I have a super gross situation happening...need advise ASAP!

Please call your doctor right away. I'm so, so sorry you've had all these problems. I hope you can figure this out and please let us know what happens.

Virtual hugs!

Omg.. I'm do sorry what did your new PS say?

I had a culture done with my new surgeon and it came back positive for Staph again! I had Staph back in November, but I was in the hospital for 8 days on Vancomycin and when my fever was gone they discharged me. I thought it was gone! Apparently it isn't, or it came back! I have been put on Bactrum right now by my new guy and he says that I need to see an infectious disease doctor on Dec. 21. As soon as my infection is cleared up I am going to have to have another surgery to clean out all the dead tissue and pockets of seroma stuff in there. I have developed a fever, and I have started feeling REALLY nauseated. I am in terrible pain, so i'm taking dialaudid for that. I am completely miserable!!!! It's nice to have a place to come talk about all this though, thanks for listening girls! I just hope this junk doesn't kill me!!

I'm just sorry you have to go through this... I have prayed for you sweetie. Do they think it has to do with your body or the prior PS? You should check and see if he has history of this happening. Also did you put this on the question board also? To see what other PS say?

First off im so so sorry u are going thru this! And yes please contact ur dr asap. So u had a TT and developed a staph infection that came back positive as a MRSA? Those can be very difficult to totally kill as the drug used to kill a staph aureus infection in 95% of cases is resistant in your case & there are only so many antibiotics to choose from but they can be killed. Wound care clinics are the gurus of handling these types of things. Hopefully your PS is working with a wound care specialist to treat your infection especially if MRSA is involved. But definitely contact ur PS because you need to be seen. You are in my thoughts & prayers girlie just hang in there

I chose my first PS because 2 of my friends had breast implants with him and they had great experiences. Their surgery looked great too so I thought I could use him and have good results with my TT. Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case! I had surgery on 10-14-11 and by 3 weeks later I was in the hospital with an unexplained fever of 103.8. I live about 55 miles from where my first PS has his office or admitting privileges. So, after calling and calling the first PS about my fever and how bad I was feeling (when I told him over and over about the fever his exact words were, "just do some deep breathing and take some tylenol...it's just systemic response.") my husband took me to our local ER. The admitting doctor that evening in our local ER was a doctor I have known my whole life, so we were very comfortable talking to each other. More like friends instead of doctor/patient. My stomach was hugely swollen and had several open places in my incision. I had a terrible fever, severe chills, a small (dime sized) blister one my lower stomach, and a huge area of redness above my incision. He looked at me and said, "I would bet my life that you have Staph. What is your Surgeon's phone number?" So, I gave it to him and he went out of the exam room. About 20 minutes later he came back in with a frustrated look on his face and asked "WHERE did you find this guy??" he was referring to my surgeon. Apparently when he called to speak to my surgeon he told him everything that was going on with me. My surgeon's response to him was, "well, that all sounds perfectly normal to me...unless she has a surgical need I have no reason to see her." So, my ER doctor friend admitted me and started me on Vancomycin. Everyday the doctors attempted to speak to my PS, but they were blown off or he just didn't return their calls. The surgeon at the hospital I was admitted into came to see me and said he would like to see me transferred to the hospital where my PS could take care of me. Considering I had heard so many times now that he didn't seem to want to care for me, this upset me and I got teary. I said to the local surgeon, "he doesn't seem interested in getting me well." his response was, "well is he interested in losing his license to practice medicine?!" Every one HATED my PS. Even though I had blood tests done everyday while I was in the hospital, Staph was never confirmed while I was hospitalized. Two days after I was discharged I went to see my PS that no one liked. He cut my incision open a little bit and hot fluid rushed out all over. He cultured the fluid and then inserted a soft rubber tube for a drain. I had had 2 JP drains sewn into my hips after surgery, but he had already taken them out. So, the next week he called and told me my culture did come back with Staph. I asked him if I should be on an antibiotic and he told me that what I had gotten in the hospital would work and still be in my system. Even though I had been out of the hospital for over a week and not had anything since!? Yet, I trusted him to know.I had the drain in for 2 weeks and he took it out. I got a new one 4 days later. The stitch holding it in came out and I called him. He told me since it was a Friday that it could wait until Monday and that if the tube came out, just put it back in if I could and if I couldn't get it in the hole to put some kleenex or gauze in the hole so it wouldn't close up!!!! I couldn't take it any more. I am in nursing school and know enough so far that I knew that was WRONG. Handling something that is going to be inside your body is a no no. Just bad!! So, I got on the internet and started looking for new surgeons!!!!! I found one and called them that same Friday. He couldn't see me until Monday, but he would be glad to help me. I saw him the following Monday, told him all about the problems I've had, he did a LOT of huffing and head shaking. Come to find out, I have and ongoing infection that has developed into MRSA (he cultured everything and has called me to tell me the results.), the Staph is still active, I have a pocket in my abdomen that is holding pus, dead tissue, and fluid that he is going to have to re-open and clean out, and I have a fever now. I have several new open places. I am having to use long sterile Q-Tips to reach into the pocket and clean 2 times a day with distilled white vinegar (per my new doc's orders, distilled white vinegar is acedic acid and a very good astringent). It's been a real nightmare to say the least. My abdomen hurts so bad at times I have to just lie down. My chest hurts, my joints hurt, my life is a mess!!!!!! I am on Bactrum right now and getting ready to see the Infectious Disease Doctor who works with my new surgeon on the 21rst. I don't know, at this point I don't even care what I look like...I just want to live!!

