Ever have a job you wanted to start, but just didn't feel up to it? That was me in early January after the holidays. I figured I'd wait a week or so until I felt better before starting work on the gas line.
Well, I just didn't have the energy. Starting January 30th I started having low-grade fever. On February 7th the fever went north of 101 and I started the first of three rounds of oral antibiotics. After each course, the fever returned.
On March 8th a doctor finally decided to do some additional blood tests, and two days later I'm in the hospital with a positive blood culture and an echocardiogram showing “vegetation” on my aortic heart valve. Vegetation meaning a visible colony of bacteria growing there.
Now I'm home on medical leave with a PICC line in my arm. Take a look.
My wife gives me an IV antibiotic dose once a day. This will continue for five weeks. Hopefully that will cure it.
Of course this happens the year Sierra Nevada comes out with Ruthless Rye, now one of my favorite beers, despite how little I've tasted of it. I've had almost nothing to drink since middle to late January. The morning before I entered the hospital I saw it on sale at Rite-Aid. That was painful. I would have bought an extra twelve pack, but I already have twelve bottles tempting me in the beer fridge. I ended up buying some pricy oral antibiotics instead, antibiotics I ended up throwing away, antibiotics that cost the same as 12 twelve-packs of Ruthless Rye. Ouch.
There was some fear initially that the heart valve would be damaged and have to be replaced. But a transesophageal echocardiogram, which provides a better picture, indicated to the cardiologist that that won't be necessary for now. Maybe in 10-20 years because I have two flaps in my aortic valve instead of three. That occurs in about 1-2 percent of people, I understand. Two of my flaps were fused together at birth. But the valve is working about as well now as it has for the past 50 years.
It also looks like the endocarditis was caught early enough that there will be minimal damage to the heart valve, if any. Possible progression to brain doesn't seem to have occurred either. Another echo is scheduled a month from now.
So that's why I haven't been boring all of you with the weekly minutia of brewery building. I haven't given up on the project. I just can't start gas line construction yet, which I see as the next step.
But I can show you this picture:
Beautiful, isn't she?
When not on medical leave, Sal Sciortino, the Younger, is a National BJCP Judge and a card-carrying member of the Maltose Falcons Homebrewing Society.
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Comments
I like that burner. That sum bitch ought to be able to bring a big batch of water or wort to a boil, sure 'nuff.
Here's hoping you survive the clutches of the medical profession long enough to use it.
Thanks, Rich. I keep it out where I can see it. I never get tired of looking at it.