Cellulitis

[Guest guest]

Forgive me, I had posted this yesterday on another list but got no

replies so am cross posting again here:

Dear All,

Hi, I'm just one week out and have some problems: I never made it

home from OHSU because just one hour from home (after a four hour

trip) I started to 'fade'. Got weaker, kept falling asleep, got

nauseaus and felt clammy. My poor husband reached over, touched my

sweaty forhead and announced " We're going to the hospital! " And we

did. As soon as they wheeled me inside I felt better, so maybe the

car was just too hot.

But my hubby wasn't going anywhere until I'd been seen, so I

signed in and we got started. Right away the differences between my

local hospital and OHSU became obvious - I asked for help in the

restroom because I was swollen and would need help wiping. The nurse

got a very disgusted look and told me if I couldn't manage on my own,

they'd have to give me a catheter. Apparently mere 'wiping' wasn't

done there! So the entire time I was there I used the toilet three

times and my husband had to come in and wipe me. He was so sweet and

gentle, what a neat thing to find out about someone...

OK, long story short, after several people said I was fine the

local RNY surgeon came in to see me. He asked me if I knew that he

did the RNY and seemed OK with my reasons for choosing the DS. Then

he looked at my scar and dragged the other ER doc and another guy

back and asked them why they hadn't noticed my cellulitis! They

gaped and appeared to see clearly what he was talking about but could

not give a good reason for missing it earlier.

So the RNY doc took over, wiped my belly with Betedine (I think).

Then he open the wound a little, drained some fluid, took some

samples for culturing, and left after ordering the ER doc to give me

some antibiotic shots and filled out a perscription for Cipro for me.

The poor ER doc never did come back, just sent in a nurse with

the discharge slip and instructions.

Now I'm wondering if others have had similar occurences with

cellulitis and what you did about it. I was OK until about a half

hour ago when I removed the dressing from the wound and found a lot

of drainage had occured and is still draining right now. I plan to

phone my doc tomorrow and also the RNY doc who cultured the samples

to see of the infection had spread into the wound.

Thanks in advance,

Shelly