post-op infection - my story

[Guest guest]

Greetings all,

I thought I'd share my postop experiences. It may help someone else

now or in the future.

My surgery was on 27 July 00 and went OK. I had some low BP problems

postop, but increased fluids and eliminating the scopalamine and pain

meds resolved that. I had some really 'wonderful' bruises post-op,

too.

When I returned to work after 2 weeks, I began running a low grade

fever (around 100F) and had generalized abdominal tenderness. I also

felt queasy (unsettled, not nauseated) almost all the time. Over the

next 2 weeks, the abdominal discomfort changed and became more

localized in the left diaphragm area. I began having the kind of

pains and spasms that patients with hiatal hernias or heart attacks

have (pressure on the chest, radiating pain from front to back, left

to center, referral pain in the L shoulder).

On Saturday, 26 Aug, I awoke with a temp of 103F and had severe pain

in the L diaphragm area. It was painful to take a deep breath. The

day before, I had some blood work done by my PCP, so I called his

answering service first about the high fever. Friday's blood tests

were normal, but he suggested I have some tests at the local

hospital...so off I went.

At the hospital, I had a d-dimer test and a chest xray. The chest

xray showed some peural effusion (fluid in the sack around the lungs)

and the d-dimer test was 'positive'. I was told this meant I

probably had a pulmonary embolism (PE). So, I was admitted to the ER.

While in the ER, the nurses wanted to know what meds I could take to

reduce the fever. I INSISTED that they contact Dr.R about this. I'd

been pushing for him to be 'in the loop' anyhow.

Dr.R had a very different opinion about what my problem was and

wanted me transferred to Durham Regional as soon as possible.

Eventually, I had a 'lovely' ambulance ride to Durham Regional.

(Between you/me, the ER was reluctant to transfer me - their opinion

so differed from Dr.R's.)

Once there, I had some 'swallow' test to check for leaks in my new

plumbing -- none thankfully! Then, I was started on industrial

strength IV and oral antibiotics. Vioxx brought the fever down and

the antibiotics kicked in and kept my temp down. The pain in my

back/shoulder was quite intense while in the hospital. It was

finally bad enough I took some percocet (sp?) which helped immensely.

I was discharged on Sunday and stayed at home and rested the next

week at home. The oral antibiotics, Levaquin, Diflucan and Flagyl,

were working - each day my temp rose less then the day before and the

pains and spasms were reduced and finally eliminate! Eventually, one

or the combination of the antibiotics started making me nauseous and

by Friday, they were causing me to vomit a couple times per day. On

Monday, I called Dr.R again and he d/c the antibiotics. I had been

on them 10 of 14 days.

Wow, I have my appetite back again and no nausea. Wonderful.

By the way - Dr.R indicated the d-dimer test was not a very accurate

test (thought it has its uses in certain cases). However, since he

knew my surgery and where likely hematomas could occur and become

infected, he was not concerned about a pulmonary embolism.

Furthermore, he indicated that if I had a PE, that the xray would

show some infarction of tissue (dead lung tissue) as a result of the

clot. Nothing on the xray like this. Also - the nurse at Durham

Regional indicated to me that abdominal surgery in general is NOT

likely to lead to a PE. All these 'facts' made me feel much better

about this!

I'm still very tired (low stamina) and I again have a low grade temp

(99.8F). Hey - it could be something viral; it's the only thing I

wasn't treated for! Dr.R isn't concerned at this point, but I'm

keeping a careful eye on this - I don't want to visit the hospital as

a patient again. Pray (if you do) that this doesn't happen!

According to the patient manual, Dr.R doesn't consider a temp a

problem until it's 101.5F or higher. But, if you don't feel right

and have any weird aches, pains, etc. and are running a temp, please

don't ignore it. Keep in contact. It just might save you from more

serious complications.

KEY POINT - be certain that you keep Dr.R in the loop. I would

probably have been on blood thinners as treatment for the PE at that

other hospital, while the infection continued out of control in my

upper L abdomen. Who knows where that would have led to!

To possible pre-ops -- this experience has not changed my mind about

MGB. At one month, I've lost 24 lbs (according to my PCP records).

I still believe the long term health benefits are worth the risks. I

can honestly say, though, that I'm envious of other post-ops who have

breezed throught this. I long to feel as good as they do!! I'm sure

my day will come...SOON!

Love to all.

Debbie

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/11/2000 9:12:46 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

ddrissel@... writes:

<< To possible pre-ops -- this experience has not changed my mind about

MGB. At one month, I've lost 24 lbs (according to my PCP records).

I still believe the long term health benefits are worth the risks. I

can honestly say, though, that I'm envious of other post-ops who have

breezed throught this. I long to feel as good as they do!! I'm sure

my day will come...SOON!

Love to all.

Debbie >>

Thank Heavens you're OK now. I do hope you get to feeling better. It's such a

good thing that you paid attention to what your body was doing and what it

was telling you and that you had the right ideal in demanding that they

contact Dr. R. You would think that would be the first thing they would want

to do. Good luck to you and hope you feel better everyday!!!

