Being Admitted in the Hospital for Leg Surgery and MRSA Treatment

Day 9:  When Scott and I entered Vail Valley Medical Center in Vail, Colorado, I couldn’t have been more scared. The only time I had ever stayed in a hospital was when I had babies. This was new to me. There were expecting me, so they took me immediately to a room that had a better view than my resort room! There was a queen size sofa bed and a flat screen TV! Not too bad, I thought. Within 15 minutes, they wheeled me up to the pre-op area and I met my surgeon, Dr. Viola. He took one look at the wound and wanted to know “what the heck happened?” The look on his face made me wonder if this was more serious than a quick fix. So I asked the question that was nagging me, “Am I going to lose my leg?” “Slim to none,” he said, “But you’re not going anywhere for awhile.” He explained that they were going to wash out the leg, put in a vacuum pump for 2 days and then take me back to surgery. If I wake up with the pump still in my leg, it would be another 2 days and another surgery. Deep sigh.

I woke up from surgery and felt pretty good, believe it or not. Dr. Viola’s fellow, Dr. Boykin, told me the surgery went well but they wouldn’t know until the next surgery if I could go home in less than a week. I left the recovery room and they wheeled me back to my room. I was hooked up to an IV now, something that would be a part of my life for several days. They were “feeding” me Vancomyacin through the IV, which happens to be one of the very few antibiotics that MRSA will respond to. Known as the “Elephant Gun” of medications, it’s also very dangerous to your kidneys. I’m still in disbelief, but I know that I’m in good hands.

Day 11: It’s been 2 days and I’m heading back into surgery. I’m hoping I don’t wake up with that darn vacuum pump in my leg. It’s really holding me back from getting around! Well, that and the fact that I’m considered “infectious” so I can only leave the room dressed in some dumb yellow coat and gloves. I still haven’t had a shower. If the pump comes out, I can actually wash up.

In the pre-op room, I’m getting nervous again. Before I know it, they are taking me into surgery and I wake up in recovery – without the pump! Woohoo!