PairODachs

Pairodachs, How is your husband? Is he home yet? I was just wondering how he was. Thanks, Tracy

Hello! Thanks for thinking about me and Matthew! :)


After his second surgery on July 5th, to repair a leak in the remaining section of rectum which was left inside and to treat sepsis which had occured due to the leak, he remained in the ICU until late Thursday July 7. He was constantly pumped full of fluids and antibiotics to combat the infection. He had to have a blood transfusion the second night in the ICU. They did have to leave the abdominal incision open on the skin level due to the sepsis and possibility for further infection, so he has a wound vac to speed up healing. They took the NG tube out on the 7th, and things really started to improve. There were hundreds of people praying for Matthew, and we are blessed that he turned around so quickly and that God provided stabilization and healing.

Once out of the ICU, they put him back into a regular room. On the medical side, it was really just a matter of waiting for his white blood cell count to go down and to SLOWLY begin transitioning to food and oral medications. By Saturday July 9, his WBC count was back to normal levels. He was able to go home the afternoon of Monday July 11. He was in a hospital bed for the better part of ten consecutive days total. He is much more mobile and able now than he was directly after getting home from the hospital. He has been out and about pretty much every day after I get home from work and can drive him around.

He had a follow up appointment at the hospital yesterday (the 22nd). The open wound is getting shallower and it looks good and healthy; the nurse practitioner said that over the next week it will really start to close up nicely. His appetite is good, and the ileostomy/stoma is working marvelously. According to at least three doctors and a chorus of nurses, his colon was very diseased and absolutely needed to come out, no question about it. The best reason: the pathology report came back and showed pseudo polyps everywhere, and mild dysplasia (i.e. pre-cancerous lesions) scattered throughout.

Last but not least- we have to wait for the final specialist-interpreted results of his pathology report to finally determine if he had Ulcerative colitis or Crohn's colitis. The initial report from pathology simply said “bad colitis”. Well, we knew that before the surgery! Matthew is very comfortable with the ileostomy, and he does not intend on getting the j-pouch surgery, but he would really like to know once and for all what disease he had.

God continues to sustain both of us, and we are confident that full recovery will come in time. Matthew is very happy he had the surgery. Even with the complications and the wound vac at the moment, he says it's much better than being ill and having to run to the bathroom all the time. He says everything is easier and he feels so much relief!

I will continue to stop by the message board to let you all know how he is doing, and hopefully Matthew can get on here, too!

- Kirsten

Kirsten,

Hello I ,Serenitee, and I just wanted to introduce myself. I saw the posts where members were concerned for you and your husband. So I read your post and it touched my heart. I am so glad he is on the road to recovery and I hope you can finally get a diagnosis. I was wondering if he has a temporary ileostomy or permanent, if you don't mind me asking?

I have suffered from bowel disease for 44 years, living in a bathroom stuck on a toilet from toddler to adulthood took a toll on me emptionally, mentally & physically. My intestines finally shut down & quit functioning a couple months ago moving nothing thru. I had to have a Loop ileostomy (temp) and am supposed to have surgery in September to make it permanent (removing at least large intestines & rectum). I couldn't be happier with my ileostomy, and it has definitely made it easier to take care of my 7-kids and 3 grand kids.

I wish your husband and you all the best, sending prayers your way & smiles. If you have any info or suggestions or advice for me I would greatly appreciate it. My email address is listed under the members profile.

Thank you for letting me ramble on.

Your Healingwell Friend,

Serenitee

Loop ileostomy in May, Currently have Pelvic/Bladder Trauma & dysfunction, colon tore thru vaginal wall and colon and bladder fell out of body, 2x bladder lifts w/mesh, 2x rectoceles, 2x enteroceles...just a few of my issues.

Kristen....this is wonderful news. We have all been thinking about you guys. ENJOY!