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Post-op infection and pressure sores!!!
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04-14-2012, 02:19 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 5
Hysterectomy: April 2nd, 2012
Surgery Type: SAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Post-op infection and pressure sores!!!
Hello everyone. My name is Sue. I am 39 and have had a total of 6 abdominal surgeries in the past 8 years. I have a history of post-op infections which have led to the need for half of the major surgeries I've had. My hysterectomy is no exception unfortunately. My surgery was performed on April 2nd. I was given an epidural for post-op pain control. All seemed well immediately after surgery but within 24 hours I had lost sensation in my feet and my blood pressure had dropped alarming low. The hospital staff removed the epidural and sent me for a battery of cardiac tests and moved me to the cardiac care unit. All this while nothing was being done to control my pain. I was writhing in pain, kicking my legs and my heels, which were completely numb, were rubbing on the sheets. This caused huge blisters to form on my heels. They kept me in cardiac care with a holter monitor and never really got my pain under control after that. I was discharged 3 days later still in severe pain with huge blisters on my heels. I was sent home with zithromax for supposed bronchitis but no antibiotics other than that were prescribed post-op even though they were aware of my history of infection. The pain worsened at home and the blisters turned into pressure sores even though I was ambulating. I began running fevers and returned to the ER 5 days post-op. A CT was performed and my surgeon was notified. He said everything looked fine, increased my pain medication and sent me home, again with no antibiotics. The fevers worsened and I returned to a different ER 5 days later. This ER began IV antibiotics and sent me for an ultrasound. They admitted me and consulted my surgeon. Although I was still in the same network he would not come see me there. He had me taken off the antibiotics and discharged home to follow up with him in his office. As soon as I got home my incision began pouring out bloody pus that smelled like rotten eggs! I called his office and was advised to go back to the ER that he works out of. I was told they would be notified of my arrival but I sat for almost 5 hours without even being seen. I was in pain and my meds were at home so I left. I now sit at home awaiting my appointment with him on Monday the 16th. The incision is still leaking badly but appears to be just serous fluid now. I am due to have my staples removed at my appointment monday and will be giving them an earful about this infection for sure! I am highly frustrated and in severe pain. Has anyone else gone through this kind of treatment? I do not have insurance so I am sure that is part of the problem.
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04-14-2012, 02:34 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 271
Hysterectomy: January 25th, 2012
Surgery Type: SAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Re: Post-op infection and pressure sores!!!
Wow, what a horror story, I feel really bad for you! For me it's absolutely unforgiveable that you shold be left sitting in an ER for hours without being seen, and then have to go home in pain. I don't know if that's related with insurance or not as we have a different system where I live and this is never an issue. If you are still suffering, is it possible to see someone this weekend for better pain relief? That infection sounds very scary too. I hope you find a solution and I really think you need to see a doctor quickly!
Take care,
Christina
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04-14-2012, 02:43 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 8,185
Hysterectomy: November 1st, 2010
Surgery Type: SAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Re: Post-op infection and pressure sores!!!
I strongly and I mean strongly suggest you get back to the ER with your pain meds and be seen immediately! Infections are nothing to sneeze at. I had a very minor infection in a tiny spot of my incision and the ER I went to got really hopping when they found out I had a hysterectomy 4 weeks prior. You are barely 2 weeks post-op and with your history, you really need to be taken care of. Please go back to the ER and get someone to deal with this.
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04-14-2012, 05:33 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 2,294
Hysterectomy: April 4th, 2012
Surgery Type: DvH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Re: Post-op infection and pressure sores!!!
You need to get to the ER to get antibiotics. asap.
I had a similar post op non pain control issue at the hospital as well as an ER horror story as well as an idiot of a doctor that kept making me go to Er and her office during my first 4 days post op I had to go twice.All were unnecessary trips in my opinion and could have been handled if she would have actually listened to me on the phone and listened to me before surgery when I told her some things.Sounds like you have yourself an infection and waiting until your next office visit puts you more days behind in your recovery. I think your doctor is in the wrong for not listening to you about needing antibiotics, and you can address that with him later, but you need to get to an ER now in my opinion.
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04-15-2012, 03:03 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 5
Hysterectomy: April 2nd, 2012
Surgery Type: SAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Re: Post-op infection and pressure sores!!!
Thank you ladies for your response. My appointment is in the am and honestly after all that infected drainage the other day I feel better. The drainage I am getting now is all serous and there is no odor. My fevers have subsided as well. My pain has even lessened now that there is less pressure in the area. This doc will be getting earful for not treating me in the first place after 2 visits to the ER and numerous phone calls. I know my body and my history and I didn't need to go to school for 8+ years to know that I was infected. It's a **** shame what passes for medical care in this country. Thanks again for your concern and I will update after my appointment
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04-15-2012, 03:37 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 331
Hysterectomy: April 9th, 2012
Surgery Type: SAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Re: Post-op infection and pressure sores!!!
Good Luck Sue...you sound like a strong woman so don't leave there without satisfying answers. Go kick some surgeon butt!! Let us know what happens!!
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04-15-2012, 05:05 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 2,294
Hysterectomy: April 4th, 2012
Surgery Type: DvH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Re: Post-op infection and pressure sores!!!
Write all events down in chronological order before you appointment. That way you won't forget any points you want to make if you get angry, flustered, or frustrated. Good luck!
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04-15-2012, 05:22 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 184
Hysterectomy: March 6th, 2012
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Post-op infection and pressure sores!!!
Infection is tricky! I know firsthand, have been dealing with an open incision for three weeks now. If you have pus drainage, and it stops, that can actually be a bad thing! You could have a deep abcess that is leaking inside your abdominal cavity, and not draining outside your incision due to swollen tissues. Plus, any incisional opening just HAS to be treated, no matter how small, whether tje fluid leaking is pus or serous fluid. All open incisions could be life threatening!
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04-16-2012, 04:25 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 5
Hysterectomy: April 2nd, 2012
Surgery Type: SAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Re: Post-op infection and pressure sores!!!
Well ladies...I never even saw the doctor today. His nurse took care of the incision today. She said I had a seroma and removed all but 2 of my staples. she packed the incision with gauze strips and now i have to pack it daily at home. Ive done this once in the past and did not have very good results so needless to say I am scared. I follow up in office again on thursday and then weekly after that. They hardly gave me any supplies and that was upsetting too as I have no income right now. They also did not prescribe any more antibiotics beside zithromax. Im sorry, good for a sinus infection but not meant to treat this kind of infection and if they read my history they would see that Ive needed much stronger medicines in the past. Sucky doctors!
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04-16-2012, 05:36 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 184
Hysterectomy: March 6th, 2012
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Post-op infection and pressure sores!!!
You simply have to be your own advocate on this one. I so wish I could go with you to your doctor and yell for you! IMHO, you should not be packing it yourself, or buying the supplies. You are at great risk for continued infection. My experience, they used aquacel gauze to stuff, sugical sponge on top, and then tegaderm film. They change it in the office monday, wed, and friday, with the doctor checking progress every monday. I just saw my doctor today and since we are past the third week without resolution, I am referred to a wound care specislist.
At the very least, if the doctor wont see you, get a referral. Please dont just suffer and except less than par treatment. Its hard to speak up, but you have to. An open draining wound really is a medical emergency, pus or not.
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