Great Aunt Janet
senior
AustraliaMorning @Joydancer and how is your Monday? Looking forward to tales of derring-do and shopping, and hoping your pain is negligible and your hip is just blitzing all in its path! xxxx
THR Joydancer's Blitzen New Hip !!!
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Joydancer
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Missed you all...I am back home and all bettter now, but will share what has unfolded for me with a "really sudden bump in the road" !! Trip to Emergency Room + admitted to Hospital for vital care & treatments for an infection 
Day 18 - 21
Re: Emergency Room - Red blotches on side of hip & incision
Had a sudden required a trip to the emergency room and finding out the sudden redness and warm to hot in blotched areas and at the top of my incision with an infection.
ER Physician "some kind of internal infection in your hip"
I had gone out to a movie, Saturday afternoon & then a nice dinner, when finishing my dinner, I went to the restroom and was shocked to see redness appearing around the side of my hip & looking into the mirror!
I told my friend what was going on and knew I should get it checked if any redness appeared...knowing I needed to have someone at Emergency Room. I was seen my a nurse, who told me it was good I came in, and had a physician called to check out my hip; he clearly assessing the redness + warm-hot radiating from my hip = "you have some kind of internal infection going on...he said he would need to have the nurse take blood + he instructed the nurse to get an iv-anti-biotic ready, which was given to me in the ER.
Dr. was told about my "THR just 17 days ago, with no symptoms or problems until the past 24 hrs. the day before Apr 17th, noticing redness appear near my incision, I thought it might be possibly where top two staples had irritated my groin tummy area, but then next day/eve was out for movie/dinner Saturday eve and noticing sudden changes red blotches as large as my hand & sensitive to touch & very warm to touch!
Anti-biotic finished day before break-out symptoms of hip
Also I told him I had been put on an antibiotic Batrim for bronchial infection I got at the hospital Day 2 post-op of having my THR surgery; that antibiotic was prescribed when I saw my PM Dr. Day 6 after being discharged from the hospital, dealing with peak bronchial congestion, wheezing, coughing bad phlegm. That antiobiotic was for 10 days and the last dose I took was 2 days before the redness & sensitive blotchy area appeared & me coming in that eve. This is what unfolded in summary, for me past 3 days....
ER administered iv-antiobiotics best suited for internal infection
Advised by ER Physician to be admitted in the hospital for continued treatments iv-antibiotics
ER Dr. ordered CT Scan = infection/ obsessive fluids around muscle = sub-dermal & hopefully infection had not spread yet to the joint & implant area
ER Dr. advised to treat infection be admitted in Hospital for them to do continued iv-antibiotic treatments & find out results of blood cultures
Internal Med Physician ordered series of 4 iv-antibiotic treatments with labwork done between each treatment to see blood levels & aborption level of antibiotic & levels of kidney function for higher dose treatments 1,000 mg. vancomyocin = every 12 hrs.
Day 18 - 21
Re: Emergency Room - Red blotches on side of hip & incision
Had a sudden required a trip to the emergency room and finding out the sudden redness and warm to hot in blotched areas and at the top of my incision with an infection.
ER Physician "some kind of internal infection in your hip"
I had gone out to a movie, Saturday afternoon & then a nice dinner, when finishing my dinner, I went to the restroom and was shocked to see redness appearing around the side of my hip & looking into the mirror!
I told my friend what was going on and knew I should get it checked if any redness appeared...knowing I needed to have someone at Emergency Room. I was seen my a nurse, who told me it was good I came in, and had a physician called to check out my hip; he clearly assessing the redness + warm-hot radiating from my hip = "you have some kind of internal infection going on...he said he would need to have the nurse take blood + he instructed the nurse to get an iv-anti-biotic ready, which was given to me in the ER.
Dr. was told about my "THR just 17 days ago, with no symptoms or problems until the past 24 hrs. the day before Apr 17th, noticing redness appear near my incision, I thought it might be possibly where top two staples had irritated my groin tummy area, but then next day/eve was out for movie/dinner Saturday eve and noticing sudden changes red blotches as large as my hand & sensitive to touch & very warm to touch!