You sound like u are inmuch better hands now & the fact that your ps us working with an infectionous disease Dr is wonderful news! U are getting two specialist to help your infection & to still help you achieve your desired surgery results. Once you are healed up & better sue the shit out of this poor excuse for a health care provider so this never happens to anyone else!! Keep good notes of dates & times of conversations with him & get ur records!!! I really wish you the best & I know it's hard for you but it sounds like your new team
Of providers gave ur best interest in mind & will get you out of this nightmare. Just think positive chica!! Everyone on these boards are super supportive so keep in touch :)

This is truly heart breaking. As I'm reading this to my husband tears are swelling in my eyes. I never ever had a thought of something bad happening to me. Do you have family support? Like Lisee said you are in much better hands. My prayers go out to you.

0351 I also am so very sorry this has happened-but agree the infectious disease Dr.'s are the ticket! There is light at the end of the tunnel-my friend had a tt 6 mo's ago & also developed a MRSA infection-luckily it was caught fairly soon-she is a nurse & works in a Dr.'s office. She went IMMEDIATELY to ID Dr. & had 10-12 days of IV antiobiotics-had to also pack the wound etc. She's doing great now- even her scar looks really good -especially considering what she's been through (as you well know!) So, hang in there & believe you will get through this! Praying for you :) Hope you have great news for us real soon!

Thanks girls, its so nice to know I have your support! I do have family support as well...my husband has been amazing through this. He is totally caring for our 3 kids, doing all the housework, meals, everything! He has driven me to every single appointment and gotten all my prescribtions filled for me. Without him I would be even worse!


Today I am having the WORST hip pain! I can barely walk for some reason. I know joint pain is part of the Staph symptoms, but I feel like a 90 year old lady! I slept most of the day, I just feel completely wiped out. I took my last dilaudid today...I just hope my new doctor will give me something else because there is no way I can tolerate this pain with nothing!

It is amazing to me that a doctor like that can even have a license. I am flabergasted! My prayers are with you and your family and I know and have faith that you will get through this. I am glad you are in the hands of careing doctors now. It is hard enough to get through the regular pain of a tummy tuck much less this. I am so sorry this has happend to you. :-(

today my new surgeon's nurse called me with the final report from the culture they did of my incision. She told me I have Bacteroid something or other growing in my wounds. I don't know exactly what it is, but but from what I found on the internet it is the same thing that is inside your appendix when it gets inflamed. As you may know, if your appendix bursts, you can be in serious trouble!! She called me in an antibiotic called "cenfuroxime". I am going to see the infectious disease doctor on Wednesday at 3pm. I go to see my new surgeon at 1:30 the same day. I am very curious to see if I need to be on IV antibiotics. Seems to be that the pain management and IV antibiotics would be so much better in this situation! I know I would like to be in an environment where I go around the clock care and didn't have to worry about giving my kids or my husband staph and all this highly contagious stuff!!! I also think it would go away quicker with IV stuff than oral. I really feel like I'm dying here! Also, I know its gross, but the stuff coming outta my incision now smells like literal DEATH. It smells like a rotten body. My belly button is almost completely closed up and the fluid that does escape smells like...oh...it's just horrible!!! I can't WAIT till WEDNESDAY!!!!!

