I didn't disappear!

Hey, everyone! I appreciate all your messages of encouragment and get well wishes!  I didn't disappear; rather, I had a small set back. Captain Superman flew into New Orleans on Sunday to drive us home on Monday.  By the time he arrived, I had gone down fast and deep.  He took me to the nearest ER because I couldn't make the 40 minute drive across the Lake.  What a mess!  We went to Ochsner and I got the best ER care I've EVER received.  That is mind boggling since we live in the Medical Mecca of the South!  At any rate, my incision became infected. The pain was horrible.  It took Dilaudid just to take the edge off.  I am such a problem!  LOL   I was "unstable."   My blood pressure and heart rate were erratic.  The physicians there immediately started IV antibiotics and pumped me up with pain medication.  Then, it was a matter of getting me "stable" so they could transfer me to the hospital across the Lake where my doctor is on staff.  That took 10 hours and a drugged up ride in an ambulance (my first!).   Once I arrived at the new facility, I was given more antibiotics.  Dr. L came to see me that afternoon as soon as he got out of surgery which was around 3 PM.  He opened my wound, took a culture, irrigated it, and packed it.  How fun!   He then discharged me.  All I wanted to know is - What do you have to EAT?!!!    We left the next day but I was moving as slow as a turtle.  Capt. Superman is so patient.  We couldn't leave until about 1 PM.  The ride was horrid but eased by some Demerol and a good pillow.  The 5.5-6.0 hour trip took 8.5 considering my condition and Capt. S.  We are a mess!  LOL     Now, I have been home -- hurting and packing my wound.  Fun!  Fun! The culture came back as Staff Ar so the Bactrim DS and Augmetin I"m on should do the trick though I feel like it should be healing a bit faster.  But, I"ve been through the mill so who knows.  This is my first open wound and I'm told it will take 2-4 weeks to heal.  Ugh!    I've missed the entire summer with all this stuff!  AGAIN!!!!!! So, I started booking our family vacation for the week of Thanksgiving.  We are going to Orlando to swim with the dolphins (booked that last night), do the Disney Parks, Busch Gardens, and whatever else I can slot in during those 14 days!  Wooohhhooooo!!!!    So, y'all go ahead and start praying now that we're all healthy and can actually go!!!!!  We need it so much! I've hopped on the board at odd hours -- mostly in pain and on medication so I don't even have a clear picture but I'm trying to keep up with all of you!  Even if I'm not posting, I'm checking in on all of you! Please let me know if I've missed anything important that I should know or should be doing!  I get spacey -- NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!  LOL  Y'all keep comin' back now, ya hear? XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO!

I had an absess a couple of years ago and they had to surgically go in open it and drain it.  I had no clue they would leave it open and freaked out after the surgery that I had an open wound.  I never imagined that it would heal without stitches.  It seemed so funny how each day it took less packing and how it closed from the inside out.  I have no scar in that area and he left a good 2 1/2 inch opening.  I can honestly feel your pain.  I hated having to have the dressing changed daily....my husband would do it and if I flenched at all he would slow down.  The first time the surgeon did it and he was fast and even though it hurt it was over quickly.  I couldn't get my husband to understand that.  Bless his heart though for changing the dressing I know that was not pleasant for him either.  Hope you have a great time at Disney and Busch Gardens.  I was born and raised in that area.  A couple of years ago we went back home an decided to do the touristy thing.  Went to Busch Gardens, Disney, the space center and other local attractions.  Had a blast!!! 

My doctor did it and showed me how.  He suggested Home Health Care for a few days.  I didn't.  I've done it myself.  The actual changing of the packing doesn't hurt much, it's moving around, reaching for things and bending over that puts me over the edge.  So, I just stay in bed and eat bon bons!  LOL It's healing at the bottom better than towards the top but the top portion was much more infected so this was expected.  It is interesting to watch heal.  God is so amazing! You look great!

Hey thats what I did, I laid in bed eating Little Debbies. LOL....I had to postpone my WLS surgery because of the absess and thought I would never have it done. You are so right God is amazing.  My PCP said it was a blessing in disquise (sp) that I had the absess.  All my lab work was normal right before this sucker popped up. Even the lab that I had done before they opened up the absess was not showing infection.   He said had I had the surgery as scheduled with all the infection in my body I would have been in serious trouble.   I am sorry you have had so much trouble.  I hope this is the end of it.   Take care,  Jodi

Hey Vanessa ... good to see you ... sorry it seems to be one challenge after another for you dear!!  Only thing I question is the Augmentin ... I, and several other RNYers I know don't do well on Augmentin -- it seems to be one of those that we don't absorb (even a pharmacist I know who also had RNY will attest to that -- I've posted a paper he wrote on meds & gastric bypass on my profile). Take care ... look forward to talking with you soon. Karyn