Anti-biotic finished day before break-out symptoms of hip
Also I told him I had been put on an antibiotic Batrim for bronchial infection I got at the hospital Day 2 post-op of having my THR surgery; that antibiotic was prescribed when I saw my PM Dr. Day 6 after being discharged from the hospital, dealing with peak bronchial congestion, wheezing, coughing bad phlegm. That antiobiotic was for 10 days and the last dose I took was 2 days before the redness & sensitive blotchy area appeared & me coming in that eve. This is what unfolded in summary, for me past 3 days....
ER administered iv-antiobiotics best suited for internal infection
Advised by ER Physician to be admitted in the hospital for continued treatments iv-antibiotics
ER Dr. ordered CT Scan = infection/ obsessive fluids around muscle = sub-dermal & hopefully infection had not spread yet to the joint & implant area
ER Dr. advised to treat infection be admitted in Hospital for them to do continued iv-antibiotic treatments & find out results of blood cultures
Internal Med Physician ordered series of 4 iv-antibiotic treatments with labwork done between each treatment to see blood levels & aborption level of antibiotic & levels of kidney function for higher dose treatments 1,000 mg. vancomyocin = every 12 hrs.
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Joydancer
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Dear friend, I wish....while out for dinner & a movie treat Saturday afternoon/eve ER visit - sudden symptoms red blotches + warm/hot sensitive areas near and at top of hip incision.... (see my recent post) just getting home today 4-21-15 Tues. 1:00 pm discharged from hospital after 4 high dose iv anti-biotics for hip infection.Morning @Joydancer and how is your Monday? Looking forward to tales of derring-do and shopping, and hoping your pain is negligible and your hip is just blitzing all in its path! xxxx
I guess I am paving the way for writing chapters of what could & may happen
Doing much better....will write more details later. Have continued oral anti-biotics for 7 days & follow-up with my PC Dr.
Oh, plzzzzzzz tell me you were out derring-do, shopping & hip blitzing, dear blitzenhipsagogo twin
catdemar
member
@Joydancer
I'm so sorry to hear this. I'm sure you will be doing well in not time. So glad you took active approach. I might have waited it out, but now will make sure I take these things serious. Telling your story helped me and sure will help others of found in the situation.
Take care.
Sent from my iPad using BoneSmart Forum
I'm so sorry to hear this. I'm sure you will be doing well in not time. So glad you took active approach. I might have waited it out, but now will make sure I take these things serious. Telling your story helped me and sure will help others of found in the situation.
Take care.
Sent from my iPad using BoneSmart Forum
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Joydancer
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@catdemar
Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that the anti-biotics given thru an iv is truly able to be sufficient to stop the bacterial infection, nor was any aspiration of the fluids done, showing up on CT scan where it is believed a sub-dermal infection was occuring.
I have been sent home with a lighter dose anti-biotic without the guidance of a specialist for post-op infectious disease and proper diagnosis.
This can be complex to get it diagnosed accurately. Step #1 is specialist to decide on proper radiology, using contrast in CT scan vs. no contrast.
Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that the anti-biotics given thru an iv is truly able to be sufficient to stop the bacterial infection, nor was any aspiration of the fluids done, showing up on CT scan where it is believed a sub-dermal infection was occuring.
I have been sent home with a lighter dose anti-biotic without the guidance of a specialist for post-op infectious disease and proper diagnosis.
This can be complex to get it diagnosed accurately. Step #1 is specialist to decide on proper radiology, using contrast in CT scan vs. no contrast.
sunbunny
graduate
@Joydancer sending thoughts and prayers to you. Glad you were proactive on infection. Please keep posting as you make us aware of things with our new hips. Had a rather rough day with headaches and muscle pain in operated leg. First home pt too. Waiting to take pain pills. Hugs to you!
Great Aunt Janet
senior
Blimey @Joydancer - it sounds as though you STARTED your hip blitzing (dinner and movie, schmick!) and I bow down (to 90 degrees) in respect to your joie de vivre and energy.
My heart goes out to you for this ordeal you are going through - only you could sound that calm about it all though! I do hope you get to see the specialist asap and get that precise diagnosis so that they can a) treat it properly and b) put you mind at rest as to the new SHINY blitzenhipagogo. Everything (toes, fingers, eyes, not knees) is crossed for a speedy resolution of this for you.
My own derring-do extends as far as the pub on Sunday night - for a meeting - perched on bar stool for half an hour, ate a crumbed prawn, downed a beer - yes, living it large! Sorry not to report more excitement yet, will work on it.
