Hello loves! (update)

[MontanaGirl]

I figured i would post here and let you all know how I am doing so far. I don't have a comp, just using cell so i will try to keep it short.
They put a drain into my abscess on Wednesday. Yes, I was awake but they said I wouldn't remember...well I stricken' remember! It was painful but doable. I had to breathe in and hold my breathe so the doctor could slowly tap a large yard-stick-of-a-needle in me. This is because the abscess was so close to my ribs and they had to keep using the CT scanner to see where the needle was heading. So four depth checks w/ CT scanner and the big ass needle...wa la! Drain is in! Then off to put a picc line in me (because the stabbed me so much I am black and blue up both hands/arms, the wanted to try my feet but doc saved me with the picc). The picc line is a dream! No more phlebotomists picking on me! ( by the way couldn't remember having picc line put in because the drugs started to actually really work from my drain procedure that happened moments before)
Anyways enough with the rant

My drain is draining some nasty stuff out. They are running antibiotics in me. They took cultures but got no answers from them. My doctor needs to know why this happened!? He doesn't believe it's a leak...but I kinda think it is. He keeps saying my surgery was perfect and since it was a month ago that he doesn't want to call it a leak.
? What do guys think?

PS
I love you all and thank you all for the well wishes, you have been my family for many months and I couldn't have done it without you. xoxo

[Joanne]

Danni!
So great to see you post. You've definitely been on my mind. I have nothing to add about what I think the abcess is...sorry. But it sounds like you're in good hands and getting the care you need.

I also had a PICC line and it was a blessing. I actually asked my surgeon to order one when I couldn't tolerate being stuck any longer.

Hugs to you for all you've been through.

[karenflorida]

I couldn't speculate about the cause, either. It seems like leak is the most likely reason? Did they do any testing on your stomach to look for one? I'm glad you're doing better, and sorry the drugs didn't kick in, in time!

Karen

[Girlrocker]

Hooray for smartphones and apps, so you CAN post! Wow, that's an ordeal :-( So glad to see you are getting treated and up to posting. I unfortunately can't offer any medical opinion/advice about the abscess; but having a PICC line is a relief! I had one when I had my complications with my RNY, same, I was black and blue both arms, they never could find a vein (I'm a hard stick, my veins run away/hide), my IVs infiltrated. Really hope you're on the other side of this soon!

[MontanaGirl]

And one more thing! Thank you EN and MajorMom for helping me and my hubs. Also to Lisa for visiting me and bringing an adorable lion beanie baby. I don't know if you knew but Danielle is from the Bible, meaning heart of the lion.

[shann_ds]

Oh Dani! I've been thinking of you & I hope you continue to improve. I don't have any answers but I hope you get some soon!

[lovy19]

Jan 13, 2012 19:15:10 GMT -5 MontanaGirl said:

I figured i would post here and let you all know how I am doing so far. I don't have a comp, just using cell so i will try to keep it short.
They put a drain into my abscess on Wednesday. Yes, I was awake but they said I wouldn't remember...well I stricken' remember! It was painful but doable. I had to breathe in and hold my breathe so the doctor could slowly tap a large yard-stick-of-a-needle in me. This is because the abscess was so close to my ribs and they had to keep using the CT scanner to see where the needle was heading. So four depth checks w/ CT scanner and the big ass needle...wa la! Drain is in! Then off to put a picc line in me (because the stabbed me so much I am black and blue up both hands/arms, the wanted to try my feet but doc saved me with the picc). The picc line is a dream! No more phlebotomists picking on me! ( by the way couldn't remember having picc line put in because the drugs started to actually really work from my drain procedure that happened moments before)
Anyways enough with the rant

My drain is draining some nasty stuff out. They are running antibiotics in me. They took cultures but got no answers from them. My doctor needs to know why this happened!? He doesn't believe it's a leak...but I kinda think it is. He keeps saying my surgery was perfect and since it was a month ago that he doesn't want to call it a leak.
? What do guys think?

PS
I love you all and thank you all for the well wishes, you have been my family for many months and I couldn't have done it without you. xoxo

Hi Danni so glad to know you are Improving.

[sandyv63]

So glad to see you are posting. I read somewhere that sometimes an abcess post DS comes from a small knick to the intestine. We're talking so small you can't even see it. Don't know if this was the cause in your case though.

I'm dealing with a seroma in my three inch incision under my belly button and I had to get that cut and drained. It hurt but it wasn't horrible. That was almost 4 weeks ago and I am still draining yuck. The difference is that mine did not get infected, although they cultured it anyway. You won't get the culture results back for about 4 days. In the mean time, relax as best you can and get well soon!

[teachmid]

Danni,
Thanks so much for giving us update. I'd just asked Gina is she knew how you were doing.

[imissthe80s]

Well wishes for you,Danni, with a sprinkle of added kick assness for that dumb abscess and whatever else is going on.

[Deleted]

I am so glad you are posting and it sounds like you are getting better, so Woo Hoo!!

I don't know if you have a leak or not but I think, if it is a small leak, at this point, the treatment is the same.

[jaellie]

Hi Danni,
Glad you see you posting. I know it was no fun, but glad they were able to drain the abscess. It does take about 48 hours for the culture results to come back. Rest and heal!

[MontanaGirl]

Thank you for the replies.
As for the cultures, they have already been done. Doctor says the dont point put the culprit.

[Seeking Healthy]

Danni thanks so much for posting. I was just thinking about you and I've been watching the board daily to see if there was an update. You're in my thoughts and I truly hope you feel better soon.

SH

[momx4]

So glad to hear you are getting good care and on the mend!

