It has been quite the week. I am just now sitting in my condo listening to music and reflecting on the past seven days.

Last Wednesday night I posted on facebook that I had a “zit” three days before my high school reunion. Little did I know, that when I woke up the next morning, it would turn into something much more than just a “zit”.

By Thursday when I got to work it was swollen and starting to be painful. I went to a walk in clinic and was given oral antibiotics and topical ointment. I was advised to keep warm compresses on it and it should be fine.

By Friday morning, my face had litterally blown up. I went to work, but it was clear that I had to seek further medical treatment. So I headed off to Mackenzie Health ER department. If you have had to visit the ER you know what I was in for – a very long day/night. My phone had no juice left (seemed to be a running theme this week) and I called my mom to say that I was going to lose communication with her. She came to the hospital (charger in hand) to stay with me.

I was given two 400mg Advil for the pain. It was clear that was not going to do it. My face continued to swell from my lips to my earlobe and my chin to my eye socket.The pain was the worst I have ever experienced. I was then hooked up to an IV where I received antibiotics, anti inflammatory meds and morphine for the pain. It was horrible, I don’t even know if I could describe it to you.

I was asked if I had any dental surgery recently? Tooth pain? No and no. They did an ultra sound on my cheek to see if I had salivary gland infection. No.

The diagnosis was facial cellulitis. It is very serious and needs to be treated with IV antibiotics. I went home with the IV in my hand and told to come back at 3:30am for my next dose of meds. One more trip at noon on Saturday before going to the CCAC clinic at Branson to pick up my IV pump pack (see photos). It is a pack that contains 3 doses of meds over a 24 hour period and a pump connected to your IV to dispense the medication.

I am lucky that up to this point in my life I have not had a broken limb, or been unable to care for myself. This was different. The IV was in my hand which of course is problematic. Simple things became difficult.

I tried to get dressed on Sunday. For twenty minutes I struggled to put a bra on. I kept getting the IV wire tangled in the strap. After 20 minutes I gave up and put a bathing suit top on under my shirt. It served its purpose I suppose.

After being very vocal on social media over the weekend it was time to just lay low. It was very hard to type and I was really not feeling well. I didn’t go to work and basically slept and rested. I only left to go to get the med pack changed daily at Branson.

Last night I had to wait again for re-assessment on the infection. If the doctor thought it was healing well, I would be discharged from the IV meds and move onto oral meds. I was hoping and praying that I had healed enough, as I didn’t know how much more I could take of the IV. Thankfully the doctor thought I was okay to move to the oral meds and discharged me. One more night of me and Mr. IV.

Tonight I had the IV taken out. How do you spell RELIEF? I am now on a 7 day course of oral meds. I hope and pray that this works and I can say that I am finally in the clear.

I look around my apartment and realize the impact of being unwell and living alone. The dishes are piled high in the sink, the laundry is overflowing and everything is in disarray. I went to the salon to have my hair washed and dried yesterday because I was unable to do it myself. It is something that one may not give too much thought about until you are in this situation. If you share your life with someone, there is someone there to help pick up the pieces when you are in need.

I really do appreciate all the facebook messages, private messages, texts etc. It really meant a lot to have the outpouring of caring that you all showed.

In good health,

Lisa