Guest guest Posted January 24, 2004 Report Share Posted January 24, 2004 Hello all, I thought I'd better write and let you know that I am still alive and doing better. I have been having quite a bit of difficulty since coming home. First, after the drains were removed (they HAD to be removed after 3 weeks due to risk of infection), I began to get a fluid buildup in my abdomen that stretched it until my skin was actually shiny. My PCP aspirated 12 ounces on one day and then another 8 ounces a few days later. While there is still fluid there, it is not pulled really tight like before so we are trying to resolve it in other ways. Dr. Oh recommended an enzyme that I have to take with each of my 6 shakes that helps absorb the protein. He said that my protein tanked after surgery (in spite of drinking copious amounts both before and after surgery - RIGHT MICHELLE?!?!) and that tends to cause the fluid to build up around the site of the muscle work part of the surgery. I have to be really careful, though, to not take the enzyme close to when I am eating because it also help us to absorb fat and carbs. So far, so good. Fluid seems to be reducing and I have still lost a few more pounds. Then, I developed an egg sized pocket of fluid near the incision on my left hip. That area has been more swollen and discolored since right after the surgery and the fluid in the drain for that area never looked quite right and there wasn't the volume that the other two had. Well, my PCP lanced the area and it was full of fluid that was obviously infected. She drained it as well as she could and told me to clean it 3 times a day to keep it open. When I went back 2 days later, it was completely healed over and the fluid was back. She lanced it again and packed it to keep it open and allow it to continue to drain. I've also been on (and continue to take) various antibiotics. Right now, the packing is just in the very edge to keep it open and I will be removing it completely on Monday with a visit back to her on Tuesday. It looks much better - much less swollen and red - but she still isn't happy with the depth of the 'tunnel'. So when I go back next Tuesday, she will assess it and is considering sending me to a local surgeon to evaluate it and make recommendations. With all the doctor visits (2 or 3 a week) and trying to work and battling the infection, I have been pretty exhausted. That's why I haven't been reading too many posts and haven't posted myself. And if that weren't enough, Tom found out on Tuesday that the grant funding for his position has been pulled by the state (we both work for the school district here in town), so he was given two weeks notice. Nothing like a little extra stress! The timing is especially bad with all the medical bills we have had recently. Yikes! If you hear of a good job for a computer geek, please let us know. He has been working as a systems analyst/data analyst and he is really good. I hope everyone is doing well. I also hope that I am back up to speed with reading and responding to the groups again soon. Sheri In Sunny Florida Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 24, 2004 Report Share Posted January 24, 2004 Sheri, It's good to hear from you again but I am sorry you are going through so much right now. I hope the infections clear up soon and your DH finds work quickly. I'll keep you in my prayers. Good Luck. Diane LAP RNY 9/99 > Hello all, > > I thought I'd better write and let you know that I am still alive and > doing better. > > I have been having quite a bit of difficulty since coming home. > First, after the drains were removed (they HAD to be removed after 3 > weeks due to risk of infection), I began to get a fluid buildup in my > abdomen that stretched it until my skin was actually shiny. My PCP > aspirated 12 ounces on one day and then another 8 ounces a few days > later. While there is still fluid there, it is not pulled really > tight like before so we are trying to resolve it in other ways. Dr. > Oh recommended an enzyme that I have to take with each of my 6 shakes > that helps absorb the protein. He said that my protein tanked after > surgery (in spite of drinking copious amounts both before and after > surgery - RIGHT MICHELLE?!?!) and that tends to cause the fluid to > build up around the site of the muscle work part of the surgery. I > have to be really careful, though, to not take the enzyme close to > when I am eating because it also help us to absorb fat and carbs. So > far, so good. Fluid seems to be reducing and I have still lost a few > more pounds. > > Then, I developed an egg sized pocket of fluid near the incision on > my left hip. That area has been more swollen and discolored since > right after the surgery and the fluid in the drain for that area > never looked quite right and there wasn't the volume that the other > two had. Well, my PCP lanced the area and it was full of fluid that > was obviously infected. She drained it as well as she could and told > me to clean it 3 times a day to keep it open. When I went back 2 days > later, it was completely healed over and the fluid was back. She > lanced it again and packed it to keep it open and allow it to > continue to drain. I've also been on (and continue to take) various > antibiotics. Right now, the packing is just in the very edge to keep > it open and I will be removing it completely on Monday with a visit > back to her on Tuesday. It looks much better - much less swollen and > red - but she still isn't happy with the depth of the 'tunnel'. So > when I go back next Tuesday, she will assess it and is considering > sending me to a local surgeon to evaluate it and make recommendations. > > With all the doctor visits (2 or 3 a week) and trying to work and > battling the infection, I have been pretty exhausted. That's why I > haven't been reading too many posts and haven't posted myself. > > And if that weren't enough, Tom found out on Tuesday that the grant > funding for his position has been pulled by the state (we both work > for the school district here in town), so he was given two weeks > notice. Nothing like a little extra stress! The timing is especially > bad with all the medical bills we have had recently. Yikes! If you > hear of a good job for a computer geek, please let us know. He has > been working as a systems analyst/data analyst and he is really good. > > I hope everyone is doing well. I also hope that I am back up to speed > with reading and responding to the groups again soon. > > Sheri > In Sunny Florida Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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