Major Complications Need Batriac Rehab in Illinois

Hello Everyone. My sister had Bariatric surgery september 1st and still is in ICU!Almost bled to death the 3rd day throwing up blood.. got 5 units of blood lab work was ok. they sent her to a regular room with a lot of pain., She two days later blood clot in her lung and pneomonia,Friday back in ICU with C-Diff and bleeding from her colon. Monday they did exploratory, and all her staples popped like a bad zipper. 6-1/2 hours of surgery, and they sewed her back.. Now she is doing better 15 units of blood, but majorly depressed scared, and can't walk. She is terrified. Twice they almost dropped her, bad experience. We are trying to get her mental help, but we have to get her moving. Her legs are sore and swollen but hurts possible sores starting. They took her off the ventalator Weds, and her NG tube came out last night, but she still has 4 tubes in her stomach and open incision. Does anyone know of any special groups, or rehab centers. The hospital seems to be done with being supportive. They don't have the staff or patience to wait for 30 minutes until she composes herself. She wants to try , but is scared and terrifyied. She is still at around 350 and two people can't handle her exhaution and dead weight Any ideas???? Help

I wish there was something I could do to help, but you will be in my thoughts. Maybe call her Primary Care doctor go to the surgeon. Good luck I hope she will be doing well soon. Debby

I am so sorry she is going through this. Why is it that she can't walk? Is it just all the stuff coming out of her or is she afraid? Sorry...I just want to know for sure. I recommend you getting those rubber bands for working out. Have her wrap those around her feet and push up and down to make sure her legs are moving. Get her light little weights for her to move her arms. If she can sit up, have her sit up every hour for 5 minutes or however long she can stand it. F*** the hospital. Forget them. Sometimes you just have to take care of yourself. Ya gotta get her motivated. The sooner she gets up and going, the sooner she is gonna get out of there and begin her new life. What happened to her is not the norm. I do believe things happen for a reason though. It's scary and depressing and just plain crappy that all this happened. But she is getting better by the second and needs to get a move on. HUGS to you all! I hope you find the answers you are looking for and that she gets on her way to her new life soon! Melissa Lap RNY 8/31/04 NewHopeSurgical.com 391/334/190

I am so sorry to hear about your sister's experience. Have you checked into a rehab facility? Ask for assistance from social services. They are there to provide that type of assistance to families and should be familiar with places that she could transfer to. Also, demand physical and occupational therapy evaluations. The therapists know how to handle patients of size and know the protocols for increasing strength and endurance post-operatively and OT should be able to integrate at least some aspects of mental health into their treatments as well. They're both also familiar with acute care settings and would be able to facilitate her moving and give her advice on such things as bed mobility and exercises she can do while she's in bed (might be so simple as to start moving her arms and legs through the basic ranges of motion). People need to readjust themselves (or be readjusted) every 20 to 30 minutes so that decubitus ulcers (bedsores) do not develop. Ask for an air mattress or an air bed that automatically repositions people (my mom had one when she was in a coma and it was so wonderful). I am not familiar with your area but hope that some of these suggestions do help. If two people aren't able to assist her, then they need three. While we all realize the short-staff that some facilities have, that is no excuse for poor care for patients! If you are still not getting the answers you need, and answers that help your sister, contact the hospital administrator. Best of luck to you. If you need to email me, just click the email link at the bottom of my posting.

I don't know if it's much consolation but I was reading a handout my pulmonologist gave me last night about DVTs (Deep Vein Thrombosis) and PEs (Pulmonary Embolisms). That's what your sister had -- a blod clot (DVT) that blocks a blood vessel in the lungs (PE). I'll copy one of the Q./A. sections that may apply to your sister: Q. What happens after DVT? A. If you've had DVT, following treatment, you may exprience swelling in the leg called chronic venous insufficiency. This is caused by damaged valves in the veins allowing blood to flow backward and then collect in the lower legs. Symptoms include swelling, calf pain and skin color changes. In some instances, skin ulceration and impairment in mobility can develop. So that could explain why she's having difficulty walking and sore legs and developing sores on her legs.. but it also gives YOU a tool to ask the doctor "what do we do now?" Sometimes understanding is half the battle. I am sure your sister is getting the best care available right now.. and soon she'll be past all her troubles.. it sounds like she's making headway -- perhaps she could ask to speak to a psychologist while she's in the hospital? I know how scary it can be to not understand what's going on with your body and feel totally out of control.. but maybe you can help be her strength and encourage her to ask for the psychologist? Good luck and please keep us posted!