16 September 2021
After I sent an email to Dr. Tong late last night asking for an update (and the out-of-office-until-today reply), I did talk to both Joyce and Elise, another physician's assistant, this morning.
Joyce didn't sound too happy and was worried about running down the battery on her phone, which she still hasn't been able to charge or keep near her. It's been in the safe. So if you've tried to reach her, you couldn't.
She complained that the room phone didn't work either. She seemed to think the landline needed to be charged, but that's probably the anesthesia talking.
The CT scan did not show any evidence of infection in the bone, and that's the big thing they were worried about.
She did have a second debridement on Monday and everyone is waiting to see if Dr. Tong will continue with a third one perhaps as early as tomorrow or, as scheduled, next week on Tuesday. Tomorrow is unlikely, I learned from Cat the Physician's Assistant, who also called this morning. Dr. Tong doesn't think she needs another debridement yet.
Elise told me Joyce's epidural allows her to self-administer pain medication but she is also given a narcotic (Codeine, I believe) for the dressing changes. Which is what we've been doing before the clinic debridements.
I asked about the test results.
Some of the culture tests have come back showing bacteria, which is not a concern because any open wound would show some bacterial growth. Others are still out. She is on a course of antibiotics but primarily as a preventative measure, Elise said, not to fight any infection.
The CT scan did not show any evidence of infection in the bone, and that's the big thing they were worried about. With an open wound if infection gets into the bone, it can retard healing.
I mentioned to Cat that I was concerned that Joyce not only doesn't like the food but she's not eating much of it either. "We're encouraging her to eat," Cat said. But they are also giving her protein shakes.
I asked Cat if she could use her magic influence to get Joyce's phone charged and set up by her bed so you can contact her directly. That shouldn't be a problem, she promised. She was on her way over there anyway.
OK, now you know what I know. Which isn't much.