Well folks, I've had another complication/setback.
To recap my story in a nutshell, I had the original RNY surgery on May 17th 2010. Then I had open surgery on May 20th to correct an obstructed bowel. Third surgery that week was May 24th to clean out absess and other pockets of infection. The open incision got infected around my belly button before I left the hospital in June, and after I got home another infection opened up another hole about 2" above the original hole. Both holes were 4-5 cms deep, and about an inch across at the surface. I go for daily care at a nursing office where they irrigate, clean, and pack me. I love those ladies. I haven't been sorry that this has been going on so long because most of them are so lovely and funny and caring. But it really has been going on a long long long long long long time.
To try and a-speed things hup (anyone watch Princess Bride?) this past week they changed the way they changed my dressing. No more irrigation because they figured it was not all coming back out since the openings are so small and keeping it that wet impedes healing. After three days of dry dressings and no irrigation I was hopeful that I would show some improvement. The wounds were 2.5 cms and 3 cms a week ago. Then Friday I felt a change. My wounds which had been quite nicely numb were not numb no more. Lots of pain and suddenly copious amounts of drainage. I was leaking through the sponges left right and centre. When I saw the nurse the next morning she said I must have had a pocket of infected fluid inside that burst. Both wounds deepened considerably. The 2.5 cm one became 4 cms and the 3 cm one became 5.5cms. I've had to take tylenol 3 to cope with the pain, which I haven't had to take since the first week or so I was home, back in June.
I went to work today, but there's lots of jumping up and down out of my chair which was painful. I can't take the T3 at work, but extra strength took some of the edge off at least.
My nurse today said she was faxing my surgeon and that the most likely course of action is going to be another surgery where he goes in, cleans out any and all pockets of infection, and the two wounds cut into one. With the larger opening at the surface of the skin it will be more conducive to healing. Bigger wounds heal faster. Sounds weird, but that's what they assure me. She said sometimes wounds like mine that don't heal are due to a reaction to internal sutchers.
I have otherwise been doing very well. I am finally happy I got the surgery. I weigh low enough to get on a Wii Fit. My plumbing is good, and I've never thrown up any food. My hair has almost all fallen out and I'm seriously thinking I will be cutting it super short (or shaving) but I have lots of pretty scarves and bandanas that I AM allowed to wear at work and I think I rock the look pretty good.
And of course I'm surrounded by wonderfully supportive friends and family and I will be around to do a lot more with them for a lot longer now. I'm only 9 pounds away from halfway done my weight loss journey! 111 lost so far.
Okay I ended on a positive note. I feel better. Thanks.
