Emergency surgery yesterday...

[Rheaeliza]

...posting live from Mount Sinai hospital bed!

It's cool, I was really secretly wanting to add a 5th surgery in 5months.

Long store short, increased bloating and pain the last few days, pain mostly on right side. 102 fever the other nigh that broke in my sleep and then did not get that high again. Fluctuated Tuesday between normal 98.4 and 100.5. Since I had an appointment early Wednesday to see my sugrgeon he said we could wait until then unless the pain increased or I spiked another mega fever. Or of course if I felt like I should. In retrospect, I felt like I freaking should have. I knew something was wrong.

Oh but the pain was so bad. I was taking 15-20 mg oxycodone, barely denting it!!! So yesterday doc did bloods, and sent me downstairs for CT. After CT, they were very serious, left my IV in and radiologist called my doctor and he told them yes, send her to the ER. I they called my boyfriend, and a lovely escort took me over in a wheelchair. At this point nobody is telling me anything! My surgeons team met me in the er, took me through triage ( thank God because that ER was unusually overcrowded, for an ER that is usually overcrowded already. Then they told me, CT showed a leak, an area outside in the abdominal cavity that looks like trapped air and fecal matter. The surgical consent form said "exploratory, clean out, drain, possible resection of small and/or large bowel, possible ostomy placement. Man I broke down right then. Sobbing crammed between a million sick people in the middle of the er. My reversal was 12 days ago!!! WTF?

Well surgery was better, they cleaned it all out and found no leak, but abscesses and a rather large infection but not decal matter really and not as much air. No second ostomy!!!!

Was happy to wake up without one!!! Woke up in massive pain, was not a gentle wake from intubation and then my first nurse in the PACU was a total bitch and super distracted. Pain was at a 9 or 10 for almost two hours.

Thanks for following my journey guys! I'll know a little more later!

Best,
Rhea

[pwebber123]

Good morning, sorry your back in the hospital. I don't know why some nurses continue to work with people when they have no compassion. I sympathize that's really the last thing you needed to deal with, gosh did she think you planned this visit and just dropped in without calling first. Theres always one , hope the rest of your stay is better and you get better so you don't have to be there much longer.pw

[O Stoma Mia]

Rhea - So sorry to hear of this. Please keep us posted of your progress.

[pog451]

Oh man - sounds like major sucknitude but, as ever, the silver lining is no leak and no loose fecal matter. That would REALLY have been bad news.

Sometimes surviving is harder than not...

But you ARE surviving and when the pain goes back down, it'll feel like it too. Good luck and keep on fighting.

[dianne052506]

You survived. That's the important thing.
Hope things only get better from here, and that pain is gone --soon!
Best wishes,
Dianne

[GreenMonkey]

oh Rhea! what a journey you are on! The bitch nurse needs a slap. I'm not that far away (in CT). I volunteer to set her straight. Don't they realize how important sincere care and kindness is? So glad you are bag free. That would have been difficult to take since you just let it go. Keep us posted! I'm sending you good vibes, healing, smiles, kindness...

[BrownBagger]

Gee Rhea. I'm so sorry to hear this, but glad that you're apparently on the mend and in good spirits. Good thing about no new ostomy, too!

[Maia]

My dear Rhea... I'm so sorry you're going through all this but how good they caught this and it's fixed -and without bag. And as pog said -no leak and no loose fecal matter.
I love you attitude, you're such a wise and strong young woman. Keep kicking! I'm giving you a huge hug : )

[Rob in PA]

What an ordeal! Rest up and bitch slap that nurse! Glad to hear things worked out better than it could have been.

Rob

[Voxx66]

Wow - that was quite a ride. Glad you are on the mend and that things are working out well. Hope you can go home soon.

[tammylayne]

Hope you have a smooth and quick recovery...and HOME soon!!!!!

[ziggymonster]

What an ordeal!! Glad you are feeling better.....kinda getting tired of being job security for the medical field!!

[NWgirl]

OMG Rhea - how horrible! I hope your pain is getting under control. Sending strong thoughts your way.

[juliej]

So glad to hear your reversal wasn't compromised! Hopefully they'll get the pain under control and some antibiotics will take care of the abscess. Sending good energy and prayers your way!

[kiwiinoz]

Rhea,
You have been through so much and I bet you were glad to hear that your reversal did not need to be reversed. Hope that the pain meds bring some relief and that you are back on your feet again soon.
Kiwi