Ileus and abdominal infection

[stephh]

Hi all-it's been a while since I've posted but think about you all and check in every day.
Just some background...I had HIPEC in december 2011, which was a success but in march mets were found in my vaginal canal...so I had a radical hysterectomy with partial vaginectomy and they removed my rectum to leave me with a colostomy. Following that, they did the hot chemo bath again (HIPEC).
I went home after 3 weeks in the hospital, and was healing decently but was getting low grade fevers and nausea at times. Bowels worked great. Woke up one day feeling crappy nauseous and had fever...and after a few more days I had not had a BM and eventually could not hold anything down
I ended going to the ER and was admitted....been here 3weeks now. A scan showed my bowel intercepted itself kind if like folding inside itself-like a telescope.
That resolved but then they saw an abscess near the rectal stump and I had fluid in my pelvic/abdominal area. They drew the fluid and it tested for infection. Anyhow....sorry for all the detail.
I was going to go home yesterday and I got sick multiply times... so I have the dreaded NG tube again!
Not sure what the deal is. Will get a CT today or tomorrow. Had xray last night.
Anyone have issues like this where your bowels mess up often? I'm hoping the docs can fix without surgery as I've been through a lot lately...was still healing from the second HIPEC.

[janklo]

Poor Steph - 3 weeks in the hospital, that is awful! Hoping you are sprung soon and back to normal.

[KarMel]

I can hardly imagine how rough it has been for you. The saga you have relayed here just sounds miserable. I am glad you have the strength to hang in, in spite of this. Keep us updated..sending many wishes for healing and recovery .

The ileus may be from the rectal abscess. Your body may needs to get that healed before your bowels will work properly again.

[RixInPhx]

I've had a few digestion issues, but no surgery or infection.

I can't imagine how bad this is, and I feel so sorry for you.
Sure hope they find the real problem and resolve it soon.

BOL, Rick

[Cancerislame]

Oh Stephh,

I wish the ng does its job! I hated that thing so much. About 4.5 weeks after my HIPEC I had severe cramping and ended up in the hospital while visiting my bil in Vegas. I ended up having a second surgery. Then a week later my insurance flew us back in a tiny plane. Anyway its been 8 weeks since that surgery and my skin and muscles still hurt. I get worried I will have a blockage all the time. I was told at first to eat a low fiber diet at first and that if I had scar tissue that wanted to get in the way there really wasn't anything preventative we could do. I wish you all the luck...I know kinda what it going through. Ng tube is really really the pits in opinion.
Jennifer

[Ashlee H.]

So sorry to hear you are going through this. Please keep us updated. You've been through so much, it's time for some good news.

[stephh]

Thank you guys for your responses.
I'm still here in the hospital so,,,we were going to do surgery to clean up adhesions that keep causing my obstructions... But both the surgeon and I agreed I should give it one more shot at eating and seeing how my bowel reacts-if it cramps up and intercepts again... Lord help me if it does. I'm tired of getting NG tubes down my throat. I've had 2 put down since being here-and they pulled it yesterday, so now it's on to liquid diet again. We'll see! Wish me luck! If I get sick again...it's surgery time. I can't believe I've been here a month. Thank God for the wonderful nurses here at Mayo-they are awesome. I think they may have to name a room after me if I stay any longer

[jacekica]

Steph, I am so sorry for all this and so long time in hospital (luckily nurses are nice, not such case here). Hope and pray that all go well without surgery, that you bowels works as expected to work. And that you go home and lay in your own bed.