Sponge left in after c-section, result unintended partial, suing for malpractice

Hi there. I found this site while searching for some answers to questions about hysterectomies. I'm glad I found you guys.

Here's my story:
Sept 5 2000: After 17 hours of labor, 2 hours of that as active pushing, discovered that daughter's head was stuck and opted for a c-section. Had spinal headache from epidural, they gave me a spinal block and my diaphram froze, causing me to pass out completely. Daughter's apgar an hour later was a 3 but she bounced back fine.

April 2001: Had a laproscopic tubal ligation (husband and I only wanted one child due to my diabetes). Doctor thought she clamped a part of my intestines instead of a tube and noted that my bowels were wrapped around my uterus. Otherwise, procedure went well. Told to get an HSG dye test as soon as my next cycle comes to check that tubal was done correctly.

July 10 2001: HSG test. Tech said that my tubes were sucessfully tied but that I'd be hearing from my doctor. No hint that anything was truly wrong.

July 12 2001: Doctor calls at 9AM. Leaves message. Also calls husband's cell phone...sounds urgent. When we get in touch with her, she tells me there's a "calcification" on the film and they want me in for a ct-scan immediately. I of course think cancer (family history) and freak out. DR calls back and admits they think a sponge was left in after c-section. CT-scan shows a sponge (or bit of gauze) that my body walled off with some fluid. DR and hospital tell me they'll pay for the operation to remove it...must happen soon to prevent further damage. Turns out, that was the crampy feeling I'd been having...just thought it was a muscle thing post c-section.

July 17 2001: Surgery takes 2 hours, family couldn't see me in recovery for 3 more hours after that. They wouldn't even let my husband in to see me. The first thing I remember is screaming at the top of my lungs "These ba***rds are going to pay big time for this!" before a nurse puts something in my IV and I'm out again.

July 18 2001: DR visits at 8AM. She tells me that the surgery went well. The sponge was disintegrating and infected. They had to take my right fallopian tube (calling it a partial hysterectomy) because of the debris and infection. "It shouldn't matter that we had to take it, you had your tubes tied anyway." Yeah, with the idea that it was reversible if I ever decided to have more children for whatever reason! "You were very lucky we caught it when we did." No, they are at this point. (Although yes, I acknowledge that it could have been a lot worse.) The scar is deformed due to previous stretch marks and it was done on top of the c-section scar. The drain hole (which they left open after they took it out) is infected but they're holding of on anti-biotics because they gave me so many during my 5 day post-op stay.

I was so unprepared for this. I'm like most of you. I study on something before I had it done. I studied c-sections and tubal ligations before each of them. I believe in an informed patient. Had I known this would even have been a possible result, I'd have studied before being admitted so I'd know what questions to ask when I was done.

I'm just so angry. Yes, I'm suing for all I can. But that doesn't change the fact that I've had 3 abdominal surgeries in 1 year. I'm a diabetic that has a hard time bouncing back from things and school starts in 3 weeks.

I just wanted to vent and share. Reading some of the other posts, I realize that I was lucky. I still am down in the dumps about the whole thing.

Smiles & glad to have found you all,
Chris in Kansas

Welcome Chris from Kansas from Jacqui in Ohio!!!!!
Oh Dear!!! You have really been through quite an ordeal, I am so sorry for you. From here on in you can count on lots of love and support. Sending you a big hug from Ohio!!! Jacqui

Hi, Chris!

I don't blame you for being angry about what's happened to you. This was a very unexpected turn of events. Thank goodness it was found when it was! It's very uncommon anymore for sponges to be left in because they always do such a thorough count. I'm sorry you were one of the exceptions.

Take a deep breath and try to heal. I wish you well with your recovery. Eat well and rest a lot.

OH MY LORD CHRIS??? BLESS YOUR HEART !!! I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY, BUT TAKE CARE AND HEAL DARLIN..... YOU POOR BABY..... BIG HUGS, ANNE

Hi Chrissie

I hope this site can offer you some support after what you have been through.

It would seem slightly insensitive of the doctor to say to you that it didn't matter that they had to do what they did as you weren't planning any more children!!!! If you are like me you like to at least feel like you have some control over what happens to you and they took that away.

It is unfortuante that it happened at all and it is hard to believe in this day and age that it could happen!! In some ways it may have been opportune that you had your tubes ties as without that test afterwarsd they would not have discovered this when they did.

All the best and I wish you a speedy recovery

Sarah

You poor thing You must be :burning: And I cannot believe they did that, and THEN acted like it was no big deal *punch*
I have a very hard time with any surgery or hospitals and I cant imagine having to go BACK in Just so they can fix their mistake, and what a silly mistake. What hospital was it, not that its the whole hospital but you know they should have offered to compensate you for your pain and suffering and agrivation alone. Good luck to you, you need big ~Teri

That is terrible, you poor thing!! I can't even imagine the resentment and anger you must feel.

The only thing I would like to share with you, is, don't let the anger and retaliation consume you. You must concentrate on healing. This is now your body, take care of it. You cannot change what's been done. Bitterness and resentment will ruin and run your life if you let it.

My prayers are with you.

I think transplant raises a great point here.

In that same spirit, let me say that this web site is not meant to dispense legal advise. We are here, women helping women, to support others who are contemplating, waiting for, or have already had hysterectomies. The support we give deals with the physical and emotional aspects of this surgery only.

We are just not legally equipped to handle discussions regarding lawsuits. Thanks so much for your understanding in advance!

Chrissymae, I'm terribly sorry for what you've had to endure, and hope that your recovery gets on the right road as soon as possible. I'm sending you some healing hugs...

Linda

Thanks to all of you. I know in time I'll heal mentally and physically. Today is the 2 week mark and I go in for my check up. I woke up feely crampy, so I'm not in a good mood. Rest assured, I have a great legal team (six words I never thought I'd use together about myself!) and am confident a settlement of some sort can be reached. (I can't say the name of the hospital until this is over.)

I'm even more angered now that I've been to a lawyer though. Like I said, the team is great. However, they point out that I'll probably get nothing if it goes to a jury because I'm healing so quickly and it doesn't appear that I suffered much. I'm a teacher, so I get my paychecks all summer...so I didn't lose any pay.

I feel like I'm being cheated my just due because I learned how to effectively pass gass after 3 abdominal procedures in a year (go suppositories & walking!) and my life's dream of teaching.

Thanks again for the support. It means a lot. I'm still so very glad I found you guys.

Love,
Chris in Kansas