December 4th, 1981
Today is the eleventh day in the hospital for me— and it was only yesterday that I got a definite diagnosis— It seems I have a severe strep infection in my hip joint. God only knows how it occurred. I cannot help but wonder if there may be some connection between this and that bizarre infection I had last Spring. I also think of the recurring fever blisters I have been tormented with for the past few months. It causes me to think that either this has been a lingering low-grade infection for months— or that, without fully realizing it, I have been becoming more and more run-down— less resistant. My resistance has been worn down by actually physical fatigue and my mental resistance less and less stable. My doctor said I will be able to go home tomorrow— not a moment too soon. I will continue to rest at home, replacing the intravenous antibiotics with oral medication— and will use a cane for awhile to keep weight off the hip. This is still a state of recovery— But from what? Some infection of unknown origins and from a mental disease called alcoholism which makes me, often, a frantic young man.
Addendum to the diagnosis— my doctor just came to tell me that he’d had a “conference” with other doctors concerning the results of the bone scan. There is an inflammation of the bone which could well be the result of heavy drinking. He suggested that perhaps a bone scan may be repeated in six months or so.
