I just got back from seeing my plastic surgeon. It turns out the infection I had was strep! That isn't the bug they usually find in wounds, so it is kind of bizarre, but then again, this is me we are talking about, so anything is possible, right?! I am to continue taking the Keflex and call if I notice any signs of infection. They were waiting to hear back whether or not I needed to be on a different antibiotic. She said she would call if that were the case.
Right now everything looks good. She took out one of my two drains and next week she hopes to remove the last one plus the stitches in my back. I can't wait, but at the same time I would rather suffer with a drain than have any more complications. One more week won't kill me.
I couldn't get expanded today, due to the infection. She didn't want to risk anything, so we will wait till next week. I was kind of bummed, but again I would rather be safe than sorry.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Seriously?!
Must I always take the scenic route? I just want to put all this cancer crap behind me, but it seems like something is always popping up to prolong things.
Complication #1 the hematoma
Complication #2 the seromas
Complication #3 the incision broke open and got infected....
Sunday night I had a horrible time trying to sleep. I tossed and turned, couldn't get warm, and my back, which hadn't been bothering me much, started hurting really bad.
When I got up in the morning (1/18/10) I couldn't even think because I hurt so much. I took a pain pill and layed in bed. The pain never went away or even improved and I was still freezing. When I got up to go to the bathroom I was lightheaded and shaky. Being my stubborn self, I decided to try to get a shower (bright idea, I know!) I ended up cutting that short, because I thought I was going to hit the floor. I got out, dried off, and layed on the bathroom floor. I managed to pull my pants and bra on and then I yelled for Camille to come help me. Poor girlie was crying she was so scared, but she was right there to help me with anything I needed. She got me the phone so I could call my sister Jess to come over.
I took my temp. and it was 101.7, my back was draining just as fast as I could change the dressing, and there was some pus on the gauze. I knew I had an infection. I called my plastic surgeon's office and they were closed (Martin Luther King Jr Day). The answering service took my information and then put me through to the on-call plastic's resident. I waited on hold for about a half an hour and then I hung up, since they had my number. I fell asleep waiting for them to call and woke up 3 hours later, to find they still hadn't called back. GRRRRR!! Jeff ended up calling them back later that evening and I talked with a resident who had just come on shift, he called my plastic surgeon, and then told me I needed to be seen in Magee's emergency room and they would probably admit me.
When I got there the ER doctor did a wound culture, blood work, packed my wound, and started me on an IV. The blood work came back showing my white blood cell count was pretty high, so they admitted me. They said there was a chance I would need surgery, so no eating or drinking after midnight. In the meantime, they started me on two heavy duty IV antibiotics (Vancomycin and Unasyn) and pain meds.
The next morning (1/19/10) my plastic surgeon came in. She said my white blood cell count had been at 17 the night before and after just one night of antibiotics it was already down to 14 (they like it to be around 10). I was already feeling sooooo much better than I had the day before, so I was off to a good start. She did an exam and told me that sometimes the infection can start in the back and then travel to the front, causing problems with the reconstruction. It didn't appear to be the case with me, but she said she wanted to take me into the OR that day. The plan was she would open things up along my incision where it had opened up, go in, take some cultures, look around to make sure there isn't something more serious going on, clean things out (debride), put in a drain, and reclose. I signed the consent and within a half an hour I was heading to the OR (My plastic surgeon is AWESOME!)
The surgery went well. She said there was just the one spot and everything else looked good. I ended up with two JP drains, which she apologized for. lol! They kept me again that night so I could get some more IV antibiotics and recheck my back in the morning. The pain wasn't too bad. I had a burning in my back and the drain site was sore, so they were giving me oxycodone.
My Mom, my sister Nicole, and my nephew Peyton came to visit that evening.
What a cutie!
Here's a picture of Jeff. He was the only one in my hospital room to get any sleep. There was a monitor board in the hallway, right outside of my room. The beeping made it impossible for me to sleep at all. As you can see, Jeff had no problem!
At one point in the night I got up to go to the bathroom and noticed I had marks on my face. I also had a couple hives on my chest.
