Hans Rueffert

Port and C. diff
With chemo and radiation scheduled to begin on Wednesday, it was time to have my port installed. A port is a strange little plastic disc with a long tail that gets shoved in somewhere near my heart. The disc portion sits under my skin, just below my right hand collar bone. Whenever someone needs my blood (and my blood seems to be somewhat popular) or administer medications (such as the toxic cocktail that is chemotherapy), all they need do is pop a needle through my skin and into the port. Today's procedure was supposed to be somewhat short, but like many of mythical 'short procedures' that I have been promised, it turned into a full day's event. I was awake through much of the actual procedure...it didn't really hurt, but I could certainly feel some tugging and pulling going on. They patched me up with so much gauze and tape that it's hard to turn my head. Un-fun.

The cause of all of my abdominal cramping and bathroom traumas has been discovered: a nasty bacteria called C. diff. If left untreated, it can also cause ulcerations and, of course, death. From what we've learned, C. diff likes to flourish after one's GI tract has been flushed with antibiotics. With all of the antibiotics I was on in the hospital, it thought my GI tract looked like Cancun. It moved in and invited all of it's kin. Luckily, there is a medication to take care of C. diff and I'm taking that drug now. Hopefully I'll be done with this infection in about 10 days. Un-fun.

I'm ready for a break...can't seem to catch one. I was really hoping for a nice calm week at home before the chemo/radiation schedule starts. The C. diff really ruined the whole 'calm-at-home' notion. Despite the un-fun elements, I have enjoyed being home with the kids, watching a bit of TV, reading through my newest copies of Gourmet and Food & Wine magazines, etc. If you get BBC America, you owe it to yourself to check out 'Number 42 at the Kumars'. Really funny talkshow.

It's time for some much needed rest. I'm confident that my health will improve over the weekend. I've never been good at relaxing. I have so many projects in so many fires and that's how I like things...I'm a juggler. But it's hard to juggle when you just don't feel well. I'm just ready to juggle again.

Much love and respect to you all.

Hans

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