Gone back to hospital after discharge (infection)

Hi Ice

i’ve not had similar colon cancer, mine is rectal cancer but I just wanted to touch base with you and send a virtual hug. Hopefully someone else in the group that’s had a similar experience will be able to assist. 

Thanks. Glad he went into a and e for a check today. He's on iv antibiotics and fluids and we'll see what happens tomorrow.

Hi Ice If you click on my name then my profile page will show my treatment timeline and I had a bit of a rough time too.

I developed ileus after my op which is very common but the days of vomiting followed by nil by mouth is not very nice. I was eventually discharged but after a few days I started passing a foul liquid out of my back passage (I had a stoma) so I was readmitted and found to have an internal infected fluid buildup around the rejoin site which is also not unusual apparently but not much consolation. I then had a drain inserted in my right butttock which was extremely uncomfortable to sit or lie on. I managed to escape home after a couple of weeks but felt increasingly dreadful. My GP suspected sepsis and wanted to call an ambulance but we went home and pessimisticly packed a bag! It turned out to be a large pulmonary embolism in each lung - cue another 2 weeks stay and blood thinners for life.

Anyway - sorry this has turned into a bit of a sob story about me hasn’t it? - alls well that ends well and I’m approaching my 10 year cancer free anniversary. My mantra during all of the above was ‘this too shall pass’ - it was hard at the time and seemed like it was just one thing after another but the main thing is that he’s had the tumour removed and he’s in the right place to get the infection sorted.

Please try and look after yourself during all this too? The visiting and juggling of all the usual daily life tasks can be exhausting so take some time out for coffee with a friend or a walk in the park and don’t run yourself ragged

Take care

Karen x

Thanks Karen. I read out your reply to him. He's on the corridor still, but it's been helpful. 

Just thought I'd update.

He's still in hospital after his re-admittance. A week so far.

He came to a ward after 2 days on the corridor by a and e which was a relief. No pillows or blankets on the corridor, so thick blankets brought from home.

He's a week into Tazocin strong antibiotic for sepsis. Probably another week of this.

Was on lots of fluid but now is sodium deficient so limited fluids and measurement of outputs. 

Loads better in himself now, but still exhausted and nauseous. 

The big bleed in surgery left a large clot which didn't get reabsorbed as hoped but became infected and also lots of issues passing urine. If it liquifies they're looking at draining it via probe guided by ultrasound end of next week. 

Found out that the removed bowel section came with 34 lymph nodes but thats all I know (don't know if he got told more but forgot). Presumably they'll test these for signs of cancerous cells?

Any way, fingers crossed he's out in a week and I'm very glad I hassled him to A and E as he wanted to wait until the following day when he was due to have his clips out, then tried to leave twice during our wait as it was taking so long, then luckily they admitted him.

Hi Ice and thanks for the update. Yes the lymph nodes will be tested to see if any follow up chemo is needed. 

Good to hear that he’s starting to improve a bit and well done you for insisting he go (and stay) to A and E

Take care

Karen x