Cathy Morrow in Lenoir, NC

BMI 42

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much Debbie, for sharing your experience. I'm preop this

Thursday, and I'm glad to hear about keeping Dr. R *in the loop*.

This just proves that much more how important it is to keep in touch

with him.

Keep up the recovery!

ebbieday in VA

preop 9/14

> Greetings all,

>

> I thought I'd share my postop experiences. It may help someone

else

> now or in the future.

>

> My surgery was on 27 July 00 and went OK. I had some low BP

problems

> postop, but increased fluids and eliminating the scopalamine and

pain

> meds resolved that. I had some really 'wonderful' bruises post-op,

> too.

>

> When I returned to work after 2 weeks, I began running a low grade

> fever (around 100F) and had generalized abdominal tenderness. I

also

> felt queasy (unsettled, not nauseated) almost all the time. Over

the

> next 2 weeks, the abdominal discomfort changed and became more

> localized in the left diaphragm area. I began having the kind of

> pains and spasms that patients with hiatal hernias or heart attacks

> have (pressure on the chest, radiating pain from front to back,

left

> to center, referral pain in the L shoulder).

>

> On Saturday, 26 Aug, I awoke with a temp of 103F and had severe

pain

> in the L diaphragm area. It was painful to take a deep breath.

The

> day before, I had some blood work done by my PCP, so I called his

> answering service first about the high fever. Friday's blood tests

> were normal, but he suggested I have some tests at the local

> hospital...so off I went.

>

> At the hospital, I had a d-dimer test and a chest xray. The chest

> xray showed some peural effusion (fluid in the sack around the

lungs)

> and the d-dimer test was 'positive'. I was told this meant I

> probably had a pulmonary embolism (PE). So, I was admitted to the

ER.

>

> While in the ER, the nurses wanted to know what meds I could take

to

> reduce the fever. I INSISTED that they contact Dr.R about this.

I'd

> been pushing for him to be 'in the loop' anyhow.

>

> Dr.R had a very different opinion about what my problem was and

> wanted me transferred to Durham Regional as soon as possible.

> Eventually, I had a 'lovely' ambulance ride to Durham Regional.

> (Between you/me, the ER was reluctant to transfer me - their

opinion

> so differed from Dr.R's.)

>

> Once there, I had some 'swallow' test to check for leaks in my new

> plumbing -- none thankfully! Then, I was started on industrial

> strength IV and oral antibiotics. Vioxx brought the fever down and

> the antibiotics kicked in and kept my temp down. The pain in my

> back/shoulder was quite intense while in the hospital. It was

> finally bad enough I took some percocet (sp?) which helped

immensely.

>

> I was discharged on Sunday and stayed at home and rested the next

> week at home. The oral antibiotics, Levaquin, Diflucan and Flagyl,

> were working - each day my temp rose less then the day before and

the

> pains and spasms were reduced and finally eliminate! Eventually,

one

> or the combination of the antibiotics started making me nauseous

and

> by Friday, they were causing me to vomit a couple times per day.

On

> Monday, I called Dr.R again and he d/c the antibiotics. I had been

> on them 10 of 14 days.

>

> Wow, I have my appetite back again and no nausea. Wonderful.

>

> By the way - Dr.R indicated the d-dimer test was not a very

accurate

> test (thought it has its uses in certain cases). However, since he

> knew my surgery and where likely hematomas could occur and become

> infected, he was not concerned about a pulmonary embolism.

> Furthermore, he indicated that if I had a PE, that the xray would

> show some infarction of tissue (dead lung tissue) as a result of

the

> clot. Nothing on the xray like this. Also - the nurse at Durham

> Regional indicated to me that abdominal surgery in general is NOT

> likely to lead to a PE. All these 'facts' made me feel much better

> about this!

>

> I'm still very tired (low stamina) and I again have a low grade

temp

> (99.8F). Hey - it could be something viral; it's the only thing I

> wasn't treated for! Dr.R isn't concerned at this point, but I'm

> keeping a careful eye on this - I don't want to visit the hospital

as

> a patient again. Pray (if you do) that this doesn't happen!

>

> According to the patient manual, Dr.R doesn't consider a temp a

> problem until it's 101.5F or higher. But, if you don't feel right

> and have any weird aches, pains, etc. and are running a temp,

please

> don't ignore it. Keep in contact. It just might save you from

more

> serious complications.

>

> KEY POINT - be certain that you keep Dr.R in the loop. I would

> probably have been on blood thinners as treatment for the PE at

that

> other hospital, while the infection continued out of control in my

> upper L abdomen. Who knows where that would have led to!

>

> To possible pre-ops -- this experience has not changed my mind

about

> MGB. At one month, I've lost 24 lbs (according to my PCP

records).

> I still believe the long term health benefits are worth the risks.

I

> can honestly say, though, that I'm envious of other post-ops who

have

> breezed throught this. I long to feel as good as they do!! I'm

sure

> my day will come...SOON!

>

> Love to all.

>

> Debbie