On November 20th, I had a cyst removed from my scalp that was pressing on my cochlear implant.  I’d had another cyst, in a different area of my scalp, removed the month before without complications, so I felt I knew what to expect, I was wrong.  The cysts are made of Keratin and aren’t a big deal, but they can get rather large and I have 5 that have been bothering me for a long time.  The first one I had removed was visible through my hair…yes I know my hair is much thinner than it used to be, but it was really big.  (measured over 2cm when they took it out)  The recovery from the first removal was uncomfortable, but nothing big.  The recovery of the second cyst started out much more painful, and I still can’t wear my cochlear implant for that ear.  So I’ve been completely deaf, 100% of the time, in my right ear for over a month, and the new psychiatric medication I’m on now causes my tinnitus to increase greatly, the noise is driving me mad!  If I could wear my CI, I would at least have some sound that would help drown out this constant buzzing, chirping, chattering, NOISE!

On the Monday after Thanksgiving (November 26th) I had my annual physical.  During this visit I mentioned that my back was hurting around the kidney area and my bladder had been bothering me a little, so it might be a good idea to check my pee.  I honestly didn’t think they’d find anything.  I had strained my back, so that could explain that pain; and I have irritable bladder that flares up way too often, so these were the obvious culprits, I honestly didn’t expect anything to come of it.  The next day the doctor called to inform me that I have a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)  They felt they caught it early, so one round of an antibiotic should knock it out.  Sounded like a plan to me.

A week later, I was finishing up my antibiotics and I was in much more pain than I was in before I started them.  Off to the doctor for another urine sample, and it came back positive, I still had a UTI, but it was worse.  So I started Cipro.

During all of this the wound from the cyst removal had swollen three times the size of the original cyst and was getting red.  I was getting concerned, but I was scheduled for another cyst to be removed so I thought I’d just ask then.  But on the day I was supposed to go, my fever was too high and I was having vertigo, so we canceled the procedure and scheduled a wound check.  The night before the appointment the wound started to weep.  It was gross.  I reached up and touched the area and thought, “hey, it’s gone down some”, then I noticed my hand was all wet and gooey.  Ewww.  Off we went to have my wound checked and yes, it’s infected too.  I had one day left on Cipro, but I had to start a Zpack of the new antibiotic because it works better on this type of infection.

That brings us to yesterday, when I was just finishing the Cipro, and my bladder and kidneys still hurt.  I’ve also been running a low grade fever for weeks.  I started yet another antibiotic today!  Yes, this is the THIRD antibiotic I’ve been put on over the last month.  I can’t tell you the last time I needed an antibiotic, and suddenly I have to be on three?  Wow.  Mind officially blown.

One thing though, I don’t think zombies would be brave enough to touch me.