Re: Up Date....new tumor

January 27, 2007

You will be in my thoughts and prayers!!!!!!!! Please read the article below

from the AARP Magazine. It gives you some info about what soap to use before

having surgery in hospitals!!! It's called chlorhexidine soap!!!

Sue

(http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/yourhealth/dirty_hospitals.html?print=yes#)

_Â« Go Back_ (javascript:history.go(-1)

Your Health

Dirty Hospitals

Two million patients are infected in hospitals each year and 90,000 of those

Americans die.

By Katharine Greider

January 2007

_ Email This Page To A Friend_

(http://www.aarp.org/Articles/a2003-08-19-Bulletin-Email-This-Page.html) _

Print This Page_

(http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/yourhealth/print=yes)

Of every 20 people who go into a U.S. hospital, one of them picks up

something extra: an infection. It's a lousy card to draw. Infection stalls

recovery,

sometimes requiring weeks of intravenous antibiotics or a grueling round of

surgeries to remove infected tissue. And for 90,000 Americans a year, the

infections are a death sentence.

A growing number of hospitals are working harder to stop infections, but as

more bugs become resistant to antibiotics, it's an uphill struggle. Some 2

million patients get a hospital-acquired infection every year. In Pennsylvania

alone, more than 19,000 infection cases occurred in 2005â€”up from 11,600 in

2004â€”out of 1.6 million admissions to 168 hospitals, according to a report

issued in November by the state's Health Care Cost Containment Council.

Pennsylvania, the first state to provide infection data collected directly from

its

hospitals, reported that nearly 13 percent of patients who got infections died,

compared with slightly more than 2 percent of patients who didn't have

infections.

Nationwide, hospital infections are the eighth-leading cause of death. One

person who didn't recover was Dorothy Etheridge, a no-nonsense New Hampshire

resident who raised five children and worked for 30 years as a mental health

counselor. Etheridge had lung surgery in 2004 to remove an early-stage cancer,

and doctors predicted a full recovery.

But within days, the normally robust Etheridge took a sharp turn for the

worse. She had contracted a nasty antibiotic-resistant germ known as

methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureusâ€”MRSAâ€”and she spiraled into

respiratory

failure. Through eight months of rehabilitation, bedsores and recurring

infections, Etheridge fought back. " She was, to put it mildly, stoical and

compliant

and did everything and anything that she could to get herself home again, " her

daughter Lori Nerbonne says.

And get home she did. But after a week her temperature spiked. She was

admitted to another hospital, where she died, at age 73, of a brain hemorrhage.

Left with painful memories of their mother's last months, Nerbonne and one

of her sisters set to writing letters and testifying before the state

legislature, joining a burgeoning nationwide movement that aims to stop

infections in

hospitals.

A leading light of that movement is Betsy McCaughey, a health policy expert

and former lieutenant governor of New York. She founded the nonprofit

Committee to Reduce Infection Deathsâ€”RIDâ€”two years ago after hearing the

story of

Brad of Washingtonville, N.Y.

In 2002 was mugged. He survived brain traumaâ€”but got an infection in

the hospital and died at age 28. McCaughey recalls sitting with his mother,

Pat, in her kitchen. " We looked through her family albums: Brad as a little

boy. And then Brad's funeral. It was impossible not to be very, very saddened, "

she says. " I thought, enough is enough. "

Now McCaughey pushes and cajoles hospitals to prevent the spread of

infection. The necessary measures, she says, are simple and well documented in

medical literature. Yet they're not consistently practiced or explained to

patients. " A very good example, " she says, is to tell patients to " shower with

chlorhexidine soap if you're going in for surgery ... it's so easy. And you get

it

in the drugstore. "

In fact, job number one for advocates like McCaughey is to debunk the notion

that infection in the hospital is like bad weatherâ€”unfortunate but

inevitable. Administrators, they insist, have set the bar way too low, content

to keep

their hospitals' infection rates to national averagesâ€”for example, a wound

infection for one of every 24 surgical patients and a urinary tract infection

for up to a quarter of those requiring a catheter for a week or longer.