Take care twin Jan, keep up those vitamins and garlic, thinking resolving thoughts to wing over to you.
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Joydancer
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@Great Aunt Janet
Oh, my....you got me laughing & crying...thank you dear Janet for your support; feeling the depths of this complex journey...tonight first night home with all the med staff and constant blood draws & iv's kept me busy round the clock in the hospital & feeling constructive. Now being on the lower anti-biotic it's concerning me starkly aware of things that should have been done with scan & aspiration of fluids from hip & realizing sadly from confiding with the medical staff, they know the stages on internal med floor, maybe they were withholding telling me how this will unfold for my next phase... post-hospital after I finish 7 days
lower dose oral anti-biotic
(((hugs))) awesome prawns & beer = yum
Oh, my....you got me laughing & crying...thank you dear Janet for your support; feeling the depths of this complex journey...tonight first night home with all the med staff and constant blood draws & iv's kept me busy round the clock in the hospital & feeling constructive. Now being on the lower anti-biotic it's concerning me starkly aware of things that should have been done with scan & aspiration of fluids from hip & realizing sadly from confiding with the medical staff, they know the stages on internal med floor, maybe they were withholding telling me how this will unfold for my next phase... post-hospital after I finish 7 days
lower dose oral anti-biotic
(((hugs))) awesome prawns & beer = yum
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Joydancer
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Sunbunny, missed getting to be on here for days in hospital...so wanted to support you mid-month April Rainbows... this is the best part of being home today/tonight
((((hugs))) dear Sunbunny, on your tough day with headaches & muscle pain...waiting to get relief...it's all part of the healing and hopefully things are better for you tonight and into tomorrow
sunbunny
graduate
Thank you @Joydancer . A little better this eve. Funny how things work out. Almost no strength left and my first pooh comes a calling. Now mind you I am five days out and was quite delighted except I had no energy. Now as I lay here thinking of going to sleep there is more rumbling in the lower quarters. So big question is now that things are a moving do I cut back to just one stool softener a day? 
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Joydancer
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@sunbunny
re: stool softener
I did not require stool softener at all and had action on Day 4. It's hard to say for someone, without knowing how your bowels do in normal circumstances (without illness or surgery). Such as, I realized since my gall bladder removal five years ago, I have more soft stool than I do firm bowels, and in fact my gastro surgeon suggested if I typically had a normal bm every 4 days with softer stool alternating, he could recommended an rx for colistipol which slows the bowel down since they act different post-gall bladder removal and I use as needed if my bm are soft or loose in a 3 out of 4 days. I now know my "pattern" and take a colistipol to keep it firmer.
Think of how your typical routine is and if you tend to be more constipated or loose soft stool for extremes, are somehow in the middle.
Consider....did you eat anything these would cause the rumbling or was it most likely the stool softener? In general if I had that going on I would know I was close to experiencing loose bowel. So depending on where your range is I would either stop the stool softener and see how your bowels advance into tomorrow and/or tomorrow eve.
Wish you well with the bm action, Sunbunny, without delays
re: stool softener
I did not require stool softener at all and had action on Day 4. It's hard to say for someone, without knowing how your bowels do in normal circumstances (without illness or surgery). Such as, I realized since my gall bladder removal five years ago, I have more soft stool than I do firm bowels, and in fact my gastro surgeon suggested if I typically had a normal bm every 4 days with softer stool alternating, he could recommended an rx for colistipol which slows the bowel down since they act different post-gall bladder removal and I use as needed if my bm are soft or loose in a 3 out of 4 days. I now know my "pattern" and take a colistipol to keep it firmer.
Think of how your typical routine is and if you tend to be more constipated or loose soft stool for extremes, are somehow in the middle.
Consider....did you eat anything these would cause the rumbling or was it most likely the stool softener? In general if I had that going on I would know I was close to experiencing loose bowel. So depending on where your range is I would either stop the stool softener and see how your bowels advance into tomorrow and/or tomorrow eve.
Wish you well with the bm action, Sunbunny, without delays
sunbunny
graduate
I have become what I use to think my elders talked about. Bm's, medicine, aches, pains, dread, pull up pants, making it to the potty lol. I liked the post about going to the bar and sitting on the stool. I would need another stool for the third butt cheek I have gained. Night ladies...maybe rest will come. Oh one more thing. My Drs PA was so cute I was beside myself, could not even ask questions. Many of God's blessings raining down on us. 
