Ock is out of service.

[Ocklawaha]

Hello Friends, I'm still being bounced around like a yo-yo but several of you have asked me for an update, so I'll share today's facts and theories on my medical crash.

I have a home nurse who is trying to get better range of motion back in my legs. I'm coming to the end (tonight in fact) of a massive antibiotic attack on the mystery infection. Enough that the stomach feels like it's been carpet bombed.

The current theory has now come full circle and they are 'suggesting' that the VA epidural injections (for a back injury) introduced a bacteria to my lower spine. The right side is still swollen from the tailbone to the kidneys but the worst part is I'm now starting to feel sciatica on the back of the right leg. Never had it? Imagine you've just gotten out of the pool and stretched out on a 440 volt electrical wire...  IT WILL GET YOUR ATTENTION!

Was back at Mayo Tuesday, this time to see the GI surgery team. While it was supposed to be a simple consult, it also ended up with me on the table... WITHOUT anesthesia!!! OUCH!!! So a couple of white knuckle hours later, the team told me, unless we've missed something, we don't think this is caused by or located in the GI tract.

They wanted to point out however, that there is a 'raging infection' against the spine, between the bowel and the vertebra. If it was from the GI tract, apparently there would be some sort of path which should be visible or at least testable. Not me.

I'm being passed to neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery next... WHO KNOWS? Meanwhile the clock is ticking and the bets are that as soon as the antibiotics stop the fever and faint will start again. Guess I've been stuck in more places then I knew I had, human pin cushion. Since my Mayo team still isn't sure what is going on, and I'm told has been 'passing notes and tests' between Rochester, Scottsdale and Jacksonville, we keep getting fresh ideas on how to beat me up. LOL. They're supposed to be calling me tomorrow for more followups and the original team still says surgery in 2 weeks... Surgery on what? Who knows! Such is life.

[Jason]

Where is Dr. House when you need him!!

Keep fightin Bob, and you'll get through this just fine.  And thanks for keeping us posted on your progress!

[If_I_Loved_you]

Where is Dr. House when you need him!!

Keep fightin Bob, and you'll get through this just fine.  And thanks for keeping us posted on your progress!

+1

[wsansewjs]

Hello Friends, I'm still being bounced around like a yo-yo but several of you have asked me for an update, so I'll share today's facts and theories on my medical crash.

I have a home nurse who is trying to get better range of motion back in my legs. I'm coming to the end (tonight in fact) of a massive antibiotic attack on the mystery infection. Enough that the stomach feels like it's been carpet bombed.

The current theory has now come full circle and they are 'suggesting' that the VA epidural injections (for a back injury) introduced a bacteria to my lower spine. The right side is still swollen from the tailbone to the kidneys but the worst part is I'm now starting to feel sciatica on the back of the right leg. Never had it? Imagine you've just gotten out of the pool and stretched out on a 440 volt electrical wire...  IT WILL GET YOUR ATTENTION!

Was back at Mayo Tuesday, this time to see the GI surgery team. While it was supposed to be a simple consult, it also ended up with me on the table... WITHOUT anesthesia!!! OUCH!!! So a couple of white knuckle hours later, the team told me, unless we've missed something, we don't think this is caused by or located in the GI tract.

They wanted to point out however, that there is a 'raging infection' against the spine, between the bowel and the vertebra. If it was from the GI tract, apparently there would be some sort of path which should be visible or at least testable. Not me.

I'm being passed to neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery next... WHO KNOWS? Meanwhile the clock is ticking and the bets are that as soon as the antibiotics stop the fever and faint will start again. Guess I've been stuck in more places then I knew I had, human pin cushion. Since my Mayo team still isn't sure what is going on, and I'm told has been 'passing notes and tests' between Rochester, Scottsdale and Jacksonville, we keep getting fresh ideas on how to beat me up. LOL. They're supposed to be calling me tomorrow for more followups and the original team still says surgery in 2 weeks... Surgery on what? Who knows! Such is life.

Oh Uncle Ock! We hope you will get better soon! We are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers! Hang in there!

I will ring the bells on the trolley to keep it moving! ALLLLL ABOARD!

http://www.youtube.com/v/vxM9GHmoxEU

-Josh

[Ocklawaha]

Thanks everyone, you can't imagine how much it means to me to hear the encouraging words. I'll keep you posted and yes, I'd love to meet up with Doctor House somewhere along this journey... My wife and kids would state under oath that they cast his character after me! BAH HUMBUG! 

[Ocklawaha]

I'm now past my major surgery #1, 4 since last summer! my 5th hospitalization n the same time frame. because my spine (another future surgery) is a wreck, it caused the toes on my right foot to turn UNDER so I was walking on the top of my toes, talk about pain... ouch. also why sometimes you'd see me with a cane... I've now graduated to a chair. LOL!!!

At this moment i'm either dead or i'm SO STONED! Back home with a well decorated foot. While I was eating dinner our little white dog came to my bed to beg for food. Later on with a big tray on my lap I noticed out of the corner of my eye that she was back. I teased her and told her to go back to 'mommy', (a command she knows and usually follows), but she just stayed still and I continued to chat her up whilst stuffing my face. About the time I was done eating, she still hadn't left the room! It was then that I realized the 'white dog' in the corner of my vision was my elevated foot and white sock! See! I'm not half you think as you stoned I are!!!

Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes. I'm now facing 90 days in bed, enough to make a grown man cry! The only positive I have found relates to my daughters when they were quite small. Home for a federal holiday 'we were watching Sesame Street and Burt and Ernie were marooned on the planet "Shhhhhhhhhhhh", well with reruns maybe I'll find out if they ever got off!

Your friend, Bob ('OCKLAWAHA') Mann

[Ocklawaha]

What happened? Broken foot? NOT EVEN CLOSE Y'ALL, much worse then that. Spinal stenosis has caused my toes to curl under my foot AND make a left turn. I've been walking on the tops of my toes for a couple of years now, thus the occasional cane. They had to break all of the toes, remove one joint, realign the bones, muscles and tendons and then fuse the whole thing together again.

[Noone]

Thinking of you Mann.
When you are ready lets do another kayak trip together. Speedy recovery.

[BridgeTroll]

What happened? Broken foot? NOT EVEN CLOSE Y'ALL, much worse then that. Spinal stenosis has caused my toes to curl under my foot AND make a left turn. I've been walking on the tops of my toes for a couple of years now, thus the occasional cane. They had to break all of the toes, remove one joint, realign the bones, muscles and tendons and then fuse the whole thing together again.

Now ya just gotta follow doctors orders (and wifes) and get better... 

[Tacachale]

What happened? Broken foot? NOT EVEN CLOSE Y'ALL, much worse then that. Spinal stenosis has caused my toes to curl under my foot AND make a left turn. I've been walking on the tops of my toes for a couple of years now, thus the occasional cane. They had to break all of the toes, remove one joint, realign the bones, muscles and tendons and then fuse the whole thing together again.

Now ya just gotta follow doctors orders (and wifes) and get better... 

+ a million. Get well soon, Bob, we miss you around here.