setback

hey all... havent been on lately as I have had a setback of sorts..... since last thursday or so my lower left incision has been excruciatingly painful......then sunday evening getting up off the couch fluid started pouring from the staple site.. we called the doc and they told us to clean it and tape guaze and come in first thing in the morning. sooo instead of goin back to work on monday, i went to the doc.... we got there and the nurse removed the staples in the other sites.. which were wonderful.... and then removed the lower left and it just popped open, the whole incision line, and it is infected......she had to push and irrigate and everything and painful can not even begin to describe it.... soooo now we have to pack it and clean it every day and let it heal from the inside out.....now this is something i can not do.... no way no how.... so instead of being at home am back at the dbf house.... and he is doing it nightly for me..... God has definitely blessed me with him... he is tender and loving and caring and so much more!!!! So I am off wor****il a recheck and nut class next tuesday.... i am feeling alright.. i am in some pain and am tired.....  the whole funny thing is that Jen, the nurse and doc's wife, said only 5% of patients develop this issue and basically I drew the short stick... go figure!!! lol..... so here I am back in bed.... but I do have to say the excruciating pain, which btw.. brought ugly explixatives from my otherwise pretty mouth, is gone...so thats a plus... now i have to take these horse pills twice a day that sit like a rock on my chest.... ugghhhhhhh..... then to top that off.. have not been able to get my protein in because nothing tasted good everything was metalicy.. i have thrush... yay me..... so i am on a nasty disgusting grody rinse 4 times per day.... with all the mes and vits i am on its gonna be fun to get real food in .. lol... yeah me...... but my spirits are up..... and have i questioned the saneness of this surgery...... oh yeah..... in a few weeks will i, i hope not!!!! the other good thing that came from the visit is that i am down 6 more pounds in clothes... 271... soo....25 pounds since feb 14th.... at this point tho i dont care about the weight.. i just want to feel better....... i am not discounting it.... just isnt top of my list right now..... anyway...  Hope all is well with the rest of you!!!!! Kandy

Oh my gosh, Kandy!  I'm so sorry this happened to you!! A good friend of mine when I lived in VA had Open RNY several years ago, and I was by her side for it, and she got an infection like the one you described (only it was a big, huge infection in a big, huge "open" incision!!) and it was terrible for her. She was off work for over 2 months and had to have home health nurses come in and change the packing every day. It sounds like you caught yours somewhat quickly, thank goodness! I really hope that you begin to heal quickly. How large is the open incision you have? If it makes you feel any better, even after my friend went through all of that, in the end when she lost alllll kinds of weight, she still said she would do it all again in a heartbeat, even if she knew the complications she'd face. Rest assured, this too shall pass!! It stinks right now, but hopefully this will be the end of the setbacks for you'll have smooth sailing from here!! Hugs!!

thanks!!! it is the lower left and its maybe a half inch and apparently not too deep maybe a half inch... so am hoping it heals fast....... as for doig it all over again.. ask me in a month.... lol... kandy

Kandy i had the same thing, but only on the right incision.    It was about ten days post op when the doc had to open it up and had me packing it twice a day.    He told me to make sure to pack it once in the morning and then again at night, only run it under the shower first before packing it.   I couldn't do it neither, my husband had to.     To be honest, the packing stuff stunk  and it hurt like hell to have it cleaned out all the time.   Mine took exactly a month to heal,  but i wasn't up on my protein too good then either.    So the more protein you drink the faster it'll be over.    Linda

thanks for the advice... i will really work on the protein and stay up on the meds cuz i do want this to heal fast.. thanks the Lord for the dear men in our lives eh?!!!! Kandy

Oh MY Gosh Kandy!!! I was wondering how you have been when I didn't see you around. You are the first that I have heard this happen to  in all the people I have known to have this surgery....bad luck sure did come your way. I am so sorry you have to go through all this. Your right..you do have a sweet guy in your life...he is a keeper, thats for sure!! My father had this happen in an incision when he had his shoulder operated on..and it was no fun to say the least. You will be happy you did the surgery later...right now concentrate on getting well and being strong. It sounds like you are keeping your sense of humor with all this going on...what a champ you are for sure!!!!  I will keep you my thoughts and prayers....stay in touch. Colleen

Thanks..... :) as Jen said .. i should just consider myself unique..... lol.... i cant help but have a sense of humour about it... otherwise i would cry... the bad thing is there is no sick leave at work and i am outta vacation time......which means... no worky.. no payday.... sucks.. so i gotta get better soon as i am the only income in my house.... its just the luck of the draw... and i wont lie... it hurts sooooo bad everytime he changes it.... poor guy.. it kils him to hear me cry and know what he is doing is causing pain.... once we are done i just tell him its ok.. cuz he feels so bad... it has to be done..... and im hopinh cuz when we have to change that packing im not veryhappy with the surgery..... lol... but its all good......  how are you doing???

Kandy, I hope things heal quickly for you.  Your attitude will take you far. Hugs, Jenn

thanks so much jenn!!!!

Kandy I had a similiar problem when I had surgery. I had a blood clot surface which caused an opening along my incision. This hole lasted about 5-6 weeks after it initially opened. I had to clean and pack it twice a day too. I cleaned it out with distilled water and had it packed. It got bigger before it got smaller. I actually have a picture of it. I did not have an infection which was good, but it was a pain in the butt to have to clean it as often as I did. I ended up going to Vegas for my brothers wedding and then it healed once we came back. It was like the dry air did wonders for it!!! But needless to say invest in guaze and tape that does not irritate your skin. I am sorry you had this setback but do know that others have been in your shoes and we are here for you if you need us. Suzanne