Questions about Abscess Process/follow up questions for Doc

[crohnie4life]

Hi All,

Relatively new here. Had some CRAPPY holidays this year, spending 11 days total over Christmas and New Years in the hospital. My 3rd stay in 3 months. After (what I felt like) having to pursued my doctors that there was more to my pain than just my crohn's flaring, a 4th CT scan finally revealed an abdominal abscess which has been giving my life hell since October.

Anyway- the abscess is currently draining and I have a followup appointment with my surgeon this afternoon to see how it's going/when it can come out. I'm on IV Rocephin every day for the next month along with an oral course of flagyl, prednisone and pentasa and so far feeling MUCH better.

Are there any questions in particular I should think to ask my surgeon today about this drain/process of healing this abscess the rest of the way? Also, how bad is the pain once they take the drain out? How long does the area they aspirated/drained take to heal?

If anyone could share their experiences with me about the process of healing an abscess, along with questions to ask my surgeon (and/or GI doc)- I would appreciate it!!!

 

[lisakuney]

When I had an abdominal wall abscess, the worst part was taking out and replacing the packing each day. It tended to be quite painful for me, but then I am a big wuss now about pain.

 

[sawdust]

Hiya C4L! I don't have experience with an abdominal abscess, but I would have no problem asking your surgeon the questions you asked in your post. In my opinion, these are things, as a patient, that you should understand.

The suggestion I had from reading your post is to ask if it is evident from your CT scan results what caused the abscess to form? In my experience, this can affect the way you are treated, and it can help you understand some of the thing he or she is taking into account. :hug:

 

[DustyKat]

How did your appointment go?

My son had a psoas with a connecting fistula so his required surgery but, if the abscess is contained and fully drained when the drain is removed it shouldn't take long at all for the wound to heal. Aside from covering it no other dressing is required.

Dusty. xxx

 

[bigtruck]

I've had a few psoas abscesses in my time and as dusty has said once its all cleaned out it should heal over, have they done much imaging to see if anything was "feeding" the abscess?

 

[crohnie4life]

Thanks you guys!

Appt went well. Just a tiny little hole that, like dusty said just needs to be covered. No biggie...

I believe the abscess was contained, it only drained a clear/yellow color and I am on IV antibiotics so I'm praying it won't come back. They did not see a fistula in the CT scan (I thank my lucky stars!). Repeat CT scan in 4 weeks!

Why does our disease have to be so gross haha

 

[DustyKat]

I hope all heals well and the abscess does not return!

Good luck with the CT! :goodluck:

Dusty. xxx