the f in infection

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snommintj
snommintj Member Posts: 601
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I had my 2nd liver resection jan 13th 2009. The liver got infected, I went into septic shock at my house, while my wife was at work. I laid on the floor, puked and shat myself, for more than 3 hours. Then I spent the rest of Jan in ICU. They released me on the 31st, the drain they put in had slowed and they felt it was time. Feb 2nd I was rushed to ER. Abscess had come back, bigger than before, wtf. I spent most of Feb in ICU. I wore that drain all of march until there was no drainage. I had a total CT with contrast, They stuck a scope in to check that all was clear before removing the drain. They removed the drain last week.

I had a great weekend. Monday I awoke with a tremendous pain in my right lung. Another trip to the ER revealed a large abscess between my liver and diaphragm. I had to wait 24 hrs to get my bloodwork stabilized before they would work on me. *******Word of advice. Do everything in your power to avoid getting a Potassium injection. Ridiculously painful******************
I have a new drain. The location of the abscess makes it impossible to lay down to sleep.

I asked my surgeon today if somebody had dropped a contact, cigarette butt, or snot rag in there during surgery. He said no. I had the drain for three months the first time. Who knows how long this time. I just want to be able to lay down to sleep. Infections suck

Comments

  • CherylHutch
    CherylHutch Member Posts: 1,375
    #2
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    That Sucks!!
    Snom... I am soooo sorry to hear this!! It definitely goes to show (and should be a lesson to all of us) that infections, no matter how small they may appear to be, are NOT TO BE UNDERESTIMATED!! Infections suck big time... and are incredibly dangerous. I'm thinking that infections like you have experienced in the last 3 months are more dangerous than the actual cancer!!

    My thoughts are being sent down your way and I am going to send some extras that will find a way that you can find a comfortable way of sleeping. Let's face it... when fighting infection or the side affects of chemo/radiation... sleep becomes one of the most important things... so for you not to be able to sleep, that sucks big time!!

    Huggggs,

    Cheryl
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    #3
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    so sorry
    Hi,

    I'm so sorry to hear all you're going through. Wow- I'm sure you're wondering when is this nightmare going to be over with! I will keep you in thought and prayer.
    Keep going and keep coming here to vent if you need to-

    Wishing you recovery soon-
    Lisa
  • snommintj
    snommintj Member Posts: 601
    #4
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    lisa42 said:

    so sorry
    Hi,

    I'm so sorry to hear all you're going through. Wow- I'm sure you're wondering when is this nightmare going to be over with! I will keep you in thought and prayer.
    Keep going and keep coming here to vent if you need to-

    Wishing you recovery soon-
    Lisa

    snommintj jtnimmons
    You guys can call me john, jt, spanky, nimmons, or anything else just as long as I'm still around for you to call me.

    Cheryl nailed the infection bit. Sunday, I went hiking in the mountains in the morning, around 4 miles. I came home, helped my neighbor move some trees he cut down. Then I cut grass the rest of the afternoon. I truly felt great. Less than 10 hours later I was on the brink of death. Infections can almost instantly smack you down. Please, for everyone who reads this, do not hesitate to visit the ER if things start to feel a little off after surgery. My doctors told me last week to contact them if my temperature got above 101. I checked my temperature every two hours and it never got above 99. My fever didn't go above 101 until my second day in the hospital. I woke up this morning and my temp was 94.

    Don't worry about the sleep thing. I've never slept more than 4-5 hours per day, but I have always been able to sleep in any position at anytime. I've been know to sleep standing up. I changed the line to read more accurately.
  • VickiCO
    VickiCO Member Posts: 917
    #5
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    snommintj said:

    snommintj jtnimmons
    You guys can call me john, jt, spanky, nimmons, or anything else just as long as I'm still around for you to call me.

    Cheryl nailed the infection bit. Sunday, I went hiking in the mountains in the morning, around 4 miles. I came home, helped my neighbor move some trees he cut down. Then I cut grass the rest of the afternoon. I truly felt great. Less than 10 hours later I was on the brink of death. Infections can almost instantly smack you down. Please, for everyone who reads this, do not hesitate to visit the ER if things start to feel a little off after surgery. My doctors told me last week to contact them if my temperature got above 101. I checked my temperature every two hours and it never got above 99. My fever didn't go above 101 until my second day in the hospital. I woke up this morning and my temp was 94.

    Don't worry about the sleep thing. I've never slept more than 4-5 hours per day, but I have always been able to sleep in any position at anytime. I've been know to sleep standing up. I changed the line to read more accurately.

    john, jt, spanky, nimmons
    OK, got the name bases covered!

    I am so sorry you have this problem again. You are one of the bravest people I have had the pleasure to meet on this board. And you continue to encourage others...amazing.

    And I agree about the potassium, it hurts like H***. When I went in for my surgery in Feb, my potassium was 2.9. They won't operate unless it's 3.0 or higher, so here came the nurse with the big needle. Oh my God...I thought my wrist was being crushed. I was crying out in pain. The anesthesiologist come on and adjusted something and the pain went away immediately. I also heard him tell the nurse "Next time, call me in BEFORE you inject." So, if they want to inject you with the nasty stuff, ask if they can dilute it through the IV first.

