- Search CSN:
- Members: Login to search all areas
- Not a member? Click here to search public areas
You are here
Another Update
 |
Jun 11, 2009 - 9:33 am
This is her daughter again. I apologize for the major gap in updates. I was hoping that she would be well enough to update herself, but things got worse, and we've been busy. She went home from the hospital May 28th (a Thursday). Her incision had opened up a little at the hospital, but her doctor thought that just putting steri strips on it to close it would be ok. The incision wound up getting infected, so after taking her to her local doctor the following Tuesday, we had to go back up to the hospital that did her original surgery (an hour and a half away). They took the steri strips off, saw that she was infected, and decided to do a wet to dry dressing. She stayed the night and went home Wednesday evening. I had to do dressing changes 3 times a day, and a home health nurse came by once a day on Thursday and Friday. The infection kept getting worse and the incision kept opening up more and more. My sister took my mom to the local ER late Friday night. They transferred her to the original hospital's ER early Saturday morning. She went into surgery Saturday afternoon. They cleaned out the infection and found an abscess in the right side of her abdomen, which they also cleaned out. They were unable to close her so they used a vacuum dressing. They also put her on antibiotics. She went back into surgery Tuesday, but they still couldn't close her due to swelling. The incision looked good and the abscess has cleared up. She is on lasiks and scheduled to go back into surgery Friday to see if she can be closed up. |
Joined: Feb 2009
Oh My Goodness
It sound like she has been through so much lately and so many surgeries. I'm glad you were proactive in getting her back to the hospital when the infection kept getting worse as that could lead to much bigger issues. Let us know how things go on Friday and tell her I am thinking and praying for a speedy recovery so she can come home.
Kim
Joined: Jun 2008
A Tough Journey
That is a tough trip and am so sorry that she is going through
all of that....but she has a strong fight back attitude so I
believe there will be a turnaround....keeping her in my thoughts
and prayers and I hope she knows we are all here still thinking
about her and emailing and supporting her all the way.
Barbara
Joined: Jul 2008
Wow
Thank you for updating us- I'm so sorry all this is happening. Please let your mom know that people are thinking of her and I am praying for her.
God bless,
Lisa
Joined: Apr 2006
So sorry
Thank you for updating us on your mom.
So sorry your mom has to go thru all that she has. Like someone mentioned she is is fighter and she will get thru this.
Will keep her in my thoughts and prayers.
Hus,
Sue
Joined: Jan 2009
Thank You!
I was so worried about her, when I had my colostomy surgery, they started me out on the wound vac so there wouldn't be any infections, and mine healed nicely, they should have started her on the wet/dry dressings, then she wouldn't have gotten all those infections in the first place, they work amazingly, draining all the infections, bacteria, blood, and nasty stuff out, I had it on for about 5 weeks, it did hurt at first changing it, but it got to the point after a few weeks that I was able to take the tape and sponges out myself, since I did more gently of course, so when the home health nurses came 3 times a week to change, all they had to do was put the sponges and tape back on, and connect me back.
I'm just glad she's doing well, now, and let her know we're all thinking of her, my prayers are with her!
Hugsss!
Donna
Joined: May 2008
Gosh
So many things can happen you just know, tell your mom i am thinking of her and hopes she gets feeling better soon
michelle
Joined: Oct 2008
Thank you for the update
Please tell Mary we are thinking of her and wish her a speedy recovery from all of this. I miss her tons.
Many hugs to all of you.. Vicki
Joined: May 2009
Blessings for Healing Continued Healing
Sorry that your beloved mom has these challenges,and I send blessings of healing for her. She has touched my heart, and rallied my spirit often as I've read her postings on this an on other related sites. I am a caretaker also, and I send blessings of strength to you and you entire family :)
Joined: Aug 2008
Tell Mary....
to let the Drs know that there is no way the can take out all the honery in her so they need to quit the surgeries and bring her back to us......Seriously, I hope she gets better every day and is back in here with all of her friends soon...Tell her we're all waiting on her.....{{{hugs}}}}
Joined: Feb 2008
Oh, dear
Oh, dear. What a hard time she's been having! Thank goodness she has wonderful daughters to take the needed action. I'm so sorry it's been this rough. Please give her our love and tell her that I'm praying for her.
*hugs*
Gail
Joined: May 2008
Blessings
to you all, and quick healing for Mary. My thoughts are with you through this tough time. Don't forget you're not alone.
Leslie
Joined: Feb 2007
So Sorry
Hey. I'm so sorry for everything your Mom is going through. This is daunting stuff, but she is made of sterner stuff than the curveballs that are thrown at her. Please give her my love and know that you are both in my prayers.
Hugs,
Kirsten
Joined: Mar 2009
That sounds like a familiar tune
Infection and abscesses are a serious pain in the ***. I certainly sympathize with her situation. My last liver resection went like clock work. Two hours in the OR. Three days in recovery and then home feeling good. Two days later I'm in the ER, three weeks later I was still in ICU. I finally got out around Valentines day. My wife went to work, I went into septic shock. I laid in my vomit and feces for about four hours until my wife got home. I had a new abscess and infection. I went into septic shock a few more times. My heart rate was above 200 and my blood pressure was 60 over 30 for about 24 hours. My Dr said my kidneys should have failed a few hours into my last episode but they kept on keeping on. A few more weeks in ICU and 3 J-P abscess drains for 3 months almost fixed me. I had a few more ER trips and a few more trips to the interventional radiologist, but I finally shook it. I can honestly say that the infection was far more scary than the cancer.
