixed soon, they really hurt and I pray for him to get better.  You take care of yourself too Krissy.

                        Julie

    ReplyDelete
  13. Keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers.
    Love Sylvia xx

    ReplyDelete
  14. Praying for both of you!!!  Jae

    ReplyDelete
  15. Krissy, my prayers are with you and John.
    God bless,
    Penny
    http://journals.aol.com/pennietoonz/PennysPlace

    ReplyDelete
  16. I hope you don't have to stay at the hospital this time, and that Johns blood counts comes up.  
    Lori

    ReplyDelete
  17. I sure hope John's blood counts go up. I'm so sorry and of course I'm praying. You two have been through a lot. Hopefully he won't have to say in the hospital.


    ReplyDelete
  18. thanks for the update Krissy; will continue to pray for you both

    betty

    ReplyDelete
  19. You two have a safe trip to Hershey...I hope all goes well.  That stinks to have an ingrown toenail on top of it all, I hear they're painful.
    Keeping you and John in prayers and wishing you well on your trip~
    ~Bernadette

    ReplyDelete

I would love to hear from you. Now is your chance! So what do you want to say?

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...