Infectious Disease Consultation Today

I saw the Infectious Disease doctor in Indianapolis today. I am more confused than ever. All of the blood cultures, gram stains, fungal cultures, and bacterial cultures returned as negative (from Friday's biopsy on the skin lesion) with no growth as of today. Yet, he still wanted to start me on antibiotics. I kept pushing for the logic behind this order and I just don't understand it.

There was not enough tissue from the lesion to order pathology, so it appears I will have to have another biopsy this week -- I am hopeful that I will be able to send this to an outside lab for review (given problems with local lab).

Most upsetting from the appointment was a comment made by the doctor. When I kept asking for suggestions as to what I could do to help my immune system, lessen hospital admissions, etc., he replied, "Stacie, you know that you have a terminal disease and very limited function of your immune system left. There is not much any of us can do to help you."

Joy. Joy. What a way to start the day! What a way to encourage people! What a sentence I need to forget ASAP (as soon as possible)! So, I return to God -- my only Hope and Healer. I'm counting on HIM to pull me through this concern and all future infections or leukemia complications.

If you ever consider consultation with an Infectious Disaese doctor, let me remind you of this -- everyone being seen at this type of specialist's office is infected. In the waiting room today, I sat with someone who had MRSA, another with a staph infection, and another with a fungal infection. I never felt so invaded by germs in all my life. I wonder if the benefits of seeing him outweighs the risk to me. I ever-so-slowly reached in my purse, plucked out a surgical mask and slapped it over my face. I used hand sanitizer on my hands, purse, phone, any surface that entered that germ ward. Microorganisms beware! Fungus flee. Bacteria bolt. I'm used to fighting your kind.


Please keep praying.....