"In word and deed, Donald Trump personifies the American ignoramus abroad. He insults foreign leaders in tweets, then melts in their presence. He switches positions based on personal flattery. He parades his ignorance of geopolitics. His erratic behavior and bellicose boasts provoke alarm in a nuclear age.
No longer does America advocate for an inclusive international order that promotes democracy and stability. In Politico, Susan Glasser cataloged the verdict of foreign governments: Our president is uninformed, unstable and erratic, a volatile and self-obsessed fool with a dystopian worldview.
Particularly incendiary is his racism. His Muslim ban, race-baiting and disdain for immigrants of color sullies America’s global reputation. And his recent disparagement of non-white countries as “shitholes” alienates governments we need to help combat terrorism and narco-trafficking.
Nor can Trump’s advisers stem the damage. He tramples on policy formulations and rejects advice. His fractious foreign policy team includes the sophomoric Jared Kushner. Disdainful of diplomacy, Trump has gutted the State Department and left critical posts vacant, eroding America’s capacity to advance its global objectives. In foreign policy, he asserts, “I’m the only one who matters.”
Leg update: Yesterday afternoon I went to the doctor's office (they'd actually given me an appointment with a nurse practitioner). One look at the leg and she brought in a physician who echoed her words: "You're going to the emergency room." Six hours later the ER doctors saw me and said: "Cellulitis! You're staying here overnight (we'll find you an actual hospital room in the morning). By 9 a.m. I had had two different IV antibiotics and had been seen by both my regular physician and an infectious disease specialist. After moving to a regular room I got a third IV antibiotic and the wound care nurse decided I needed a special dressing. At that point, though, Dr. Yen went along with my desire to spend tonight at home instead of in the hospital. I obviously have a prescription for oral antibiotics as soon as Penny picks it up from the pharmacy.
Oh Bill!! Based on my late Uncle Jim's history with cellulitis, I was highly suspicious it was that. But I'm so sad it turned out to be. That's a mean jellybean of an illness! It sounds like you've gotten all you need for swift support and action. =Whew!= Please keep us posted, and do be meticulous in tending it. It usually doesn't give up without a fight. Hoping all good things.
I also get a chance to ask Dr. Yen why he hasn't recommended the shingles vaccine for me. The current vaccine is almost ineffective for people my age and the new one isn't available yet.
Bill--I have seen quite a few cases of cellulitis (mostly in convicts)--very ungood; but I don't recall blisters such as you described. I am surprised they let you go home with oral antibiotics. The usual main drug is vancomycin (which can't be given as tablets), with monitoring of blood levels to make sure you don't get enough to make you go deaf (a given dose gives variable blood levels depending on the person). But there are some vancomycin-resistant bacteria out there that are associated with cellulitis. Don't do that again, hear?
And the infectious disease guy figured out where the bacteria (he thinks a Streptococcus)got in. About three weeks ago I wore a new pair of shoes that rubbed a raw spot on my ankle. Not a obvious connection, since this was a week and a half before the cellulitis started and about six to eight inches from where most of the skin signs were. But it's the only thing that makes sense.
The point is that while the wound had been formed a week and a half earlier it hadn't yet entirely healed and therefore could still provide a point of entry for the bacteria.
Just printed out my boarding passes for tomorrow--I see the client kicked in a bit extra for a bit roomier seats. Nice.
ReplyDeleteAlan
if you want a bit of sunshine, come on down to Blythe Island.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.glynncounty-ga.org/SSIPier/Blythe.htm
Hannah, the link doesn't quite work. Make it html?
Delete[Yester]day’s Mueller Revelations Were The Biggest in Months[Click] Hmmmmm…..
ReplyDeleteAlan
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-worlds-ugliest-american_us_5a662792e4b002283005674a
ReplyDeleteFrom the article:
"In word and deed, Donald Trump personifies the American ignoramus abroad. He insults foreign leaders in tweets, then melts in their presence. He switches positions based on personal flattery. He parades his ignorance of geopolitics. His erratic behavior and bellicose boasts provoke alarm in a nuclear age.
No longer does America advocate for an inclusive international order that promotes democracy and stability. In Politico, Susan Glasser cataloged the verdict of foreign governments: Our president is uninformed, unstable and erratic, a volatile and self-obsessed fool with a dystopian worldview.
Particularly incendiary is his racism. His Muslim ban, race-baiting and disdain for immigrants of color sullies America’s global reputation. And his recent disparagement of non-white countries as “shitholes” alienates governments we need to help combat terrorism and narco-trafficking.
Nor can Trump’s advisers stem the damage. He tramples on policy formulations and rejects advice. His fractious foreign policy team includes the sophomoric Jared Kushner. Disdainful of diplomacy, Trump has gutted the State Department and left critical posts vacant, eroding America’s capacity to advance its global objectives. In foreign policy, he asserts, “I’m the only one who matters.”
Leg update: Yesterday afternoon I went to the doctor's office (they'd actually given me an appointment with a nurse practitioner). One look at the leg and she brought in a physician who echoed her words: "You're going to the emergency room." Six hours later the ER doctors saw me and said: "Cellulitis! You're staying here overnight (we'll find you an actual hospital room in the morning). By 9 a.m. I had had two different IV antibiotics and had been seen by both my regular physician and an infectious disease specialist. After moving to a regular room I got a third IV antibiotic and the wound care nurse decided I needed a special dressing. At that point, though, Dr. Yen went along with my desire to spend tonight at home instead of in the hospital. I obviously have a prescription for oral antibiotics as soon as Penny picks it up from the pharmacy.
ReplyDeleteOh Bill!! Based on my late Uncle Jim's history with cellulitis, I was highly suspicious it was that. But I'm so sad it turned out to be. That's a mean jellybean of an illness! It sounds like you've gotten all you need for swift support and action. =Whew!= Please keep us posted, and do be meticulous in tending it. It usually doesn't give up without a fight. Hoping all good things.
DeleteI also get a chance to ask Dr. Yen why he hasn't recommended the shingles vaccine for me. The current vaccine is almost ineffective for people my age and the new one isn't available yet.
ReplyDeleteI think the new one comes out mid-year. Sure wish I could take it, but I'd have to go off the antiviral for too long. Take care, let yourself rest.
DeleteOh, yikes, Bill. Edwin had it once, and very scary chit! Listen to all advice, and go and do! Medical mercies!
ReplyDeleteBill--I have seen quite a few cases of cellulitis (mostly in convicts)--very ungood; but I don't recall blisters such as you described. I am surprised they let you go home with oral antibiotics. The usual main drug is vancomycin (which can't be given as tablets), with monitoring of blood levels to make sure you don't get enough to make you go deaf (a given dose gives variable blood levels depending on the person). But there are some vancomycin-resistant bacteria out there that are associated with cellulitis. Don't do that again, hear?
ReplyDeleteAlan
This advice from the guy who didn't get a sigmoidoscopy... didn't want to and had no family history of cancer.
DeleteAlan
The oral antibiotic I'm taking is cephalexin.
DeleteAnd the infectious disease guy figured out where the bacteria (he thinks a Streptococcus)got in. About three weeks ago I wore a new pair of shoes that rubbed a raw spot on my ankle. Not a obvious connection, since this was a week and a half before the cellulitis started and about six to eight inches from where most of the skin signs were. But it's the only thing that makes sense.
Wow. Does that mean you didn't necessarily pick it up in Boston? Or does the timing of the shoes make that more likely?
DeleteThe point is that while the wound had been formed a week and a half earlier it hadn't yet entirely healed and therefore could still provide a point of entry for the bacteria.
Delete