Yes Debbie
@Dmcfad2 mine is what is classed as a late onset infection where as Diane's
@dianehelen would be classed as an early infection.
From what I've been told the early infections are usually easier to cure because they are usually at the surface of the op site, whereas late onset infections are usually deeper and near the joint. Not always but as a general rule.
My recovery was unremarkable except I was super super tired. At about 3-4 weeks I had a scab on my incision that was like a stitch irritation. It was barely noticeable but irritated me from time to time. I didn't even tell the surgeon about it. At the 6 wk check up I complained of being tired which is so very normal.
The day I returned to work I came home and my leg was sore around the incision. I thought it was from going back to work but I felt the annoying bit and it was raised. I couldn't see it, so the kids took a picture for me and then later pus came out. The next day it was hot and i got worried, so I posted this thread. I went to the Dr and then my journey started.
On the day it was hot I started feeling flu like symptoms headaches, aches and pains, sore neck, temperature...2 weeks later I was in hospital with pneumonia and then they diagnosed by MRI that there was a deep pocket of fluid tracking to that tiny bump. I was in Hospital for a week. That bump was the only thing that ever showed on my incision, ever.
The Dr was very surprised it happened as he felt my recovery had been textbook. However, now we look back....I think I was way more tired than others in rehab and even here. Even after this surgery I'm not as tired as the drain I felt at times after the first surgery....I get close but can feel the difference.
Since then I have been tried on heaps of ABX, and had a low grade temp for months even on ABX, which had finally gone now that the implant and infected tissue have gone. There are so many other little things to the story but that's the main bits. It's very rare and only happens to 2% of people. Dr says there is no way to know how it happened, like Jo, but both think it would have had to have happened in surgery or the hospital as it was very deep and at the joint.
I often wonder if I have any recourse to the hospital and if they will even report it in their statistics. They have never said anything about it and that really annoys me. My surgeon has been unbelievable....I had his mobile no straight away...he gave it to the GP to give to me. I have contacted him on weekends and holidays overseas.....no problem to him.
He has ensured that I am not out of pocket for the surgery excesses...including from the Aneathesist and his assistant and that is for the 3 additional surgeries. He actually said to me as I was being discharged from hospital with the pneumonia days before Christmas that he was very sorry that this had happened to me especially as I concerned about infection rates etc. he told me it is duty of care as a surgeon to make sure this is fixed. No passing it off.
I often say .....you really find out how good your surgeon is when you have a problem. So many times I have heard on here people say the OS dismissed their pain complaints and then another surgeon finds a problem. My surgeon has been great, is considered the 'Hip' man and very well respected. He is as upset as me about this. The hospital staff and even staff from other hospitals are surprised. Some may think I should change OS but I feel comfortable with his team....maybe not the hospital????
There is a picture of the tiny lump on page 1 of this thread. One last thing I want to say is how lucky we are to have this site and especially Josephine and her experience and willingness to answer our questions. She actually said she thought it looked like I would need a revision just rom looking at that bump. Still months later I am gob smacked that she picked it from that tiny bump. When I asked her how, she replied that unfortunately she had seen it too many times before. She even emailed my personal address to make sure I was going to the Dr that day. In an age where people are too scared to give their opinion because of litigation we are so lucky to have her
Well that's about it. Feel free to ask anything else.
United States
LOL! 