" There's this culture that says that when people are old or

immunocompromised, they're just going to get infections, " says McGiffert,

who heads the

Stop Hospital Infections campaign at Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher

of Consumer Reports. " Well, they aren't 'just going to get infections.' If

you're careful, they won't. "

Generally speaking, there's little debate about what it takes to check the

spread of infection in hospitals, from giving patients antibiotics before

surgery to avoiding overuse of catheters and intravenous lines. But hospitals

are

busy places, and the foe is invisible. Research suggests that more than half

the time, health care workers even fail to wash their hands as recommendedâ€”a

critical bulwark against infection identified 160 years ago.

" These bacteria are largely spread through touch, " says McCaughey of the RID

committee. " In the old days, " she says, " nurses and doctors were trained not

to touch doorknobs, cabinets, curtains and blood pressure cuffs once they

scrubbed and/or gloved. But all of that training really went by the wayside in

the early '70s, when the liberal use of antibiotics replaced that attention

to rigorous hygiene. "

Not coincidentally, those same years brought a galloping increase in germs

you can't knock out with standard antibiotics. In 1974 only 2 percent of staph

germs in the United States were drug-resistant. By 2004, fully 63 percentâ€”

including the lethal one that attacked Dorothy Etheridgeâ€”proved impervious.

One outcome of the crisis is that more hospitals are working harder to stop

deadly infections. In early 2005, for example, the nonprofit Institute for

Healthcare Improvement in Cambridge, Mass., enlisted 3,000 hospitals to

practice interventions proven to save lives. One approach targeted

ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), a deadly infection that strikes about 15

percent of

patients who have a breathing tube inserted. Hospital workers washed their

hands

frequently, closely monitored incision sites and raised patient beds to at

least 30 degrees to prevent stomach fluids from backing up into the lungsâ€”

measures that enabled more than 30 hospitals to report no VAPs for at least a

year.

Pittsburgh's Allegheny General Hospital is also waging war on infections. In

the past few years, says , M.D., who until recently was

chairman of Allegheny's Department of Medicine, the staff has reduced the rate

of

bloodstream infections caused by large-vein catheters by 90 percent and

ventilator pneumonias by 85 percent. demonstrated that devoting

resources

to controlling infection saved the hospital $1.2 million over two years. He

and his team reported in a supplement to the November-December American

Journal of Medical Quality that eliminating a single bloodstream infection case

pays for nearly a year's worth of measures to stop the infections.

The savings to patients and insurers are more obvious. The November report

on Pennsylvania's hospitals noted that the average charge for infection cases

was $185,260, compared with $31,389 for noninfection cases. Reducing

infections is a win-win situation, says . " You not only make human

beings

better, you actually eliminate a huge amount of waste " in money and time.

How did his hospital do it? By studying quality-control techniques of the

industrial production line. One example: Signs everywhere remind workers to

wash their hands. " You have to make it so it's second nature, you don't have to

stop and think about it, " says.

When an infection does happen, the treatment team meets to figure out what

went wrong. In one case they identified a mistakenly reinserted, kinked IV

line as a probable cause and explained their conclusions to the patient's

family.

In most hospitals, patients won't get such a thorough review and disclosure

about the source of an infection. Moreover, in most parts of the country,

it's virtually impossible to find out how well hospitals are doing at infection

control overall.

But that's changing, too, with Pennsylvania and California among the states

leading the way. In the past three years, 14 states have passed laws

requiring hospitals to report information about infections to the public.

Public reporting not only informs consumers, it motivates doctors and nurses

to work for better results, says Joyce Dubow, associate director at the AARP

Public Policy Institute. In 1989, when New York state started publishing

hospitals' death rates after bypass surgery, the hospitals conducted internal

reviews, hired new personnel and pushed out surgeons with the highest death

figures. Statewide mortality dropped like a stone, by 41 percent in four years.

" Nobody wants their deficiencies published, " says Dubow. " And places that do

well take pride in their good work. "

Katharine Greider is based in New York and writes about health policy and

medical issues.

January 27, 2007

,

My prayers are with you.

God Bless,

Janet

January 28, 2007

,

I'm very sorry to hear this, but just like all the others you beat

um and you will beat this too. You are truly a trip and one of a

kind, in a good sense. Keep that great sense of humor.