Well, I was in the hospital here in the town I live in back in November for Staph. I was discharged because my other surgeon (the first one) didn't want to have me transferred to his hospital and the doctors here didn't really know what to do with a plastic surgery patient. When my fever went away, they discharged me. I thought the infection was gone, but I guess not! It is back and in full force! I am hoping that Wednesday when I go to see the infectious disease doctor and my NEW surgeon they will admit me and give me IV antibiotics so I can get rid of this junk! As contagious as MRSA and Staph is, I really would feel so much more comfortable in a hospital where I don't have to worry about giving it to my kids and husband. Plus, I would have around the clock antibiotics and people to make sure I'm not getting worse. I guess we will see what happens on Wednesday!

Good Morning 0351! At least it sounds like you're finally getting somewhere with this infection-maybe you won't have to be in the hospital-my friend that had MRSA was able to have her IV Antibiotics done out patient (?) Hope all goes well for you tomorrow!

I just read and I'm so sorry for U! U and ur family are in my prayers.

I am so upset for you! Praying hard for you.

I am praying for you tomorrow. Good luck . Please update us.

Well ladies, today was a busy day! I went to my new surgeon and had a check up of how things are going. My belly button is now almost completely sealed shut and smells horrible. My surgeon says that my umbilical stump has died and he will have to make me a new belly button. Also, while cleaning out the pocket I have (I am now referring to myself as a marsupial because I have a tummy pocket.), he pulled out a glob of nastiness about the size of a 50 cent piece. His exact words upon pulling it out were, "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!?" He turned to his nurse and showed it to her. It was dangling from the end of a sterile q-tip and he set it down on the counter near by. He looked at it for several minutes and decided it was a piece of gauze left in there after my surgery!!! He kept it, put it into some fluid in a specimen jar and the nurse took pictures of it. He says that it defiantly wasn't supposed to be in there! So, we talked a bit more about what the plan is, how he hopes I won't have to have more than one surgery...but that there is a possibility. He may have to go in and clean the pocket and all, then later go back and do all the cosmetic type work to repair my stretched out skin and the belly button. Also, he wants me to pack my pocket twice a day with an antibiotic coated gauze. Sounds oh so fun....NOT!

Next, I went to see the infectious disease doctor. I had to give him my whole family history and mine. After all that, I described to him from beginning to present of what has been going on. He was shocked to say the least! He read me my culture reports from the cultures my new surgeon did. I have Staph, MRSA, and on top of those I also have something called "Bacteroidies Flagela"!! I have no clue what the heck that is but I have to be on two different antibiotics for all this stuff! The antibiotic for the staph and MRSA won't clear up the Bacteroidies Flagela junk. Also, he tells me the antibiotic for the Bacteroidies stuff is the ONLY available oral form of this drug and it causes extreme nausea. AWESOME!!! If I can't tolerate it guess what happens next?? I have to be admitted to the hospital and on IV antibiotics till it clears up! GREAT. My I.D. doctor says that I need to have surgery to clean everything out first because he could give me every drug known to man to clear this stuff up, but if there are pockets of pus and infection in my abdomen it's not going to do any good. My surgeon says I need to have the infections cleared up before he cuts me open because he doesn't want to open me up to even more infection and spread what is already there. Both those things make sense to me...but they are going to have to have a meeting of the minds to figure out who goes first!!

At any rate, I think today was productive. At least I am seeing the right doctors and getting some wheels turning! I will keep you guys posted on how this antibiotic makes me feel and what happens next. Thanks for all the support and reading my story!

I'm sitting here speechless. U are continuously in my thoughts and prayers. Maybe the I.D. and the surgeon can work together and take care of U RIGHT! Please keep ur head up and know that there are people out here wishing the best for U!!!

So glad you are in good hands now. Don't focus on ANYTHING other than resting so that your body can fight off these bugs. You want to knock them out as soon as possible so you can get on with your life. So sorry this happened to you. Your first doctor sounds truly awful and incompetent.

Thank you for the update I had you on my mind all day today. I am so happy that you are in good hands. I really hope this doc is keeping good notes so you can sue the crap out of the other doc. Messy work. And yes please please look at this as the road to recovery. Now you know that you can make it through anything. You are in our thoughts and prayer.

Looks like you found light! Thank God you found a good Doctor to help resolve all your issues!! I am absolutely appalled by what the other doctor did to you. I will pray for you that your body heals and your feeling better asap.