As some of you know, I've been largely out of commission since the end of January with a staph infection in the bursa of my right elbow. I'm slowly getting back up to speed, but it's difficult due to the fact that I'm right-handed. Anyway, more details in this newsletter if you're interested.
I haven't been able to work on new pen models (photos, videos, etc.) these past several weeks, but I've just received my re-stocking orders of Private Reserve ink (everything is in stock as I write this) and of the great Pilot 78G fountain pen (all but the 'B' nib in the teal color, which wasn't shipped to me).
My wife Teresa was a great help during my convalescence, as she helped with writing notes and getting customer orders prepared after a full day's work at her own job (she's a pre-school teacher), shoveling us out of the blizzard of '10, and generally nursing me back to health. I've always endeavored to ship orders within 24 hours, but expect that I may slip a bit on that for the next few weeks...and probably won't be including my usual note.
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On the blog...Glad I never faced these guys across the net!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~in this issue * No MRSA in my bursa! * Private Reserve back in stock * Pilot 78G back in stock * 'His Nibs' page on Facebook * On the blog...Glad I never faced these guys across the net!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ No MRSA in my bursa!
I've just returned from an unexpected week-long stay in the hospital for a staph infection of the bursa that covers the elbow. I received intravenous antibiotics (the strongest available in the beginning, to guard against MRSA...and am happy to report that there's no MRSA in my bursa!) (MRSA infection is caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria -- often called "staph." MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. It's a strain of staph that's resistant to the broad-spectrum antibiotics commonly used to treat it. MRSA can be fatal.)
Subsequently, I had surgery on the elbow to physically clean out the infection, followed by more intravenous antibiotics and eventually a 10-day course of oral ones.
I'm telling everyone that this is a football injury, as it occurred immediately following my watching of the NFC and AFC Championship games leading up to the Superbowl. Resting my elbows on my armchair for the better part of six or seven hours (with the too frequent movement of right hand transporting snacks to mouth!), I apparently caused enough of an abrasion on my elbow from the rather coarse material to create an entry path for some of the bacteria that's always on our skin.
I put the pain down to a pinched ulnar nerve, which I have on the left elbow, and treated it with ice and anti-inflammatories for the next couple of days. When I finally hightailed it to the doctor, the arm was red, warm and a bit swollen. He started me on oral antibiotics immediately, but after a couple of more days with the redness spreading down the arm, it was off to the hospital -- perhaps just overnight -- for intravenous antibiotics.
Well, I ended being in for a week with that treatment -- with a nice little surgery thrown in.
Recovery has been slow as the surgical incision is right on the pivot point of the elbow. Every time I attempted to bend my arm, the wound would reopen. That's healing nicely, but now my arm no longer bends fully. I'm slowly working that back into shape with daily exercises, but it looks like it may take several weeks more to get full flexion back. Beside the fact that writing and eating are difficult, the main consequence of this is that I'm once again growing a full beard. I don't dare try and shave left-handed...I wouldn't have a nose.
I can't count at this point the number of customers that have emailed or written me with good wishes. They've been greatly appreciated and a real lift to the spirit! I've also been amazed at how many people have had similar infections and quite of few of them with MRSA. A couple of people mentioned that they were on antibiotic drips for months! Our overuse of antibiotics is coming back to bite us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Private Reserve back in stock
From cartridges to bottles, from fast-dry inks to ink-mixing and cartridge-refilling kits, from regular size to oversized,
everything is back in stock in this vibrant and colorful line of inks.
See the complete line here... - http://www.hisnibs.com/ink.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pilot 78G back in stock
"Norman, Just a note to let you know that I got the Pilot 78G with "B" nib sometime ago. The instrument is a real pleasure to write with, so much so that I find myself using it for normal, everyday use. It may seem small in comparison to my other pens but it really is comfortable in my hands." C. B., military address
"Boy, for the price you can't beat this little guy, can you. Love the look of the line the nib lays down [referring to 'B' nib]. Very light and very simple and elegant. Thanks so much!" K. C., Lincoln, NE
"Hi Norm, I received the pen yesterday, and I must say, it was worth it. I've been playing with it since, and it's stays on me wherever I go. I thought it was a shame that I write ugly with something so fun to write with, so I've decided to improve my handwriting... Thanks so much!" I. S., Champaign, IL
"Norman, just wanted to let you know that after a few weeks of use, the Pilot 78G has become my favorite everyday pen. The combination of size, weight and nib fit exceptionally well with my needs. Thanks for recommending it. I'm also sold on the Private Reserve ink. I'll be back for more." B. C., Wheeling, WV
"Norman, my Pilot 78G has arrived! This pen is everything the reviews said it was, great line variation, smooth nib, easy to write with. etc,. I filled it with Private Reserve DC Supershow Blue and could not believe how beautiful this little pen writes, it really brings some personality to my handwriting. It arrived 2 days after it was ordered, and I really appreciate the handwritten note you enclosed with the writing samples of the other nibs. Personal service like this is hard to find, and I will be purchasing from you again in the near future. Thanks again." R. S., Olmos Park, TX
Read more here... - http://www.hisnibs.com/pilot_pens.htm
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On the blog...Glad I never faced these guys across the net!
The February 18th blog entries have a pair of table tennis players that make me glad I'm retired.
See the entries here... - http://hisnibs.blogspot.com
Regards,
Norman Haase His Nibs.com www.hisnibs.com
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Regards,
Norman Haase
His Nibs.com
www.hisnibs.com
I'm glad to hear that you're OK, and doing better Norm!
Yes, I'm familiar with the troubles of infections (MRSA). My mother had knee replacement last year, and her leg became infected. They feared it was MRSA, and it turned into a 3 month stay between hospital and rehab center! She had the anitibiotic drip, but it turned out to be a less severe infection (probably staph, as you mentioned). She went through the "debriding" procedure (as you mentioned) where they bascially "power wash" the wound. This actually made a scar worse than the stitches from the knee did!
She is Ok, though the rehab would have been better if she had more strength to carry it out. She should be getting the other knee done this year. Let's hope it's more smooth!
Frank
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"When, in the course of writing events, it becomes self-evident that all pens are not created equal" (Federalist Frank)
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