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Joydancer
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Sunbunny, LOL yes!! I kept trying to restrain myself or think of other words in talking about "....the s.s. and how your bm's advance tomorrow"....and then "wishing you well with bm".... 
oh yes, so sorry...but we sister buddies and knowing it's important....what we are going through really crazy-making with body systems...
vascular, gastro/digestive, neuro, muscular and bone!
....but it's important and certainly was knowing you....had
PA you sure needed to re-think going there !!
(((hugs))) and heart-thoughts for embracing your whole body and whatever it needs & lots of love & nurturing for coming thru a major surgery and we are witnessing how the body is amazing how it heals, thank you God blessings!!
I kept trying to restrain myself or think of other words in talking about "....the s.s. and how your bm's advance tomorrow"....and then "wishing you well with bm".... oh yes, so sorry...but we sister buddies and knowing it's important....what we are going through really crazy-making with body systems...vascular, gastro/digestive, neuro, muscular and bone! ....but it's important and certainly was knowing you....had
PA you sure needed to re-think going there !!(((hugs))) and heart-thoughts for embracing your whole body and whatever it needs & lots of love & nurturing for coming thru a major surgery and we are witnessing how the body is amazing how it heals, thank you God blessings!!
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Joydancer
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((((Prayers)))) I am calling my Primary Dr. to do follow-up care in coming out of the hospital.
Have read and getting understanding about the types of infections and there are internal medicine specialists quite astute and specialized in diagnosing & determining treatment to stop the infection and prevent loss of muscle, tissue and bone, what iv-anti-biotics, kind and when.
Baby steps...but I can tell you there is much to learn and it is complex & no simple answers...
Have read and getting understanding about the types of infections and there are internal medicine specialists quite astute and specialized in diagnosing & determining treatment to stop the infection and prevent loss of muscle, tissue and bone, what iv-anti-biotics, kind and when.
Baby steps...but I can tell you there is much to learn and it is complex & no simple answers...
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Joydancer
member
Thank you @calikat,
I truly wish that @Vetgirl, did not have this to deal with! When I was going through this, biofilm was in its infancy, so I didn't know near as much as much as I do now. I am glad I am here to help others with hip or knee infections understand that they are not alone, and that this is not the end! I am living proof that things can get very bad, and still come out with a terrific outcome!
Sally, I will be here for you whenever you need me! Questions? Fire away! No question too big of too small and if I don't know, I will find someone who does! We are all part of the big network of the BoneSmart family.
Just found this thread on BS today...I have an infection, diagnosed THR-L surgery was 3 wks ago; infection appeared red hot blotchy areas 2-4" from incision area...ER did IV-antibiotics & admitted me to hospital for series of 4 IV-antibiotics (high dosage & taking blood). I am on oral general antibiotic now
I am overwhelmed and would appreciate answering ???'s & help me get down this path (nightmare) didn't dream it would happen to me and how well I was doing.
I had bronchitis got while in the hospital THR-L surgery and during post op day1-5 only - - received breathing treatments no antibiotics. Had to go to my Primary Dr. on day 6 day after discharge from hospital; diagnosed with full bronchial infection affecting both lungs; took antibiotic for 10 days, finished 2 days and then break-out of red, warm/hot blotches and being diagnosed with an "internal infection".
Appreciate what you or others can offer; it seems undaunting & learning now the road ahead fighting bacterial infections and not knowing what kind ??? - - no aspiration was done of fluid found on CT scan ??
Great Aunt Janet
senior
Wish I could take all this worry away for you @Joydancer. I completely agree that getting a doctor you feel completely confident will do his/her very best and has all the expertise you need is exactly what you need to do. Harder to accomplish than say, so I am really hoping that you find the right person.
Do you know how far the infection goes yet? Are you feeling infected and feverish? Are you managing to walk and get out and about at all? You don't let on really, being such an upbeat little Jan - so I hope that is because all is resolving.
and many xxxx
Do you know how far the infection goes yet? Are you feeling infected and feverish? Are you managing to walk and get out and about at all? You don't let on really, being such an upbeat little Jan - so I hope that is because all is resolving.
and many xxxx
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Joydancer
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sunbunny
graduate
@Joydancer how are you today? Sending thoughts, hugs, prayers, and
that this post finds you better.
that this post finds you better.IMs
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