15 year old in 3rd surgery for abscess

[BoyMama2000]

I pray this one works. My son had a drainage Feb 1st, drainage and seton placement April 2nd and was admitted yesterday for MRI, blood work and is in surgery right now again for drainage, possible re-direct of seton, cultures and sigmoidoscopy. He had all the prep and could go at all. His pain was through the roof with all of this. MRI showed 2cm abscess with inflamed tissue around it but no new fistula. Fistula is simple and superficial. Perhaps the seton needed to be placed lower and the inflammation and pus pooled down lower than the drainage.

He will stay inpatient for a day or two this time. We need help managing all of this pain.

He is also in a flare after only presenting symptom on diagnosis as growth failure. This his first experience with pain and not being able to go to school or play sports. He is going to miss his freshman year of lacrosse now. We will likely start methotrexate once this is under control. He is currently on Pentasa, entocort for only 2 weeks, floraster and vitamins.

Any advice? I can't believe all he has been through. He never did well after the seton but perhaps it was due to the recurring infection and gravity pulling it too low.

I pray he gets back to normal soon!

 

[Jim (POPS)]

Hello,
I'm so sorry that your child is going through all this. I pray your son will recover and find good healt. I know it is so hard for you right now. Make sure to take the time for "you" to take care of yourself. Your son depends so much on you. If it wasn't for mothers, there would be alot of unhappy kids in the world. There's nothing Like a mothers LOVE.

Jim (Pops)

 

[acc929]

I too am so sorry that this is happening to your son. I was a pediatric Crohn's patient, and while I didn't develop my first abscess until very recently, I recall some very painful hospital stays. My only advice - and you're likely already following it - is just to be an advocate for your child. My mother, bless her heart, was a total pitbull when she felt they were being stingy with my pain management. Don't be shy to ask for more and better care if you feel they could be doing more to manage his discomfort and potentially anxiety (I found and still find that pain causes anxiety, anxiety causes you to tense up, which causes more pain - a vicious cycle). Other than that, just remember how important your love and support is. Even now, at 22, I can't get through the bad bits without my mom there. Her very presence is a huge comfort to me, as yours undoubtedly is to your son. As much as he hasn't been lucky with his health and as much as I know you wish you could take it all away for him, don't feel helpless. You help him immensely by being there.