We will be thinking of you, our thoughts and prayers go out to you.

KC & Sharon

>

> **********As you all know I have been battling a tumor in my right

lower

> lobe....everything was moving along nicely, when I woke up one

morning and had a

> mass (egg size) on my left Parotid gland. I had to take

antibiotics (yes me

> taking antibiotics) to make sure it wasn't an infection from my

teeth.....It

> wasn't, so they ordered a CATscan and I have a tumor in the

parotid gland

> with the first lymph node involved. I will be having surgery, as

soon as they

> can get the anesthesiologists that specializes in " high risk "

lung patients.

> They are concerned about putting me to sleep, as my lungs are not

good.

>

> ********I'm bummed to say the least, but probably more pished,

which helps

> me keep fighting these battles.

> The surgery will be either the end of next week or the following

week. I

> have been treating it with my Genie non-stop and some of the

swelling has

> reduced. There is no pain except when my ear hurts from time to

time and I'm

> having headaches that are very strange.

>

> *******There are a few of you whom I speak on the telephone with

quiet often

> and they will have the hospital information. The doctor says

depending on

> the type of tumor will depend on how long I have to stay in the

hospital. The

> doctors have already agreed to consult with my alternative docs,

which they

> are doing prior to the surgery. Very comforting to say the

least. I have a

> friend who will be bringing my food, kefir and juicing to me

daily, as I

> won't eat hospital foods. I take my own water and the doctor has

agreed to let

> me take all my vitamins/herbals/ I take m One of my doctors has

already sent

> the list of the products I would be bringing with me. My

attorney sent the

> doctor a letter that if I need a VitC IV, they will consult with

my surgeon

> and it will be ordered. I'm feeling more comfortable about going

in with all

> doctors working together. The next battle is getting a room that

is CHEMICAL

> FREE....plus, the doctor has to write a letter about the non-

toxic sheets, I

> will be taking my own pillows and coverings. I'm sure they will

want to

> discharge me as soon as they can.....ROFL Nurses make horrible

patients. I

> have someone who will be house sitting and taking care of my

pooch who will

> freak out, but the gal staying with her she likes very much, so

hopefully she

> will not stop eating like she did the last time. Yes, she is a

spoiled

> pup....lol

>

> *******If it isn't too much trouble can I ask for some prayers.

This tumor

> really has me worried. I'm fighting this like the ones before,

but I'm

> wearing down from all the battles....wish me luck....

>

> Angel Huggzz

> or Angel

> _www.lymecommunity.www_ (http://www.lymecommunity.com/)

>

January 28, 2007

(Angel), ofcorse we will pray for you, stay strong girl, you

will get through this. if you tolerate vinigar, I would have them

clean the room with it and air it out.if any way possable they should

do this and keep the room unoccupied before hand. make a strict set

of rules like keeping the door shut so smells don't come in from

hallways and no one allowed in with scented products on(and write

down exactually what that means).I'm glad you at least have doctors

that are working together on this.I know just how hard it is to get

people to understand MCS when they don't have it. I'm reminded of

movie,'delores clayborne' where she say's " sometimes, being a bitch

is all a woman has to hold on to " . if the need call's than so be it. -

-- In , LymeAngl@... wrote:

>

> **********As you all know I have been battling a tumor in my right

lower

> lobe....everything was moving along nicely, when I woke up one

morning and had a

> mass (egg size) on my left Parotid gland. I had to take

antibiotics (yes me

> taking antibiotics) to make sure it wasn't an infection from my

teeth.....It

> wasn't, so they ordered a CATscan and I have a tumor in the parotid

gland

> with the first lymph node involved. I will be having surgery, as

soon as they

> can get the anesthesiologists that specializes in " high risk " lung

patients.

> They are concerned about putting me to sleep, as my lungs are not

good.

>

> ********I'm bummed to say the least, but probably more pished,

which helps

> me keep fighting these battles.

> The surgery will be either the end of next week or the following

week. I

> have been treating it with my Genie non-stop and some of the

swelling has

> reduced. There is no pain except when my ear hurts from time to

time and I'm

> having headaches that are very strange.

