Have you heard that radio commercial, "A minor procedure is a procedure on someone else!" That's so true.

As some of you know I had my umbilical hernia surgery Monday of this past week. Then I posted about the fevers I was experiencing. Saw the doctor three days ago - he didn't seem alarmed. Said it was "early" to have an infection.

Well, when the fevers went to 101.8 and 102 (Round Robin, you were right about that!) I decided to go to the ER. The incision didn't look right to me.

Well, the doctor took one look, opened half of the incision and drained, in his words (this is gross) "three shot glasses" of pus. It was frightening. Now I'm on Augmentin, which I've taken before - I know it comes with side effects, but what can I do? That part of the incision will remain open for drainage. It will eventually close on its own. (The ER doctor said I could have plastic surgery if I didn't like the scar. That made me smile. When pigs fly!!) The infection probably started the day of the surgery, before the first bandage was even removed. How do you explain that?

Now - my face is cool, the surgery area already looks better...maybe I can really start to recover.

Thanks for your support!

Helen

Hi Helen,
Very pleased to hear that you have got to the bottom of your fevers. Now all that pus has been drained you will feel like a different person. The infection will have occured at the time of surgery. It is unfortunately a common problem these days. Infection can be transferred by hospital staff. When I ran an acute surgical ward we would have kept you in hospital for a week, taking your temperature and pulse every four hours and we would have jumped on your infection very quickly! Mind-you I still think it is safer to get out of hospital as quickly as possible these days.


Regards,

XIII

Oh for Heaven' sakes Helen....we talked about this! This is what happened with my c-section...thank goodness you had the good sense to get it checked out! YOu take it really easy so you can put this one behind you!
Thinking of you,

Helen, I am so very happy that you are on the mend.

Many hugs,
Marcy