[bigcoop]

Danni, I am so glad and excited to see you have the strenth and energy to post here. Please keep us updated on your road to recovery. I have been and will continue to watch for your progress reports. BLESS YOU

[brybry76]

Hey!

I am going through the SAME thing as you. I definitely feel your pain. It sounds like I am just a bit further along in my recovery. Here is what's happened with me.

After 4 days of unexplained fever, no appetite, dry-heaving, I had a CT scan that revealed an abscess near my spleen in between my lung and stomach. They admitted me right away and I also had the CT insertion of a drainage tube as well. He emptied about 90 ccs of fluid at that point. The tube they've inserted in me is about 5 inches long.

After that, I spent 4 days in the hospital with the surgical drain and bag combo being pumped full of antibiotics. I think I had about 5 different kinds while I was there. I was finally discharged with the tube still in and 2 prescriptions for antibiotics. I went home last Sunday night with the hope that the drain would be removed Wednesday. I went in for another CT scan and then met with my surgeon who decided that I should keep the drain in for another week since I was still draining nasty stuff.

So, I've been at home with the drain stuck in me, choking down antibiotics, counting down until Wednesday (again) when i will hopefully have it removed. Luckily, I feel better in all other respects, once they drained the bulk of it out, I felt sooooo much better.

After multiple scans and another swallow study, my surgeon and the radiologist also concluded that I didn't have a leak. My surgeon said perhaps I had a microscopic leak at some point that self-healed, but there is nothing there now. I have no clue, but I am able to eat and drink without issue at this point...

Anyways, keep us posted on your progress-- I hope you can go home without the tube, that has been the worst!

Take care,

Bryan

[princess10]

The abscess doesn't necessarily have to come from a leak. You could have developed the abscess from the incision. Many times after surgery, you can develop a fistula from the incision and an abscess will form. The antibiotics will clear it up, and you will be doing great before you know it.

[Gail R]

Hi Danni, I have been sending positive thoughts your way. If it helps, I will share my abscess experience with you. I got mine a couple of years before my DS. It took them forever to diagnose me. I got sent home from my first trip to the ER and then went back a week later. They still couldn't locate where the infection was or how I got it, so you are so fortunate to get it caught and treated early. Mine was in my liver-ugg. Yes I felt that needle too!! The pic line was fantastic after 2 weeks of being jabbed. They could never figure out why I got the abscess but when I consulted for my DS with Dr. Rabkin two year later, he immediately suggested that it was because of my diverticulitis. Of course that made complete sense. Because I was diagnosed after literally weeks of being sick with this abscess, allowing it to grow huge, it took me months to recover. I hope because you were smart and got this taken care of immediately, you will have a speedy recovery. That is my wish for you!

[Deleted]

Danni, it's good to see you posting I'm glad they were able to get you transferred to a hospital where you could get treated so quickly. I hope you start feeling better soon.

[schmatzi]

Glad to see that you are able to post here and are getting the care you need. Hope you feel better soon.

[calendargirl]

Whew, what a relief! That was a scare indeed. So glad you posted.

[Paula]

Im so relieved to hear you are doing better, Danni. We were all worried about you. Sending you good wishes for a speedy recovery.

[Deleted]

Jan 13, 2012 19:15:10 GMT -5 MontanaGirl said:

I figured i would post here and let you all know how I am doing so far. I don't have a comp, just using cell so i will try to keep it short.
They put a drain into my abscess on Wednesday. Yes, I was awake but they said I wouldn't remember...well I stricken' remember! It was painful but doable. I had to breathe in and hold my breathe so the doctor could slowly tap a large yard-stick-of-a-needle in me. This is because the abscess was so close to my ribs and they had to keep using the CT scanner to see where the needle was heading. So four depth checks w/ CT scanner and the big ass needle...wa la! Drain is in! Then off to put a picc line in me (because the stabbed me so much I am black and blue up both hands/arms, the wanted to try my feet but doc saved me with the picc). The picc line is a dream! No more phlebotomists picking on me! ( by the way couldn't remember having picc line put in because the drugs started to actually really work from my drain procedure that happened moments before)
Anyways enough with the rant

My drain is draining some nasty stuff out. They are running antibiotics in me. They took cultures but got no answers from them. My doctor needs to know why this happened!? He doesn't believe it's a leak...but I kinda think it is. He keeps saying my surgery was perfect and since it was a month ago that he doesn't want to call it a leak.
? What do guys think?

PS
I love you all and thank you all for the well wishes, you have been my family for many months and I couldn't have done it without you. xoxo

YAY YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO glad you're able to come say hi and see all these people pulling for you ****hughughug****.

My surgeon did not officially draw a completely free breath regarding leaks for a good eight weeks. That was his personal worrywart policy. He said that it was ultra rare for that kind of thing to happen after a month, but it was not unheard of and he'd rather worry more than less.

Huh? No answer from the cultures? Surely they grew SOMETHING?

I've never had a picc line but have had central lines for the same purpose. They are a Godsend.

[sherbearmama]

I'm so glad to hear from you!!!! Please keep us posted on how you're doing!

[chili]

I am so sad your sick, but I grateful your in good hands now!! Take care of yourself !!

[hoosiermama]

Danni,

I'm so happy you are on the mend. It sounds scary but you have so much support just know that you have a lot of love all around you

me

[Fade2Pink]

Danni - so glad to see you posting. We all have been so concerned about you! I hope that you are quickly on the mend and that Dr. Simper is taking care of you. Hang in there!

[supershae]

Hey Danni,
I'm glad you are feeling better! Just hang in there. I'm sure you are in good hands!

[Leonie]

The good thing about an abcess is that it feels sooo much better as soon as it is drained. Thank goodness for antibiotics!

How are you doing with your vits and protein?

And how is your hubby and family?