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I had to have surgery again! STAFF Infection!

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  • I had to have surgery again! STAFF Infection!

    This is Tara Ward, you might remember me from "I need someone to help" I havent written in a while because out of no where with no symptoms what so ever for the exception of an itchy part on my incision that was healing started to feel a little funny, nothing that i thought i should really be too concerned about but i called the doctor on memorial day and he told me to go to the emergency room back at the hospital. ( you all could imagine what i was feeling at that time) But i bared it and went, found out that the itchy part on my back on the incision was infected. I had no signs of fever or chills....nothing. My surgon came up to the hospital and declared that we had to have surgery yet again, and that he had to flush out the whole 16 inch incision back down to the bone with 6 liters of antibiotics..........great huh! I was so freaked out and let me tell you the second stay was just as long as the first and even more painful than the first time, i don't know why. They ran 2 cultures on the stuff on the skin and one on the fluid surounding my spine. The one on the skin grew in less than a day pronouncing that i had a STAFF Infection. All i had to do was wait to see if it had gone down to the bone. I was so scared. 3 days later the culture they took on the fluid surrounding the bone grew. It had gone down to the bone. They had to put in a 'PICC Line' which is a tube that goes in through your forearm and goes into your heart. They also had 2 tubes comeing out of my back where they had to drain infection so it felt like i was layingon a damn garden hose but when it came time to take them out it hurt sooooooo bad! I screamed. Couldent help it. But the reasion for the PICC line was so that i could administer IV antibiotics twice a day at home by an 'at home' nurse for a month solid. Only at the end of this month will i know if i beat the infection. I need all your prayers you guys because if the infection doesent go away, i have to go in again and have the rods taken out be on antibiotics for months then i have to go in again and have the rods put back in.........pray for me. I need all the support i can get. Have any of you ever had something like this happen to you?
    Tara Ward

  • #2
    Tara, I'm so sorry to hear about your complications. I will add you to my prayer list tonight. Take care of yourself as much as possible, eat right and drink plenty of fluids to help flush the infection out. When was your original surgery? How long or where did they fuse to?
    PJO

    Comment


    • #3
      Tara~
      I'm really sorry about what you are going through! I hope all ends up well!! Feel Better Soon!!!!!


      ellie
      Minnesota Brace
      Curves: 27T/32L
      ~ ~

      Comment


      • #4
        Hi Tara...

        While I didn't get an infection from my scoliosis surgery, I did experience a PICC line and giving myself IV antibiotics. All I can say is that I got used to the routine pretty quickly. Just don't forget to eat yoghurt and/or take acidolphilus regularly.

        I know quite a few people who have gotten staph infections during surgery. Since staph is everywhere on our bodies, it's a miracle that we don't all end up with infections. I hope that the antibiotics do their job well, and you get on with your recovery.

        Regards,
        Linda
        Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
        ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
        Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

        Comment


        • #5
          Dear Tara,

          You poor thing, something like that should not have happen to you or anybody..it's bad enough going thru one surgery but two back to back is more than one person can take...I give you credit for being strong and reaching out to us for support...we are here for you and I will think about you in my prays...
          Whats so amazing is that what was the big deal a little iching by the incision?..heck all stiches itch how do you know which is normal and which is a problem...it was good that you called your doctor..The doctors should warn us of what is normal and what isn't maybe it wouldn't have gotten to the bone/......
          My doctor said he was going to put in a central line because I have very bad vein and than a Picc line also....I decided I was going to stop worring because it gets me nowhere..so all my question are answered and its just a wait....time will go by and Tara you will heal...most important don't get depressed ...look forward...monitor your advancement in recovery so you can see a difference...call friends to come visit you....and keep posting your progress...
          bee well
          CONNIE


          Surgery June 28th 2004
          fused T4 -L3
          Hip graft
          Grown 1 1/2 inches
          25/o upper T 15/o
          53/o T 15/o
          37/o L 6/o
          Dr. Micheal Nuewirth
          New York City

