Checking In

rae_rae
rae_rae Member Posts: 300 Member
edited July 2014 in Kidney Cancer #1

Hi All,

Back in June, I posted that I was going in for surgery for a colon resection, due to diverticulitis and a malignant polyp. Well I had the surgery June 19. And to make an incredibly long story short, I just got home July 24th. Took doc five hours to do the simple lap surgery due to all th adhesions/scar tissue from my nephrectomy as he was breaking it up. In the process, my small bowel was unknowingly nicked. After a few days in the hospital, I developed symptoms that lead to a second emergency surgery, as my lungs were collapasing and I was going septic, they put me on a ventilator and in ICU for a couple days after surgery. Two weeks in the critical care unit, on feeding tubes and every antibiotic known to man. Lots of pain and difficulty. Sent to rehab at a nursing home, wound care was not going well, back to ER after four days and admitted back to the hospital. Tested positive for VRE (Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci). More antibiotics and wound care (large hole in lower abdomen with "tunnels" as long as your finger under the skin)

Third surgery a few days later to clean out wound and put in wound vac. Came home last Thursday night and Saturday morning was in ER again, with a blood clot in my arm (with a picc line that wasn't functioning well) that also traveled to my lung. Finally off antibiotics and came home two days ago. On blood thinners for a few months and get a home nurse to change out my wound every couple of days for the next few weeks and test blood for the blood thinners. Neuropathy now starting in left foot, probably from the antibiotics.  I thought this surgery was going to be a piece of cake compared to my nephrectomy. Boy was I wrong. But I've made it through as before and keep moving forward each day, thanking God for his blessings. 

God bless you all and keep moving forward, one day at a time!

Rae

Comments

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    Not fair

    Rae,

    I see you have a lot of fight still left. Keep it up.

     

     

    Icemantoo

  • I am alive
    I am alive Member Posts: 315
    Welcome home

    Good Lord, Rae Rae!! My mouth opened and dropped to the floor as I read your post! You have been through a ----storm these last several weeks. Thank God you've weathered it and are snug as a bug under your own sheets tonight. You will grow stronger now that you are home again, and I hope your hospital nightmare will recede quickly as your health is more fully restored.

    Its astounding, isn't it, how we can bounce from relative health to death's door then back to health again? Thank God for his blessings indeed. Ever forward! Wishing you the best.

  • Melliebean
    Melliebean Member Posts: 53
    Hey

    Lord I have been there with the wound vac.  But that little machine is a miracle worker.  Sorry you went through all that.

  • APny
    APny Member Posts: 1,995 Member

    Hey

    Lord I have been there with the wound vac.  But that little machine is a miracle worker.  Sorry you went through all that.

    Oh my God, I can’t believe

    Oh my God, I can’t believe what you went through. Wishing you a speedy recovery and hoping that only good things come your way after all you’ve been through! That it's not fair is an understatement.

  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    APny said:

    Oh my God, I can’t believe

    Oh my God, I can’t believe what you went through. Wishing you a speedy recovery and hoping that only good things come your way after all you’ve been through! That it's not fair is an understatement.

    Rae-Rae

    Rae-Rae, you have again demonstrated that you may be the toughest member of this board. You are amazing. I hope everyone else who reads your post goes back and sees what you have endured. I love the last part of your bio. It says,"You will survive." Everyone needs to believe.

  • Cate1273
    Cate1273 Member Posts: 35
    Rae,
      I cannot even believe

    Rae,

      I cannot even believe what you have been through! You are so strong! You are in my thoughts and prayers. Wishing you quick healing!! God bless!

    Cate

  • aamdsi
    aamdsi Member Posts: 284
    Oh my!

    I am so sorry for what you went through and just stunned at your strength to get through it all.

    Glad you are home and hopefully on your way to getting better.

    Hugs and prayers to you.

  • GSRon
    GSRon Member Posts: 1,303 Member
    aamdsi said:

    Oh my!

    I am so sorry for what you went through and just stunned at your strength to get through it all.

    Glad you are home and hopefully on your way to getting better.

    Hugs and prayers to you.

    Oh my Rae..!  What a

    Oh my Rae..!  What a nightmare..!!  But glad to see you stayed strong and here you are back home..!

    Ron

  • sblairc
    sblairc Member Posts: 585 Member
    Well wishes for speedy, uneventful healing at home!

     What a tremendous amount of medical issues you have made it through. Sending you positive healing vibes as you move forward with recovery. 

  • rae_rae
    rae_rae Member Posts: 300 Member
    sblairc said:

    Well wishes for speedy, uneventful healing at home!

     What a tremendous amount of medical issues you have made it through. Sending you positive healing vibes as you move forward with recovery. 

    Thanks all

    We are all strong and the human body can be amazing. I had an amazing amount of support from my family, friends and community as I had lost my job late March and the medical issues took me by surprise, especially financially. Prayer chains, donations, people cleaning, cards, food, visits, groceries...I cannot tell you the impact it has had on me. People I don't even know stepping forward to help. 

    It's good to be strong, but I have learned I have had to let go of "control" issues and accept help and ask for help. It's a lesson for us all. We are not islands, but a community bound together by the want and need to serve one another. Let go of your pride and ask for help. And most importantly, remember to keep paying it forward. 

    This community serves an awesome purpose. We are here for each other.

     

  • Phredswife
    Phredswife Member Posts: 162
    You are one amazing lady!

    Rae rae you are amazing to go through all that and remain so positive. Wishing you a rapid recovery. God bless you too!

    Hugs Melissa xox

  • twinthings
    twinthings Member Posts: 409
    rae_rae said:

    Thanks all

    We are all strong and the human body can be amazing. I had an amazing amount of support from my family, friends and community as I had lost my job late March and the medical issues took me by surprise, especially financially. Prayer chains, donations, people cleaning, cards, food, visits, groceries...I cannot tell you the impact it has had on me. People I don't even know stepping forward to help. 

    It's good to be strong, but I have learned I have had to let go of "control" issues and accept help and ask for help. It's a lesson for us all. We are not islands, but a community bound together by the want and need to serve one another. Let go of your pride and ask for help. And most importantly, remember to keep paying it forward. 

    This community serves an awesome purpose. We are here for each other.

     

    What an inspiration you are

    What an inspiration you are to all of us, rae rae!  I'm not so sure I would have faired as well and come out the otherside with the incredible attitude and spirit you clearly possess.  You are the epitome of 'what doesn't kill us, makes us stronger'. 

    Lifting you in prayer!

    Sindy

  • Karen0074
    Karen0074 Member Posts: 64

    You are one amazing lady!

    Rae rae you are amazing to go through all that and remain so positive. Wishing you a rapid recovery. God bless you too!

    Hugs Melissa xox

    Wow Rae Rae you are so brave

    Wow Rae Rae you are so brave and I'm complaining about a bit of post op nausea. Hope you are well on the road to recovery I have full respect for all that you have been through and overcome. Sending lots of hugs to you.

     

     

    Karen xx

  • danbren2
    danbren2 Member Posts: 311
    Karen0074 said:

    Wow Rae Rae you are so brave

    Wow Rae Rae you are so brave and I'm complaining about a bit of post op nausea. Hope you are well on the road to recovery I have full respect for all that you have been through and overcome. Sending lots of hugs to you.

     

     

    Karen xx

    WOW!

    Rae Rae,

         May everyday just keep getting better and better for you!

                                                                           Prayers of good health!

                                                                             Brenda