PREVIOUSLY, ON GENERAL HOSPITAL...

Well, my brain is a wee bit fried right now, so I think the easiest way to update you on this soap opera we are living is to give you the main highlights of the constant text-messaging that has been going back and forth between my BFF and myself. Here goes:

THURSDAY
11:26AM - Becky - Well, I don't know what to think. Good news - it's not MRSA, just ordinary staph. Bad news - he seems weaker than he did yesterday, his breathing isn't good, and his blood pressure was a little high. They are going to do a sonogram of his heart later. Still don't know where the staph originated from.

5:02 PM - Paula - Have you got heart test results?
Becky - No, not yet. He seems a bit better though.

FRIDAY
11:28 Paula - How is John today? Have they given test results?
Becky - Well, we just had visits from his cardiologist, and from an infectious disease specialist! The Echo came back ok, but apparently that doesn't guarantee that there is no bacteria on the pacemaker or its wires. They are switching him to a different antibiotic and running his cultures again. If the cultures keep coming back positive, they will do a heart image where they go down through his throat, and may end up removing his pacemaker.
Paula - We will be praying new antibiotic works.
Becky - Kinda freaked me out when this really cute guy wearing jeans and a vest sauntered in and said "Hi, I'm the infectious disease guy. Your doctors asked me to lend a hand." Feels like we're in a movie or TV show!
Paula - Is John feeling better, or still crappy? At least doc is cute!
Becky - He's a little better today, but still way too weak.
2:57 PM Paula - So sorry! Hope new meds work, and fast! Tim said a guy at TMPA got staph from hospital and was not getting better, but once the infectious medicine doc got involved, they found the right antibiotic and he finally got well. Let's hope this one can get it right first try!
Becky - They just started a drip with the new antibiotic - oxycillin this time - and he will get it every six hours instead of every twelve. Also, they have ordered the transesophageal echocardiogram for tomorrow morning.

So now you know everything I know, except that, as I was typing this, John called to say they weren't able to schedule the procedure until Monday morning, so he's gonna be there a while longer. I could tell by his voice though that he's already feeling better, so fingers crossed and positive vibes ever-buddy!