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Avatar universal

Dr's & responsibility (goofed up)

This may not be a question to post here, but ya'll are my 'advice' board & understand how fragile 'our' mental state can be. I'd appreciate any advice ya'll offer. I need a shoulder to borrow to see if my mental state will survive, or to see if I am even in the right ballfield...

Most/some of ya'll know I have been VERY ill, fragile since September 3rd of last year. I had a hernia in my tummy that required immediate surgery.
The surgery went well. I was released after 2 weeks. I was weak, but healing.

After 2 weeks my surgeon removed the staples & told me to let my surgical area 'air dry'.

He told me that I could travel as long as I didn't drive on a 10 hour trip, if I stopped frequently to stretch.
The DAY I was to leave my wound (8 inch cut) opened, a inch at a time. I was draining at a FAST rate. I called immediately & cancelled the trip. (My middle son's wedding) *sigh*
The pain was horrid.
I went to the ER by ambulance, the DR tried to push the excess drainage out. He was finally told by my Surgeon, via phone, to bandage it an not worry...as if?
More pain pills...

Fever & chills, horrid pain, draining so much I was putting bath towels as bandages. I went to my family DR & she was horrified. A trip to ER later confirmed 'staff'....
2 weeks in the ICU & nearly dying, staff so bad you could scoop the white gunk out.
The DR took me off all Bi-polar meds for those 2 weeks, I was in such a feverish, morophine dosed state I couldn't even think.
Finally, my Abilify was added back & my regular meds.
Installed a 'wound vac' & Home Health care was added....

My entire psychological state was altered. From September till currently I have drainage. I am finally down to 3 bandage changes a day now...I was taken off the wound vac Dec. 19th
I am STILL not released from the surgeon. My last visit is the 25th of this month, IF it has sealed. BUT, it is beginning to pull apart where the incision is. Albeit only about a 1 inch area, but ANY is a concern to me at this point.
It is still an inch deep (used to be 6 inches deep)

I am just now, beginning to get energy back. I was so weak I could NOT walk up a step. I had to use ramps. I could not lift myself up from a sitting position until this last month..

Wow, this is long, I apologize. My personal DR told me she was documenting each occurence, she made a HUGE deal over letting me know this.
I think total I was in & out of the Hospital over 20 times. I am STILL on antibiotics, & pain meds, though I TRY to not use those very often.

The date is March now, my surgery was Sept....

Am I crazy/stupid for thinking this Surgeon is partially, or ultimately to blame in my 'care'?

Thanks for listening, & if what I posted was wrong, or in the wrong area, I apologize. I just don't want to look a 'fool' or tread on toes that I shouldn't...
I just know I was/am so fragile I can't handle being laughed at.
Blessings, Tres
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Avatar universal
Keep fighting the good fight Tres, you definitely are courageous and handling this really well, I don't think I would have the same strength as you.  I went through a period over Xmas and part of January with my kidneys not working well, due to taking Lith, and I was an emotional mess to say the least and that was only about 3 weeks.  Hang in there!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Well as I sit here, before rushing off to church & cramming in Cream Of Wheat *L*
my wound is opening gradually....which is LOVELY....
I'm STILL on Leavequin....

The reason the wound opened up originally because he removed the staples too early.
Then he left it 'to dry in the air'  opposed to bandaging it....which exposed it into
immediate infection.

The thing that has me still sane as of today is the wound isn't deep any longer..maybe
an inch...
gotta jet! Tres
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I get where you are coming from Minty - but from what I read she got the infection 2 weeks after she was released. It sounds like the Dr., may have not taken it as seriously, but then none of us know fully what transpired. Staph is a really resilient bug and unless you are in a completely sterile environment, there's always a risk. You would have to be that "boy in the bubble" not to get one.  I'm taking a guess, because my mum's stiches broke open because of the staph, not that the sutures weren't sturdy enough. . Going through that would make the strongest person depressed not just us BP folks. It sounds like you've tried your best.

Have you thought about consulting a different surgeon about your wound or a wound specialist? My mum ended up getting one. My mum ended up getting another infection about 1.5 months ago, after falling and bruising her leg. It opened up into a really gross wound. She is elderly, so it's not totally suprising, but to get one from a bruise is shocking. Her specialist said it would be at least 3 more months before she'll be in the clear from it. Again she has a home nurse come in to clean the wound and drain. She's even had anti-biotics injected around the site of her wound to no avail.

I'm just glad Tres that you are on the mend and you are over the worst. I'm not sure if it would do any good to consult a lawyer for negligence, but if you feel this is the case then go with your gut.  I think doctors are working on the cheap now because of not getting paid well by insurance companies, it's immoral to me, but it happens too frequently.  I think the medical system in general is pretty messed up in the US, medical treatment for profit is just plain wrong. There is a big difference between the US and Canada when it comes to the mentality of treatment. The Dr's get paid well here, but there isn't that incentive to cram as many patients in and over loading your practise to the point you can't give good care.
Helpful - 0
614519 tn?1258194301
You know, I dont agree LCC. Although infections are common in hospitals because of the alrge number of sick people residing there, i think this is about more than that. The wound broke open...is that a symptom of staph, or is it because the stitches were removed to early? I think thats the big question. But anyway you look at it, surgeons are supposed to work in a sterile environment and infection risk should not be that high!

Some times i wonder if americans have not gone a little backwards on the technology train....
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Unfortunately any time there is any invasive surgery, that is a risk. Hospitals are hotbeds for staph infections, there is nothing that could have been done.  I had major stomach surgery done a few years back and I was off my psych meds for about 10 days because I'd been on morphine for a week  and other drug cocktails. I had a staph  infection even with intensive care around my stapling, they slammed Vancomycin in my system as soon as they saw the tell tale signs, it's pretty common these days with our generation being given anti-biotics at every sniffle. That's why they have those Public announcements on tv not to take anti-biotics.

My mum went through a severe staph infection  when she had a lumpectomy and what considered a  pretty mild surgery ended up with her being in and out of the hospital for close to 3 months wirh having to have another surgery to clean up the staph.. Finally, she had a home nurse come in a clean her drain and pack her wound daily . She also had 3 IV"s a day at home, and had a PIC line. It's actually safer to be at home then in hospital if you are stable, less bugs and germs!

There isn't much you can do in the way of lawsuits ( from my inquiry regarding my mum because I was beyond angry), staph infections are nasty, painful and  take forever to go away. I totally went off on my mum's oncologist - my mum, because of the staph ended up losing half her breast anyways.

I think what your doctor was doing was making sure that your concerns are being  heard, and that he is listening, with doctors being over worked these days that's great.
I'm glad to hear you are on the mend, and hopefully it will end soon. Be gentle on yourself, and my only piece of advice is to re-channel your anger into a positive way to help your healing.
hugs
LCC
Helpful - 0
585414 tn?1288941302
Yes you should make an official complaint (within the system) with the hospital complaint division and perhaps above there to have an independent investigation performed. This is really shocking and must have been a terrifying experience but is worth following up. Just keep note of everything that happenned and when (as much as you remember) so they come to a better understanding. Pm me if you want more information. Thanks.
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