Debs

[Guest guest]

A special hug for you Debs for the pain and suffering you have endured and

the needless tragedy with events that occurred regarding your knee. Debs, I

have worked for surgeons including g orthopedists for 25 yrs and what has

happened to you was not only not necessary but a disgrace, PLEASE SEE ANOTHER

ORTHOPEDIST BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING FURTHER REGARDING REPLACEMENT, In fact

isn't there anyway you can go to a place such as 's Hopkins. This is so

serious Debs. Speaking for myself, I feel so helpless and angry on your

behalf. Please don't be offended but I would be seeking more than a surgeon

regarding the agony you have gone through. Either way you are in my thoughts

and prayers and I sincerely hope you recover quickly

[Guest guest]

Debs,

Here¹s a few more. This first one sounds like what should be done:

If there is a concern about infection, you may be scheduled for an

Indium-111 Radioisotope Scan. This requires removing some of your own blood

and labeling it with an isotopic material (Indium-111) which is then

re-injected. You will return one day later and the area of the joint will be

scanned. This procedure is sometimes used in combination with other more

routine types of scanning agents so as to evaluate patients with infection

or sepsis.

http://www.jri-oh.com/hipsurgery/hip_special.asp

Here is a different type of bone scan that shows infection in the bone:

http://www.msit.com/t_bone.htm

Group B Streptococcal Prosthetic Joint Infections

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/431319_3?WebLogicSession=PYiQyjjBa6TNnBI

wK22ufeS2FKsNhT96hM2pMAB7xbt5ccPlH2Rw|2922250761261221669/184161393/6/7001/7

001/7002/7002/7001/-1

If your knee is still draining, what¹s the reasoning for closing it? I

don¹t understand the rush or the fact that it¹s of utmost importance.

Dealing with the infection and your pain should be highest on the priority

list. You should be on better pain control. The phentonal pain patch would

help you so much.

3-4 weeks to get an appointment with the infectious disease doctor is not

acceptable.

I cannot believe that they expect you to wait that long with something as

serious as sepsis.

My personal opinion is that you should use your remaining energy and focus

on finding better medical care. What is happening with you is just not

right. Please Debs, consider it.

Hugs,

a

> Thank you for the links a. I have no idea what his thinking was behind

> this change of plans. My knee is still draining like a faucet. I am now

> self treating with steri strips to attempt to close the hole in time (a long

> time). I don't know how successful this will be, but hey, it looks like I am

> on my own anyway. I have called the nephrologist and because the hospital

> sent incomplete hospital records, he won't see me until my next appt in

> December because the records he received didn't show the low potassium of

> 2.9, it just showed the lab results of the normal potassium of 4.3 so no need

> to see him right now. I was supposed to receive another shipment of IV

> antibiotics but they were going to hold off until after I got home from the

> hospital and I call the nursing agency and they have to get this straightened

> out with the doctors, nothing of which was done today. Appt with infectious

> disease doctor was canceled on Thursday as I was supposed to be in the

> hospital and they won't have another opening for 3-4 weeks. I am still

> getting around in a wheelchair as I cannot put any weight on that right leg

> whatsoever due to the severe pain. I am very tired of fighting this, the

> original surgery was on 8-8-02 and just can't fight anymore. It took a lot

> of strength for me to muster up the energy to do the surgery that was planned

> and had my mindset that this was the best way to go and now to have the

> entire game changed in midstream, makes no sense to me. If something is

> infected, I was always under the impression that it should be taken out.

> When I suggested that another washing be done prior to the removal of the

> original prosthesis, he said that would do me no good as he might miss a

> piece of infection and then he would be doing me no favors. His first

> suggestion today was just to go see a plastic surgeon in 3-4 days to get a

> skin graft to get this hole repaired. I asked why he couldn't do it and that

> is when the other plan came into effect. He may do another washing and

> possible closure of the hole on Thursday but it seems that his office and the

> hospital can't get it all together so I think it is best to just walk (?)

> away from the situation and try to figure out something myself. What a mess,

> my poor tummy is taking the brunt of all this stress and the tears keep

> falling. It seems like it has been a very long day for me. Yes, I can see

> where I have made the big mistakes in choosing a physician and until I can

> learn to trust again, I best stay away from any and all of them.

>

> Once again, thank you for the links that you have passed along to me.

>

> Debs

>

>