Post surgery infection

theresa8
theresa8 Member Posts: 61
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Has anyone ever experienced post surgery infection. My husband had surgery for his rectal cancer Feb 1st. The news from pathology was great and we were really encouraged. But since last Wednesday he started feeling bad, a little weak no energy and in some kind of pain. Well I got his pain med filled but it didn't quite bring him any relief. He also had terrible night sweats. Finally Monday we saw his surgeon and after a scan discovered that he had a bad infection at his resection site. So now he's in the hospital with intraveinous antibiotics. He's still in pain after 2 days there, this morning they attempted to put in a drain at the infection site but the radiologist doing the procedure sais it wasn't worth it since the infection had gone down tremendously in 24 hrs. Great but he,s still in pain. The surgeon was in surgery all day so couldn't talk to him. He was being so courageous and all tryng to get better.I feel a little guilty for not reacting sooner to these symptoms. So......I hope things are better tomorrow.
Good night, bless you all.
Theresa

Comments

  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    #2
    Hi Theresa,
    I am sorry to
    Hi Theresa,

    I am sorry to hear of your husband's infection but I am glad to hear that he is beginning to feel better. Don't beat yourself up for not recognizing symptoms; sometimes we don't know until something happens but then we are prepared if it happens again (hopefully it doesn't!). I hope your husband feels excellent soon!

    By the way, I think you mentioned you live in Canada; I live just outside Toronto.

    Take good care!
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #3
    Post surgery...


    Yupper. I suffered from a terrible stench emitting from the surgical wound.
    There was so much seepage, that it overwhelmed the Wound-Vac machine.
    They took their time, and waited over a week before deciding to re-open me.
    It was due to the surgeon's poor stitching when resecting the colon, and it
    had consequently leaked causing a major infection.

    After the surgery, I woke up to find they gave me an ileostomy. They
    felt that due to the infection, it was a better idea to have the waste exit
    well prior to the colon. Nice.

    During a resection of the colon, there is normally a certain amount of
    waste that gets into the abdominal cavity, regardless of how careful
    the surgeon is. That waste will usually result in an infection.

    Every time the abdominal area is invaded by hands or equipment,
    adhesions result; It is those adhesions that cause much of the pain.

    Try to bear with it, it usually gets better with time.

    Good Health!


    John
  • pluckey
    pluckey Member Posts: 484 Member
    #4
    theresa,
    I had an infection
    theresa,

    I had an infection in my incision that reared its ugly head right after I got out of the hospital...my doctor drained it, i got on antibiotics and i had a home nurse come in for several weeks to change dressing. It's an open would that has to heal from the inside out- wet to dry dressings. When i recovered a bit better from the surgery itself, i changed the dressings myself. As long as he stays on antibiotics and maintains good hygeine etc...it'll clear up...the wound to actually close takes a while - several weeks, but it will!

    good luck

    Peggy
  • WinneyPooh
    WinneyPooh Member Posts: 318
    #5
    John23 said:

    Post surgery...


    Yupper. I suffered from a terrible stench emitting from the surgical wound.
    There was so much seepage, that it overwhelmed the Wound-Vac machine.
    They took their time, and waited over a week before deciding to re-open me.
    It was due to the surgeon's poor stitching when resecting the colon, and it
    had consequently leaked causing a major infection.

    After the surgery, I woke up to find they gave me an ileostomy. They
    felt that due to the infection, it was a better idea to have the waste exit
    well prior to the colon. Nice.

    During a resection of the colon, there is normally a certain amount of
    waste that gets into the abdominal cavity, regardless of how careful
    the surgeon is. That waste will usually result in an infection.

    Every time the abdominal area is invaded by hands or equipment,
    adhesions result; It is those adhesions that cause much of the pain.

    Try to bear with it, it usually gets better with time.

    Good Health!


    John

    Infection, Very Commmon
    Theresa, sorry to hear about your husband, I had a really bad infection when my colon burst surgery before last, but this am one they siad i didn't have one, I do have a good amount of a pain and i am not sleeping at all, but my ile, is not very protuded and leakage is occuring my skin is really burned, I sent you a PM, since your husband and i have the same ileo, birthday.
    Take care of him, he's lucky you are understanding, (i don't have this my husband prefers not to know anything about the ileo, he figures it will be gone soon enough i guess, )

    live, laugh, play
    Winney
  • fedester
    fedester Member Posts: 753 Member
    #6
    yes
    i just went thru this last week.
    had colon resection 1/13 went home 1/19.
    went back in 2/5-2/7 with bad infection.
    home now and feeling better.
    be well
    never,ever give up!!
    bruce

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