Stitches rejecting and infection

[Sara_Jane19]

Well I rejected one of the stitches from under the skin on Monday and another one today... We think there is one more too. I went to the hospital today to get looked at and the nurse was so unsure what was happening that she got a resident doctor to come loo. They emptied the abcess from the stich cleaned everything out and put me on a heavy dose of anitbiotics. I also have to get labs done in the morning.

I feel really bad! Headache, neck pain, fatigue, no appetite, and nausea. If anything gets worse I have to go right in. They almost admitted me, but Then decided I would recover better at home. I would appreciate thoughts and prayers that i don't have to be admitted or that they don't have to have another surgery. Any advice from anyone who has had this happen would be appreciated :)

[selmaS]

  Really? I had more pain where they took the tissue...not sure if it was bcuz that was where my only stitch was,..I had one...lol.. it was to help hold a drain in place...so the drain and the stitch I feel were more the cause.

I agree tho I would not want the tissue from my thigh ,,,ouch...

[Sara_Jane19]

Ouch that just sounds painful! I would rather them take it from my head since you have a massive headache anyways. Honestly at that point what is a little bit more pain? I always hurt worse down lower on the incision than up where they took the tissue.

[selmaS]

  Fantastic news!!

LMAO...well of course I am using the wrong term.,...but it is close, do I get points for that?

lol...hmm so u had ur tissues harvested too?

I know they also take tissue from the thigh as well..,.but so many have so much pain there and do not notice the pain they have in their heads,....not sure which is worse,,..but we all need to get up and walk after, so I think from the skull is better.,..[

Thanks for the correction of my word : )

[Sara_Jane19]

No new update except for that I stopped vomiting after I stopped the antibiotic!!!! Yay!!!!

I was just reading your contents and had a question. You have said in multiple places they used your pericardium for your patch. I googled it because my NS had used a different word and I was curious if they had done the same thing. The pericardium is the sack around the heart. I think you are looking for pericranium, which is the lining on the outside of the skull. Just though to let you know! Again, thank you for all of your help!

[selmaS]

  POTS does also fit with Chiari...so many seem to have both....I know it is something u can get under control.....

Keep in mind u r still in the early stages of recovery....and u will go thru diff stages as u recover....so, u can expect the unexpected,

Keep us posted on how u r doing and if u find nething else out <3

[Sara_Jane19]

The NS said it is not a leak and the nausea/vomiting doesn't appear to be positional. I had an MRI last Monday and he said everything looks fabulous. I am not 100% convinced it is not a leak, but we will have to wait and see.

I am pretty sure it is POTS the EP just said it is generalized dysautonomia and they are all treated the same anyway. I have the tachycardia upon standing so It leads me to believe that it is POTS.

[selmaS]

  Is the nausea and vomiting a positional issue?....wondering if u have a small leak?

I hope it was from the meds and is nothing else.....but then u still need something for ur dysautonomia...is it POTS?....

Good Luck and keep us posted ((hugs))

[Sara_Jane19]

Well we still have no idea what is going on. The electrophysiology cardiologist said to get off the fludrocortisone I was on for the dysautonomia to see if it was a bad reaction to that (we doubt it but I had started it two Fridays ago so maybe).

I started vomiting on Monday. Like vomiting to the point I couldn't hold anything down :( the nausea med from the er helps, but apparently not enough. I decided yesterday to stop the antibiotic I was on since they ruled out any type of systemic infection and I was just on it for precautionary measures at this point. It might have been contributing to the upset stomach.

I'm still on norco for head aches and neck pain, robaxin for muscle spasms in the neck, zofram for nausea /vomiting, stool softener because the norco and the zofram cause constipation, and midodrine for dysautonomia.

Hopefully I start feeling better soon since neither the NS or the EP- cardiologist have ANY idea what is going on!

[selmaS]

  That is good to know....I also had my pericardium used...less likely to have issues with the patch, but I asked bcuz u said that the dura was irritated from the stitches,..so I was curious....glad u have a good patch : )

((hugs))

[Sara_Jane19]

They used my tissue from right next to my skull for the patch. So at least it is not something foreign I might be rejecting!

Thank you (and everyone else too!) for all of the support and kind thoughts. It has made this difficult Chiari journey that much easier!

[selmaS]

  Good news that it is not an infection.....but it is curious as to y u feel so poorly......

What type of dura patch did u get too?

Keep us posted...hope u feel better soon Sara : )

[Sara_Jane19]

Well I do not have an infection! Just the localized stitch abscesses. We are not sure why I am feeling so crappy. The running theory is that the dural covering is irritated by the stitches rejecting. This is causing meningitis like symptoms, but no infection. I was discharged last night with nausea medication and told to make an appointment for Monday or Wednesday depending on how I feel.

Basically we have no idea what is going on.... Sadly I am not optimistic my NS will help, but we will see.

Sara

[selmaS]

  Aww so sorry...do keep us posted as to how u are doing and what they say at the ER.....

[Sara_Jane19]

update:

I am off to the hospital as soon as my parents get here in about an hour. I am nauseous, headache, low grade fever, fatigue but not sleepy, and my dyautonomia is out of wack! Thanks for the kind thoughts, prayers, healing mojo and ((hugs)).

Sara

[selmaS]

  With EDS u r more likely to reject foreign matter like stitches and many times the skin is more fragile and may tear from either stitches or staples...again the reason my Dr used sterri strips and glue.

I also had reactions to diff meds, another EDS issue,.

EDS can cause HA's as it also causes cerviocranial instability...basically we r bobble heads...and we fight to hold ourself together that all muscles are tight...as the connective tissues r failing us....join pain and swelling is an issue as well as we brusie easily and r slower to heal.

Talk with ur Drs about this, in the meantime listen to ur body and rest when u need to. DO not over do it.

((hugs))

[Sara_Jane19]

I have not had EDS ruled out. I am guessing this might be the issue. I am still feeling pretty badly, and the resident is pretty nervous still. The antibiotics should start to kick in tonight or tomorrow so hopefully that will help!

[selmaS]

Hi...so sorry u r having this happen....how far along post op are u now....seems to have taken q while for this to occur??

Did they rule out EDS for u?

Since I have EDS, they did not use stitches or staples for me, they used sterri strips and surgical glue...?