Hospitalized

[Sojourn]

Some of you were following my thread below about the imodium pain. When I got back home from being on the road, I went on to the hospital becuase my appointment with the GI wasn't for another two days. The ER took CT scans and prescribed me some anti-biotics and painkillers. They said there was some major inflammation but released me until my appointment with the GI.

I went in to the GI today and he ordered me back to the hospital. He said ER shouldn't have released me. He says I most likely have an abcess or fistulae that is leaking. I got my things in order and checked back into the hospital. I'm there now lying on my hospital bed typing this. They took another CT tonight and will make a decision tomorrow about possibly trying to drain the abcess.

In regards to the imodium, I told the GI I'd been taking a lot of it the past few years and he gave a thoughtful look but didn't say anything either way about it at this point.

Hope everyone else is doing okay and staying on top of the fight.

 

[Jeff D.]

Best of luck. Being in the hospital is a pain. I wish you get the best treatment and I wish you the best.

 

[D Bergy]

I sure hope they can take care of the problem. No fun being in the hospital but it is the best place to be in this case.

Let us know how it goes.

Good Luck

D Bergy

 

[soupdragon69]

Sojourn I really hope they get you sorted so you can escape quick!

Will get together a party to dig an escape tunnel if discharge home is too far away. I reckon we would be good at tunnels as a group considering the fistulas many of us make all by ourselves!!

Take care, keep in touch with us. Thinking of you.


Jan

 

[Kev]

Sojourn.. Sorry that things turned out that way. I dislike the hospital too. Hope all goes well, and that you are soon on the mend, and out of there and back home OK.

As for the Imodium question, don't take the doctors silence for an answer. Question him on it. Tell him you are concerned about the possible effects of your reliance on it, and was wondering if he had any concerns, or could possibly recommend alternatives

It's a legitimate question, and you have a legitimate concern, and a right to know his professional opinion.

 

[Nancy Lee]

Sorry to hear you're back in the hospital.
Hope all goes well and it's a short stay.
Healing hugs~Nancy

 

[Cara Fusinato]

Hang in there. We are thinking of you.

 

[Sojourn]

Thanks everyone for your support.

They did surgery yesterday to drain the abscess and I still have a tube coming out of me where it continues to drain. The surgeon said he found contents from the bowel during surgery indicating that the fistula was trying to make contact with the outside. They will try to get everything recessed and may do a radiological non-surgical drain tomorrow. Once the infection and everything is under control they can start treating me with steroids for the inflammation. Basically, I'm looking at being here for at least a week on top of the two days I've already been here.

There's no telling when I'll be able to go back to work and I may have to get another job.

But it's good hearing others' stories here to know there are others going through the same challenges.

 

[soupdragon69]

Hi Sojourn,

Glad your op went well and you are feeling up to touching base with us all!

As I just said on the other thread to you work can take some consideration but you will get there. I changed jobs last year and feel much better for it even though I will always miss my old job.

Hope the procedure tomorrow if they do it goes well. Rest lots and sleep lots and keep us up to speed.

Thinking of you.

Jan

 

[Sojourn]

Thanks for your thoughts Jan. I got out of the hospital last night. What a chore it was getting out. In the morning the surgeon said I could probably get out but never came back. Then a parade of people came through from a "wound specialist," who taught me how to replace the bandage on the incision, to a social worker, and dietician. So I expected this meant I was getting out but the nurse said she didn't know anything. Finally she called the surgeon who said I could go but the GI needed to sign off on it. The GI was in New York for the weekend so it would be a few hours before he got in. Finally, the GI showed up and said I could go but forgot to sign the orders at the nurses station so he had to come back and do that. Then the nurse had to run down the instructions on all the prescriptions and discharge procedures. Then they wheeled me down and I was set free. I did a total of 10 days.

Now I have this tube coming out of my stomach with a drain I have to empty. It's for the abscess, mostly blood and puss. I'm on Flagyl, Cipro, Pentasa, and Hydrocodone. They think the inflammation is still too unstable to start steroids. I'm scheduled for another CT scan next Monday and hopefully will get more information then about my prognosis.

The good news is that my insurance is covering all this. I thought that I would be excluded because it was a pre-existing condition. But that's only if I'd had treatment for it within the past 3-6 months. And I haven't had treatment for it within the past 3 years. So that really helps in the mental department knowing I'm covered. I think I've had 4 CT scans so far in the past two weeks including the surgery and everything else.

 

[Sojourn]

Sojourn.. Sorry that things turned out that way. I dislike the hospital too. Hope all goes well, and that you are soon on the mend, and out of there and back home OK.

As for the Imodium question, don't take the doctors silence for an answer. Question him on it. Tell him you are concerned about the possible effects of your reliance on it, and was wondering if he had any concerns, or could possibly recommend alternatives

It's a legitimate question, and you have a legitimate concern, and a right to know his professional opinion.

Thanks for the advice Kev, I have an appt this Friday and will remember to ask him about it. The nurse in the hospital even asked if I wanted some and I declined.

 

[Cara Fusinato]

The good news is that my insurance is covering all this. I thought that I would be excluded because it was a pre-existing condition. But that's only if I'd had treatment for it within the past 3-6 months. And I haven't had treatment for it within the past 3 years. So that really helps in the mental department knowing I'm covered. I think I've had 4 CT scans so far in the past two weeks including the surgery and everything else.

That's good to know that if you haven't had active problems, there is a good chance of being covered. Congratulations on having the insurance cover this huge financial situation! I would have cried in happiness.

Hang in there, rest well, get better, and IF you do have to get a new job, be sure to extend your COBRA and keep that insurance for awhile!