4 weeks post op, 3 weeks fever/infection

Tomorrow I'll be at 4 weeks and it's been so rough. At one week post-op the doc noticed that part of my incision wasn't closing properly. I'd been running a low grade fever every night to just about 100. One week later she took a culture of the drainage and it came back positive for E Coli and ordered home nursing care to keep an eye on it. She put me on Keflex which I took religiously. Then I developed a fungus infection in the groin which required diflucan and topical antifungal cream. I took that as prescribed also. Still the fever came on every afternoon and stayed with me every night. I'd take tylenol, ibuprofen and hydrated to try to get it down. At just over 3 weeks she examined me and told me the incision was healing nicely but I was still running nightly fevers. She then switched me over to Cipro. I've been on Cipro for 5 days now and the fevers are going up. Tonite I nearly hit 102. I called the doctor and she wants to see me tomorrow. An infectious disease doctor may be recommended and she wants to also check for absesses. There is little pain. Just this darned fever.

I'm so drained and weak I can barely walk. A urine culture was taken last week and I'm going to ask for a blood culture tomorrow. It's all getting to be too much and the depression is setting in deep. I cry every night and can do little more than sit in a chair and lay down. Living alone, I don't feel like fixing meals and I have no appetite.

Has anyone else been through this? Please tell me yes and you're ok now. I'm really down.

Oh No, what a DRAG.

I'm so sorry to hear of your troubles. I haven't had your problem but I'm sure others have and will be along shortly to reassure you. I remember that I did run a low grade fever for weeks after my first child was born and that turned out to be nothing, if that's any help.

Even if you don't feel like eating, I hope you're drinking lots of liquids. And remember you're a who maybe needs to ask somebody to come and pamper her!!

Good luck tomorrow. You're in my thoughts.

Thanks Arctic for your encouragement. I wish someone else could come forward with some personal experience but that's why they call this board "The Road Less Traveled".

Saw the doc today and she's thinking that maybe there's an abcess so tomorrow I have a CT scan over at the hospital. She's stumped by my bloodwork and cultures which have come back normal. She's suggesting that alternatively I might be having a serum sickness to the antibiotics; a kind of reverse reaction which is causing me to be sick with these fevers. Who knows. I'm just going to take this one day at a time.

For anyone who cares, just wanted to update you on the situation.

Dear Kathy,

Your body is working extra-hard to recover from surgery AND the post-op troubles

I hope you get some good answers from your doc.

Sending huge cyberhugs

Hi,

Post Op I developed a staph infection in my incision. I also was prescriped Keflex. Keflex is known for killing off all the good bacteria in your stomach, that happened to me. Than can then lead to another anti-biotic induced infection called "Clostridium Difficile". It causes a problem with your bowel. You will certainly know if your bowel is not performing as it should. This infection can be picked up by a stool specimen sent to pathology. It is then treated by another anti-biotic. An infectious disease Doctor should be able to pick it up if that is the case. It is not a common problem "Clostridium Difficile" but it can happen. I have had it the last two times I have had to take anti-biotics. Doctors just look at me in amazement when I tell them my problem with taking anti-biotics.

You will get better, you have to be patient. Keep on to the Doctors if your problem persists, I find them too quick to shrug off some problems. Have you tried eating the good type of yoghurts or acidophilous (sp)?

I haven't had any kind of trouble like you have listed other than right now I'm fighting swollen glands, loss of appetite, fever, weakness, and last night the Urgent Care tested me for MONO!!!!! I don't have mono and the doc said I just have a viral infection and to follow up with my doc when I go in next week, (which I will do). I do understand your frustration and I am sending many warm hugs and hot tea for you. Stay hydrated and ask someone to come stay with you during this time.

Peace and Hugs

Your in my thoughts and prayers

ms.t

I have not had the problems of Grandmeow or some of the others either, but I have had the "mono-like" condition for a week and a half; it is finally going away. I actually had mono 20 years ago and did not think it possible I could feel that bad again. My glands in my neck were so swollen I could barely turn my head. There are some nasty viruses going around this time of year here (I live in S.W. Florida). I went to the gyn for a post op visit today and she said that recovering from any virus will be more difficult for a while because my body is still healing from the hyst. Do not be surprised if it takes you longer to heal too.

Grandmeow, I am so sorry you are having such troubles. I wish I were closer -- Florida is just too big ! I have a friend who had a hysterectomy a couple of years ago. She came home and a few days later felt like she had the flu and then got a high fever, pain in the abdomen. She ended up in the ER and it turned out she had a raging infection -I think it was a ruptured hematoma. She had to have more surgery and tons of antibiotics. She is fit as a fiddle now and inspite of a difficult recovery she said she would do it again. She calls it her rebirth (she had horrid bleeding, etc from fibroids-- she was beyond anemic prior to surgery). I can get more details if you would like. Let me know.

Good luck with the CT. Please keep us posted.