One week after being admitted to the hospital, my wife is still there. However, the antibiotics have had an effect -- actually, several effects.
The most important effect is that her ankle/leg is definitely on the mend. She was able to put weight on it a couple of days ago, and has had greater mobility every day since. They disconnected her I.V.s (antibiotics and pain meds) earlier today, but left the needle in place at least overnight in case they need to resume I.V. treatment. For now, however, she's on oral antibiotics and a Fentanyl patch for pain, with a Dilaudid or morphine injection available if she needs it to sleep.
On the downside, the wound from
Tuesday's surgery is still packed with gauze etc, which inhibits bending the ankle forward. It might as well be a plaster cast in that regard. Also, the antibiotics have wiped out her intestinal flora, and she seems to have picked up a case of thrush, which her doctor will address tomorrow (Monday).
The antibiotics also killed off the original cause of her problem so thoroughly that they were not able to successfully culture it to determine its nature. UPDATE: They finally got a successful culture and found
Nocardia
Original diary -- "Shame"