          August 6, 2004
          Pulmonary Embolism
          complication from surgery

          January 2007 currently
          increasing pain at the T4/5
          point irratation heardwear

          Comment


          • #6
            Tara,
            Hi, my name is Sandy, and I also had a Staph infection and PICC lines. I understand how really scary this is for you. Not just the idea of more surgery, but "do it yourself IV's". After a couple of times you'll get the hang of giving your antibiotics yourself. Also here is a hint about keeping your PICC line dry while trying to bath. I used a large baggy, the kind that is non-zip. I opened the closed end, so I could put my arm thru it. I then used old fashioned medical adhisive tape to seal both ends around my line. Don't use paper tape, it will leak and/or just come off in the shower. Also plastic wrap leaks.
            Also, I found that after a while I "liked" my PICC line...just because the home health nurse didn't have to poke me with a needle to get blood. She just took it from the line. Also when it comes time to take out the PICC, it doesn't hurt any more than taking out a regular IV.
            Wishing you well
            SandyC
            SandyC

            Comment


            • #7
              sandy

              Oh thank you so much for reassuring me on this, yeah i really like the picc line, seeing as though in the hosp. they pretty much blew every vein i had so now i have these nots and bumps where the IV was where the inside of my elbow is and on my wrist. Couldnt take another needle to save my life. At first i was ready to just give up, i had the drains in my back which hurt so bad i cant even begin, but i just hope so bad that the antibiotics help so i dont have to go back there again......oh God i hope i dont have to go back, i am totally terrified of the hospital now, I swear if i see another hospital again in my life ittle be too soon. I figured out the paper tape thing last night lol...abd i got that new gladlock press and seal thing and it works so good, but i cant bend my arm and trying to wash my hair....aghhhh!!!! SO HARD! but i got through it, dont know how i cant take this for a month solid, but ........anything but the hospital again. Hope all is well with you and thank you SO MUCH for the help, email me anytime!!!
              Tara Ward

              Comment


              • #8
                Hi Tara...

                If you're going to have the PICC line for any length of time, you might want to get them to move it. Mine was in my left arm, below the shoulder. It allowed me to do everything I needed to do without assistance.

                --Linda
                Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
                ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
                Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

                Comment


                • #9
                  Linda

                  I will have my picc in for just under a month it's in my right arm, why move it/ is there problems with the picc? are problems common?
                  Tara Ward

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    PJO

                    thank you for your support and if you need anything just let me know and i will just love to help!
                    Tara Ward

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      ellie

                      thank you ellie, you are very sweet, let me know if you have any questions or need anything, i'm here for all of you too!
                      Tara Ward

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Hi Tara...

                        I'm saying that if they move it, then you would be able to move your arms freely, and you'd still be able to administer the antibiotics.

                        --Linda
                        Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
                        ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
                        Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          You guys scared me! :-(
                          I have decided to have surgery after years of putting it off. My curve is close to 100 degrees, so i really have no choice. I spoke with my doctor the other day and told him i've decided to have surgery, which will probably schedule for sometime in Sept. (3 months prep time). Now reading this scares me stiff ... i am sick to my stomach now.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Hi Mish...

                            I'm really sorry that this has upset you. I totally understand how scary it is. You should ask your own doctor what percentage of his cases end up with an infection. It appears that the national average is about 1.9% (see http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q..._uids=11052352).

                            Unfortunately, there are lots of complications you might experience. Your doctor can go over all of them. The good news (if you're young), is that the risks of complication are significantly lower.

                            Good luck with your surgery. I know that it's much easier for me to tell you not to worry than it will be for you to make that happen. My only advice would be to keep your mind on the potential benefits of surgery.

                            Regards,
                            Linda
                            Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
                            ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
                            Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Tara . . I will keep you in my thoughts and in my prayers. Complications and secondary infections are hopefully rare occurrences, not that it makes it any easier for you, being in that unlucky minority!

                              It does sound like your doctor is on top of the infection and is checking and rechecking.

                              I hope it all clears fast and you are on the mend soon. Be strong.

                              Comment

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