I pointed out the marks out to my nurse. We weren't sure what was causing this reaction, because I had been taking all my meds for over 24 hours, nothing new. She said she would call to get an order for Benadryl.
Well things were really busy for the staff that night and I didn't get the Benadryl till early morning. At this point my entire face was red and kind of swollen. This picture doesn't really show how bad it had gotten.
My doctor came to see me in the morning (1/20/10). My back was still warmer to the touch (sign of infection), but overall it looked good. She wasn't sure what had caused my allergic reaction through the night. At that point she gave me the choice, I could stay another night so they could keep an eye on me, or I could go home and call with any problems. I chose choice B!
They sent me home with an antibiotic (Keflex 4 times a day), a pain pill (Oxycodone), and all the stuff to do my dressing changes twice a day. I declined having the visiting nurses come see me, because I am totally capable of taking care of my drains and doing the dressing changes.
I am back to no driving, no showering, and no lifting anything greater than 5 lbs. UGHHHHHHH!
Here is a pic of what my incision looks like right now. She wasn't able to use the nice pretty sutures this time, due to the way the incision had broken open, but she said she can always go back later and do scar revisions to pretty things up. I am currently putting Bacitracin and Xeroform on it. I go see my doctor on Monday.
Let's hope this is the last of my post-op complications!
Complication #1 the hematoma
Complication #2 the seromas
Complication #3 the incision broke open and got infected....
Sunday night I had a horrible time trying to sleep. I tossed and turned, couldn't get warm, and my back, which hadn't been bothering me much, started hurting really bad.
When I got up in the morning (1/18/10) I couldn't even think because I hurt so much. I took a pain pill and layed in bed. The pain never went away or even improved and I was still freezing. When I got up to go to the bathroom I was lightheaded and shaky. Being my stubborn self, I decided to try to get a shower (bright idea, I know!) I ended up cutting that short, because I thought I was going to hit the floor. I got out, dried off, and layed on the bathroom floor. I managed to pull my pants and bra on and then I yelled for Camille to come help me. Poor girlie was crying she was so scared, but she was right there to help me with anything I needed. She got me the phone so I could call my sister Jess to come over.
I took my temp. and it was 101.7, my back was draining just as fast as I could change the dressing, and there was some pus on the gauze. I knew I had an infection. I called my plastic surgeon's office and they were closed (Martin Luther King Jr Day). The answering service took my information and then put me through to the on-call plastic's resident. I waited on hold for about a half an hour and then I hung up, since they had my number. I fell asleep waiting for them to call and woke up 3 hours later, to find they still hadn't called back. GRRRRR!! Jeff ended up calling them back later that evening and I talked with a resident who had just come on shift, he called my plastic surgeon, and then told me I needed to be seen in Magee's emergency room and they would probably admit me.
When I got there the ER doctor did a wound culture, blood work, packed my wound, and started me on an IV. The blood work came back showing my white blood cell count was pretty high, so they admitted me. They said there was a chance I would need surgery, so no eating or drinking after midnight. In the meantime, they started me on two heavy duty IV antibiotics (Vancomycin and Unasyn) and pain meds.
The next morning (1/19/10) my plastic surgeon came in. She said my white blood cell count had been at 17 the night before and after just one night of antibiotics it was already down to 14 (they like it to be around 10). I was already feeling sooooo much better than I had the day before, so I was off to a good start. She did an exam and told me that sometimes the infection can start in the back and then travel to the front, causing problems with the reconstruction. It didn't appear to be the case with me, but she said she wanted to take me into the OR that day. The plan was she would open things up along my incision where it had opened up, go in, take some cultures, look around to make sure there isn't something more serious going on, clean things out (debride), put in a drain, and reclose. I signed the consent and within a half an hour I was heading to the OR (My plastic surgeon is AWESOME!)
The surgery went well. She said there was just the one spot and everything else looked good. I ended up with two JP drains, which she apologized for. lol! They kept me again that night so I could get some more IV antibiotics and recheck my back in the morning. The pain wasn't too bad. I had a burning in my back and the drain site was sore, so they were giving me oxycodone.