Joined: Jan 2009
thanks for the update
So sorry this has been so very hard on your mom and you as well. I'll continue to pray for her. She is a strong lady.
Aloha,
kathleen
Joined: Oct 2004
Update
Mom is doing better. When she went into surgery Friday, they were able to close the top layers, not the muscle though. She'll go back in at some point in the future to fix that. She has a feeding tube in for nutrition; the doctor said he'd take that out after she was eating 3 meals + at least 6 ensures a day. She is getting better at moving around, and has gone for a walk yesterday and today. Hopefully she's going up and not back down again!
Joined: May 2009
So nice to hear :)
So happy to hear that your mom is better. I send wishes for more healing and blessings for your mom and whole family :)
Joined: Oct 2008
Thanks for the update
Tell Mary we are praying for her. Good to hear she is able to walk. She'll be her feisty self in no time.
Many hugs to you all...Vicki
Joined: Jan 2009
Wonderful!
Glad to hear she's doing better, I been thinking of her, and worrying about her, make sure you tell her to force those Ensures down, and eat, I bet she'd do better once she's home, for a speedy recovery, I am praying for her!
Hugssss!
~Donna
Joined: Feb 2008
Yay!
That's wonderful!!! Tell Mary that we're SO glad to hear this news. We'll be praying for only continued healing.
*hugs*
Gail
Joined: Jun 2009
It's good to hear your mom
It's good to hear your mom is doing better.I am sure she can do even better.Good luck and best wishes to your mom.
Joined: Oct 2004
At Home
Mom came home Saturday. She's been doing pretty well. She came home with a jp drain and a duval drain (sorry if misspelled). She has been moving around with the aid of a walker, and eating much better. Her spirits are up, and she seems to be on the mend. The only issue we are dealing with currently (other than the drains) is bleeding from her incision. She was bleeding slowly but steadily when she left on Saturday. The nurses and doctors knew, and seemed to think it was ok. It still is bleeding, we change the dressing 2x daily, so not major bleeding. The stitches at the bottom are also pulling out and the incision seems to be opening back up a little. Nothing like last time, but still, its weirding us out and we're a bit worried. She goes into her local doctor's office tomorrow so he can see if its something we need to be worried about, and if we need to take her back to the surgeon. The rest of the incision looks to be healing nicely. Hopefully tomorrow goes well!
Joined: Jan 2009
I had my staple out after 3
I had my staple out after 3 week from surgery and my wound opened up 1 1/2 " long and 2 1/2 deep the first week they packed me I had nurse coming to the house and the following week I was put on a wound vac for 5 weeks then another 4 weeks of packing when I went back to the packing dressing I was not leaking the nasty fluids out.
If you need to see the surgeon again please do get another surgeon burnt once burnt twice but not3 times you know what I mean?
I feel so bad for you mom and my prayers are with you all.
Joined: Feb 2008
Glad she's home!
I'm so glad she's home! Give her a big group hug from all the semi-colons!
Hope the doctor's visit tomorrow goes well, and that all the bleeding will stop immediately.
*hugs*
Gail
Joined: Oct 2008
Good News
I am so glad she is home and doing better. Give her our love and keep letting us know how she is doing.
Many hugs, Vicki
Joined: Apr 2006
So glad
So glad to hear your mom is home and on the mend!
I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers
Hugs,
Sue
Joined: Nov 2001
Hugs and best wishes
Hugs and best wishes to Mary. Double hugs and best wishes to you . You have been a wonderful daughter and have had to go thru some pretty rough experiences to help mum,good on you,Ron
Joined: Jun 2008
Progress
so glad to hear she is back at home....that alone has a
fantastic healing power.....to be back in your own little
nest....hope the medical visit turned out ok.
Huggs,
Barbara
Joined: Oct 2004
Thanks for the well wishes,
Thanks for the well wishes, thoughts and prayers :)
Mom saw her pcp, and he wasn't concerned with how it looked. He said it may open a little more, but it was ok, and would help to drain everything. It hasn't opened enough that we would need to pack again. Its still bleeding, but not any more than before. She is back on pain and nausea meds, which are making her feel better. Otherwise, she is doing good :) Her follow up is Tuesday.
Joined: May 2009
Joy and thanks giving for
Joy and thanks giving for your moms continued healing.So very happy to know she's home and doing better :)
Sendings wishes for continued blessings.
Joined: Jul 2008
so glad she's home!
Thanks for keeping us updated. I'm so glad to hear things are finally going better again. I will keep her in thoughts and prayers that all will continue to go well. Please let us know again how she is after her follow up Tues.
Take care & make sure YOU get your rest too- I know being a caregiver is a tiring role to be in.
Blessings to you,
Lisa