GI Joe Butt: Struggling with Infection After Surgery

Hello everyone. On July 2 this year, I went in for a colostomy reversal and had a cancerous tumor removed. I woke up to a permanent ileostomy and my ass stitched together.

Due to the radiation treatments, I'm guessing the wound won't heal. I went to a wound clinic, and everything they seem to be doing is only making it much worse. Now I have an infection, and their only suggestion was to go to the ER. That would be my third trip, which is bullshit.

I am almost completely convinced that it was their fault for the infection because I told them earlier I was in pain and the drainage looked wrong, but instead of putting me on antibiotics, they wanted to test it. Well, now it's a full-blown infection.

I finally got ahold of my surgeon, and they are sending me to get a 2nd opinion on Friday. Twice I've shown improvement, only for another worker to go and destroy the new tissue.

So sorry, Ronnie. Sounds like a classic case of you knowing your body best and them not hearing you. A lot of us on here know that feeling well. Folks who’ve had your wound issue will chime in.

I know they will. I had to make a new profile (long story), but with the lack of care and the wound becoming worse, added to me finally giving up tobacco products.

It nearly caused me to have a bad mental breakdown, which already cost me someone I cared about.

Then today they finally called me back to say, "Oh, go to the ER." I nearly snapped on the guy, but it wasn't his fault that his boss isn't doing his job.

Hi Ronn'ster,

This is exactly why I tell everyone on here to know their doctors and surgeons well, and never leave it up to a doctor without checking them out. Second and third opinions need to be the norm, not rare. With the current shortage of nurses and doctors here in the States, this isn't going to get a lot better. Before, people could ignore the bad docs, but now if they want to get seen this century, they're going with any doc available. And trust me... there's a LOT of bad docs out there. Sorry you have to go through this, as well as anyone else who put their faith in our medical system blindly. All docs are not created equal, but you have to do your homework to figure that out. But in the end, it'll be worth it. Give 'em hell, brother!!

;O)

Sad to say, as a patient, you have to tell them what to do. I found myself, from firsthand experience, wound care has no idea what in the world they are doing. I was sent after my last emergency surgery, and they left me open to heal from the inside out, and I had to wet-dry pat my midline. I went twice, and I was quite amazed at how dumb these people were, and that's supposed to be their specialty. Same way when I was in the hospital, I did it all myself, and I wouldn't let any of them touch me. When you look scared and confused, uhh no thanks bud, I got it. lol

How long before you get an appointment? I only ask because if you have an infection, I would, in the meantime, go to the ER and straight tell them you need antibiotics. That way, you're not letting the infection get worse or spread and be in a big world of hurt.

Living with Your Ostomy | Hollister

Appreciate that

I go to that wound clinic tomorrow, but I go to Centennial Wound Center Friday for a second opinion. And yeah, I think I'm about to, but last time I went, they were complete idiots, trying to tell me I had inflammation in my colon... What damn colon! And they thought I had a cyst... No, it's an open surgical wound.

Inquire about HBOT treatments. 

That's what I plan to push for tomorrow. I don't know if my insurance will cover it, but I do have liability insurance as well. Both should do it.

Only plus is even through all the B's I'm dealing with I haven't picked a cigarette back up, but damn have I wanted to.

Radiation is on the list as a medical necessity for HBOT, so you will more than likely get approved by insurance. You should absolutely try that route of treatment.
And I'm glad to read you still haven't picked up a cigarette! Chewing gum helped me a lot when I quit.

Thank you. I went to those Zyn pouches. Low-grade nicotine comes in handy when I start getting upset and stressed.

That's really helpful information. Radiation has really messed my lower half up. My abdomen, while it isn't like it was when I was in the army, the deep scar from my loop colostomy has almost filled completely in.

I hear ya. I'm still having a lot of difficulty healing too. Today I saw a plastic surgeon about doing a gracilis skin flap (removing my inner thigh muscle to graft my wound), but it wasn't a good option for me. I chose to go back on the wound vac for a few months instead.
Good luck at your appointment tomorrow. Keep us posted on what they say about HBOT! 

Just wanted to share that, when I quit smoking (attempt #3), I actually aimed at squirrels that were crossing the road. Withdrawal rage is real!

Dang, I wish you luck.

Damn it, I dropped my phone reading this 🤣😂🤣😂🤣. Thank you so much, I've honestly had a really horrible past 5 days.

This is my actual 3rd attempt. First time went cold turkey @Fort Benning and started back 3 months later @Fort Gordon. 2nd attempt was when I started radiation treatments.

Sounds like you have had a wonderful experience as well. What wound clinic are you going to tomorrow? And in Tri Centennial Hospital? When I was in the hospital, they were horrible. I never even saw a wound care nurse; she sent her girl in training that looked like she was caught like a deer in headlights. They started me out on a wound vac, and they didn't come to check on it or change it until day four. I had paged and asked my nurse several times, and nothing.