Infections

[daxielovinglady]

Infections treated with antibiotics or needing hospital are depressing,.

Any tips please.

[BabyTee]

I haven't experienced it post-transplant, but I had 4 infections the first year after my PD catheter was installed. The first one was from the surgery. Each time they gave me 4 antibiotics and one antifungal, and then as test results come back negative, they taper you off, but one antibiotic and the antifungal are for 10 days. Each time I got really sick, and it seemed as soon as my gut was functioning properly again, I'd get another infection.

I found the following worked for me at my sickest:

1. Sappy movies (or zombie movies). I started watching Korean dramas (kdramas) online. The rom-com and comedy kdramas are kind of lame and totally predictable, but always have a happy ending, kind of like the stereotypical hallmark movies. The asian comedies/rom-coms usually cheer me up and distract me from my misery. My friend likes the zombie kdramas. They cheer her up when she's sick, so you have to see what works 4 you.

2. List what you are grateful for. I am a Christian, so I was trained from an early age to "count my blessings" (from a song). I find it very therapeutic to list the things I am grateful for. It is easy when you feel horrible to dwell on the bad. Focusing on the good eases the pressure on the valve a little bit. If you know the song, sing it.

2(a) Thank people, and be specific of what they did that made you grateful. Apologize if you blow up at them.

3. Cry sometimes. I would say to my husband "just ignore me. I am going to feel sorry for myself for 5 to 10 minutes, and then I'll be fine". If I needed to cry more than that, I would go where he wouldn't have to hear me, sometimes in the shower, or wait until he left, and sob, if I needed to.

It is totally appropriate to feel bad and sorry for yourself when you feel like crap, especially if it feels like it has been going on forever! It makes you sane, in my opinion. I wish you luck figuring out what works for you.

[LisaSnow in reply to BabyTee]

Sorry to detour but I love Korean drama too. The "Our blues" on Netflix is so good. It made me cry!!

[daxielovinglady in reply to LisaSnow]

Thank you so much for reply , I will give Korean movies a go, had forgotten about Bollywood films they use to be my" go to" when I felt gloomy.

[daxielovinglady in reply to BabyTee]

Hello Baby Tee, Thank you for your thoughtful, suggestions Jolly films sound a good idea . Guess Koren & Bollywood films are similar in their ridiculousness , but put a smile in your heart again . thank you & take care.

[LisaSnow]

What kind of infection are you having right now?

[daxielovinglady in reply to LisaSnow]

My skin is so thin (stretched due to fluid fluctuation) so anything from tiny dog toenail puncture to be bitten by a stag beetle....which hospitalised me with Sepsis !!I try to take care without being totally paranoid,.

[LisaSnow in reply to daxielovinglady]

Are you in the hospital now, or are you afraid you will be?

[daxielovinglady in reply to LisaSnow]

Afraid I'll end up in hospital again, ! Last night twisted my ankle so not a happy bunny today.

[daxielovinglady in reply to LisaSnow]

How can I forget....an ear infection that nearly cost me my kidney ! The then GP thought it ear ache....,, quickly changed to a surgery with a brilliant bunch of medics, , thank goodness.