My Mom, my sister Nicole, and my nephew Peyton came to visit that evening.
What a cutie!
Here's a picture of Jeff. He was the only one in my hospital room to get any sleep. There was a monitor board in the hallway, right outside of my room. The beeping made it impossible for me to sleep at all. As you can see, Jeff had no problem!
At one point in the night I got up to go to the bathroom and noticed I had marks on my face. I also had a couple hives on my chest.
I pointed out the marks out to my nurse. We weren't sure what was causing this reaction, because I had been taking all my meds for over 24 hours, nothing new. She said she would call to get an order for Benadryl.
Well things were really busy for the staff that night and I didn't get the Benadryl till early morning. At this point my entire face was red and kind of swollen. This picture doesn't really show how bad it had gotten.
My doctor came to see me in the morning (1/20/10). My back was still warmer to the touch (sign of infection), but overall it looked good. She wasn't sure what had caused my allergic reaction through the night. At that point she gave me the choice, I could stay another night so they could keep an eye on me, or I could go home and call with any problems. I chose choice B!
They sent me home with an antibiotic (Keflex 4 times a day), a pain pill (Oxycodone), and all the stuff to do my dressing changes twice a day. I declined having the visiting nurses come see me, because I am totally capable of taking care of my drains and doing the dressing changes.
I am back to no driving, no showering, and no lifting anything greater than 5 lbs. UGHHHHHHH!
Here is a pic of what my incision looks like right now. She wasn't able to use the nice pretty sutures this time, due to the way the incision had broken open, but she said she can always go back later and do scar revisions to pretty things up. I am currently putting Bacitracin and Xeroform on it. I go see my doctor on Monday.
Let's hope this is the last of my post-op complications!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Beth has been taken to the Hospital
Good morning, everyone.
This is Beth's sister, Nicole. Beth was taken to Pittsburgh Hospital last night due to her infection. We have word this morning that her Dr. wants to take her in to surgery at some point today to be sure there are no underlying problems. Please send your prayers, they are appreciated, as always!
I will post updates as to how she is doing and what is happening as often as I can!
Thank you!
This is Beth's sister, Nicole. Beth was taken to Pittsburgh Hospital last night due to her infection. We have word this morning that her Dr. wants to take her in to surgery at some point today to be sure there are no underlying problems. Please send your prayers, they are appreciated, as always!
I will post updates as to how she is doing and what is happening as often as I can!
Thank you!
Friday, January 15, 2010
I sprung a leak!
This morning I was on the phone catching up with one of my nursing school buddies and I realized my shirt was wet in the back. I went into the bathroom to see what was going on and found that the right side of my back had saturated the padding, the binder, and my shirt. A small part of the incision has opened up and it is releasing the fluid, rather than it building up inside. I called my plastic surgeon's office to let them know what was going on and the physician's assistant told me that as long as I don't have a fever or chills, the fluid is serosanguinous (containing or consisting of both blood and serous fluid) and not an active bleed she isn't worried. This may actually help resolve things, because it is acting as a drain. Keep your fingers crossed that this wraps it up.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
1/14/10 Update
I went to see my plastic surgeon today. She drained 50 ml of fluid from my right back and about 20 ml from the left, which is less than last week, so we are making progress. I still have to keep the binder on, but she told me to wear it a little lower than I have been. Hopefully that will help.
She also did my second expansion. The right now has 190 ml and the left 160 ml (because it is tighter). She will check me next week to see how the fluid is, but she won't expand me till the following week.
She also did my second expansion. The right now has 190 ml and the left 160 ml (because it is tighter). She will check me next week to see how the fluid is, but she won't expand me till the following week.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
One year of hair growth
Today I went to get a haircut and highlights. It is hard to believe my hair has been growing back in for a year now. Here are some pictures.
Before
In this one you can see how much my "boob seeds" have grown already with just one "watering." lol
After
Before
In this one you can see how much my "boob seeds" have grown already with just one "watering." lol
After
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
I Love my crazy kids!
Check out this video. They were having so much fun last night.
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing
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