>

> *******There are a few of you whom I speak on the telephone with

quiet often

> and they will have the hospital information. The doctor says

depending on

> the type of tumor will depend on how long I have to stay in the

hospital. The

> doctors have already agreed to consult with my alternative docs,

which they

> are doing prior to the surgery. Very comforting to say the

least. I have a

> friend who will be bringing my food, kefir and juicing to me

daily, as I

> won't eat hospital foods. I take my own water and the doctor has

agreed to let

> me take all my vitamins/herbals/ I take m One of my doctors has

already sent

> the list of the products I would be bringing with me. My attorney

sent the

> doctor a letter that if I need a VitC IV, they will consult with my

surgeon

> and it will be ordered. I'm feeling more comfortable about going

in with all

> doctors working together. The next battle is getting a room that

is CHEMICAL

> FREE....plus, the doctor has to write a letter about the non-toxic

sheets, I

> will be taking my own pillows and coverings. I'm sure they will

want to

> discharge me as soon as they can.....ROFL Nurses make horrible

patients. I

> have someone who will be house sitting and taking care of my pooch

who will

> freak out, but the gal staying with her she likes very much, so

hopefully she

> will not stop eating like she did the last time. Yes, she is a

spoiled

> pup....lol

>

> *******If it isn't too much trouble can I ask for some prayers.

This tumor

> really has me worried. I'm fighting this like the ones before,

but I'm

> wearing down from all the battles....wish me luck....

>

> Angel Huggzz

> or Angel

> _www.lymecommunity.www_ (http://www.lymecommunity.com/)

>

January 28, 2007

GOOD LUCK, LINDA......ALL OF OUR THOUGHTS & PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU!

VICTORIA

[] Up Date....new tumor

**********As you all know I have been battling a tumor in my right lower

lobe....everything was moving along nicely, when I woke up one morning and had

a

mass (egg size) on my left Parotid gland. I had to take antibiotics (yes me

taking antibiotics) to make sure it wasn't an infection from my teeth.....It

wasn't, so they ordered a CATscan and I have a tumor in the parotid gland

with the first lymph node involved. I will be having surgery, as soon as they

can get the anesthesiologists that specializes in " high risk " lung patients.

They are concerned about putting me to sleep, as my lungs are not good.

********I'm bummed to say the least, but probably more pished, which helps

me keep fighting these battles.

The surgery will be either the end of next week or the following week. I

have been treating it with my Genie non-stop and some of the swelling has

reduced. There is no pain except when my ear hurts from time to time and I'm

having headaches that are very strange.

*******There are a few of you whom I speak on the telephone with quiet often

and they will have the hospital information. The doctor says depending on

the type of tumor will depend on how long I have to stay in the hospital. The

doctors have already agreed to consult with my alternative docs, which they

are doing prior to the surgery. Very comforting to say the least. I have a

friend who will be bringing my food, kefir and juicing to me daily, as I

won't eat hospital foods. I take my own water and the doctor has agreed to let

me take all my vitamins/herbals/ I take m One of my doctors has already sent

the list of the products I would be bringing with me. My attorney sent the

doctor a letter that if I need a VitC IV, they will consult with my surgeon

and it will be ordered. I'm feeling more comfortable about going in with all

doctors working together. The next battle is getting a room that is CHEMICAL

FREE....plus, the doctor has to write a letter about the non-toxic sheets, I

will be taking my own pillows and coverings. I'm sure they will want to

discharge me as soon as they can.....ROFL Nurses make horrible patients. I

have someone who will be house sitting and taking care of my pooch who will

freak out, but the gal staying with her she likes very much, so hopefully she

will not stop eating like she did the last time. Yes, she is a spoiled

pup....lol

*******If it isn't too much trouble can I ask for some prayers. This tumor

really has me worried. I'm fighting this like the ones before, but I'm

wearing down from all the battles....wish me luck....

Angel Huggzz

or Angel

_www.lymecommunity.www_ (http://www.lymecommunity.com/)

January 28, 2007

Our thoughts are w/you. We hope all goes well. My daughter says she will say a

prayer for you.