Staph infection after surgery

I am almost 6 months post op.  Over the last few weeks I noticed some discharge on my pillow.  I've had a sore spot on my incision for several months.  The doctor took a culture and said it was a staph infection.  I was treated with two rounds of cipro.  It seemed to get better but now, 5 days later, the discharge has started again.  I was told that I would need a wash out surgery.  Does anyone know what that is?  I haven't been able to discuss it with my surgeon yet because it is the weekend. Thanks to you all.

[selmaS]

Hi...I am not sure but from the sound of this they may need to open u to get to the source of the infection to "clean" it out......

Were u given a topical rx ointment as well for the area?

And, have u ever been checked for EDS?...we tend to heal slower and the oozing may be part of that as well......so do ask about the possibility.

Please keep us posted.
"selma"

[MiaQuam]

I wasn't given any ointment and I haven't been tested for EDS.  I went in for two mri's yesterday and meet with a NS today at 11am. They said they need to open it, cut out any infected tissue, flush it with antibiotics and then close it.  Also, 4 days in hosp. with a antibiotic drip.  Thank you for being truly helpful to those of us who are clueless about all of this.  I will ask about the EDS today!

[*Stormy*]

Sorry to hear about the complications, I didn't even realize something like that could happen after 6 months!! I do remember mine leaking a little here and there up till the 4 months mark but like Selma mentioned, with it taking so long to heal, they should take a look at EDS. Good luck with the "wash out" surgery, I really hope that does the trick!

Carolyn

[thankful2bhere]

This happened to me after my surgery. I had 4 bouts with menningitis (meningitis) and 10 days in a no contact room with a lumbar drain for a staph infection. Went home with roseffin (sp) and one other high powered IV antibiotic. I had a direct line that stayed in for quite a while and a home nurse came by 2-3 X wk. The wash out they are talking about is just like any other surgery. I went in for one type of surgery during all of mine and when they got me in on the table they discovered a huge infection pocket the size of a tennis ball at the base of my brain stem and they had to clean that out instead of what they'd planned that day. It took a long time to heal. I am also diabetic, which didn't help much. Just don't over do it and mess up your stitches etc and do keep it clean and covered well. Please keep us posted on how it all goes. We'll be thinking of you.

[selmaS]

Sending prayers...please keep us posted.

"selma"

[MiaQuam]

Wow!  Your user name is quite right!  I was suppose to have the wash out surgery yesterday but they postponed it due to my incision looking better than the previous 3 weeks.  My NS was shocked how much better it looked in 24 hours.  Prayers do work!  The pain is still there, which hasn't subsided since the surgery.  All of my other symptoms are gone so I'm still happy with the surgery.  Also, I thankful for the people who are on here.  It's makes me feel not so alone in the Chiari world. I would have never known to ask about EDS! I don't have those results back yet.

[selmaS]

Glad the prayers r working...still sending for ur EDS results.

"selma"