    Vicki
  • kmygil
    kmygil Member Posts: 876 Member
    #6
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    Infections - No Joke!
    Hi John,

    You are so brave, going through one thing after another. Infections really are no joke; they can take you down like a tank! I am praying that you get a respite from all of this and heal quickly. You inspire all of us!

    Hugs,
    Kirsten
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #7
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    Awful!
    John, that septic shock sounds awful! How awful for you, in the midst of it, obviously unable to get to a phone to ask for help, and how awful for whomever (your wife?) came home to find you there! Has she tried to get you to wear a life alert now?! My youngest daughter still panics if she can't get hold of me for a few hours!
    mary
  • usakat
    usakat Member Posts: 610 Member
    #8
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    Wow!
    Gosh, snommintj...you have really been through the land mine obstacle course for cancer, haven't you? And yeah, those potassium shots are torture. Hopefully you are now on the mend and will enjoy an easier and pain-free recovery.

    Wishing you all the best for comfort and restored health....Katie
  • angelsbaby
    angelsbaby Member Posts: 1,165 Member
    #9
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    usakat said:

    Wow!
    Gosh, snommintj...you have really been through the land mine obstacle course for cancer, haven't you? And yeah, those potassium shots are torture. Hopefully you are now on the mend and will enjoy an easier and pain-free recovery.

    Wishing you all the best for comfort and restored health....Katie

    John
    I am truely sorry for your health problems but i hope you will get better soon.Sometimes i don't have the right words but i am thinking of you.

    michelle
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #10
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    the "F" isn't for FUN?
    John, I'm sorry you had this happen. You've been through a lot. Keep on keeping on.
    Get well (damn it!)
    -phil

    snot rag, that's funny...haven't heard that word used in a while, I prefer 'booger portfolio'
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    #11
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    PhillieG said:

    the "F" isn't for FUN?
    John, I'm sorry you had this happen. You've been through a lot. Keep on keeping on.
    Get well (damn it!)
    -phil

    snot rag, that's funny...haven't heard that word used in a while, I prefer 'booger portfolio'

    Hate them!
    An infection landed me in the hospital as well, and I was out of the hospital about a week before I was hospitalized with that perforation! infections are so scary, I know, but you are strong, and you will get through this as well, you are in my prayers! it's scary how you can be fine one minute, then the next, an infection will take you over, and you're down, get better soon!

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna
  • maglets
    maglets Member Posts: 2,576 Member
    #12
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    Shayenne said:

    Hate them!
    An infection landed me in the hospital as well, and I was out of the hospital about a week before I was hospitalized with that perforation! infections are so scary, I know, but you are strong, and you will get through this as well, you are in my prayers! it's scary how you can be fine one minute, then the next, an infection will take you over, and you're down, get better soon!

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna

    amazing
    John you continue to amaze me.....the things you have been through.boy...the things you are going through

    What an inspiration you are.....I so hope you start to get better soon.

    Load of healing love,
    mags
  • spongebob
    spongebob Member Posts: 2,565 Member
    #13
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    $%^!!!
    snomm -

    I really enjoy reading your posts - I hate that the stuff happens to you, but your sense of humor and irony in the face of all this stuff is very refreshing. You are my survivor hero, dude!

    One question, how the $%^& do you pronounce your CSN name? What does it mean?

    Hoping you feel better soon and eventually pass that snot rag that someone left in you!

    - SB
  • spongebob
    spongebob Member Posts: 2,565 Member
    #14
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    spongebob said:

    $%^!!!
    snomm -

    I really enjoy reading your posts - I hate that the stuff happens to you, but your sense of humor and irony in the face of all this stuff is very refreshing. You are my survivor hero, dude!

    One question, how the $%^& do you pronounce your CSN name? What does it mean?

    Hoping you feel better soon and eventually pass that snot rag that someone left in you!

    - SB

    See what happens when you
    See what happens when you don't read the entire chain before you make a post?

    Duh, JT Nimmons. Don't I feel like a dumb@$$ (I would appreciate it if nobody would chime in and confirm that feeling, thank you).

    Be well, John.

    - SB
  • impactzone
    impactzone Member Posts: 551 Member
    #15
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    spongebob said:

    See what happens when you
    See what happens when you don't read the entire chain before you make a post?

    Duh, JT Nimmons. Don't I feel like a dumb@$$ (I would appreciate it if nobody would chime in and confirm that feeling, thank you).

    Be well, John.

    - SB

    You are one tough guy.. I
    You are one tough guy.. I hope they nail this infection!
    Chip
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #16
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    Infections
    I'm so sorry to hear of all the trouble you have been going through just to try and get better. It's amazing how an infection can seem gone and yet pop up again aggressively with no warning. Did they ever put you on an antibiotic? Hoping you feel better in the very near future and come some much needed sleep.

    Kim
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    #17
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    Annabelle41415 said:

    Infections
    I'm so sorry to hear of all the trouble you have been going through just to try and get better. It's amazing how an infection can seem gone and yet pop up again aggressively with no warning. Did they ever put you on an antibiotic? Hoping you feel better in the very near future and come some much needed sleep.

    Kim

    Kim
    Hi Kim,

    Just now also wondering how you're doing... let us know!

    Hug,
    Lisa
  • jenalynet
    jenalynet Member Posts: 361 Member
    #18
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    Gee
    Hi John,
    Gee you sure are having things happen. I want you to know that I'm thinking of you and I hope things start going better for you..Hugs to you, Audrey.

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