It's a long story, but I'll give you the short version: I went in 7/23 for removal of a benign mass in my lower intestine. A leak developed several days after the surgery, and there was some delay in getting it diagnosed; meanwhile I deteriorated as my abdomen filled with sewage. A second, more serious surgery was performed to repair the leak and clean me out.
"Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong." - my surgeon. I was in a delirium after the surgery, hypoxic, unable to get enough air to my brain. They did a tracheotomy and put in a breathing tube. I was in renal failure as well. I probably had about 50 pounds of excess fluid on me. I spent about 5 weeks in ICU. Multiple organ failure. I heard from several family members that "we didn't know if you were going to make or not," but I figured they were speaking out of worry and anxiety. When I heard the exact same thing -- "there were times we thought we might lose you" -- from an MD friend/colleague who was following my case closely, that hit me on an entirely different level. That's coming from an MD, not a family member -- I got close to death.
I don't remember that period. I was under sedation for most of the first couple weeks in ICU. Then I came around, and I remember just tons of fear and pain, fear and pain. I had to get on some Xanax at one point, I had so much anxiety.
Eventually I got dialysis, and that's when things started to improve. I was reduced back to normal size. I could breathe more easily. Less pain/discomfort.
Ok, sorry, I said this would be the short version... I gradually recovered enough to get out of ICU, go to a normal recovery floor, and then from there to physical therapy. My muscle strength was completely gone, I couldn't even get out of bed myself, much less walk. I got stronger, though, thanks to some very good therapy, and I was out in 2 weeks. I am still very weak, little tasks wear me out, and I use a cane sometimes, but I'm at home now (as of 9/23, exactly 2 months from my entry), and that feels good.
The experience was a wake-up call for me in a lot of ways. I was stuck in a rut, living a sedentary and fairly isolated lifestyle, spending a large chunk of my free time on TV, video games, and forum/news. That is going to change. I also learned about the importance of relationships; about how much caring/support there is out there for me that I didn't realize, about my need for a healthier diet/lifestyle; and how I need to be less hoarding and cheap with my money and instead spend it on enjoyable experiences and stuff (e.g., I plan to buy a new house and new car).
"Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong." - my surgeon. I was in a delirium after the surgery, hypoxic, unable to get enough air to my brain. They did a tracheotomy and put in a breathing tube. I was in renal failure as well. I probably had about 50 pounds of excess fluid on me. I spent about 5 weeks in ICU. Multiple organ failure. I heard from several family members that "we didn't know if you were going to make or not," but I figured they were speaking out of worry and anxiety. When I heard the exact same thing -- "there were times we thought we might lose you" -- from an MD friend/colleague who was following my case closely, that hit me on an entirely different level. That's coming from an MD, not a family member -- I got close to death.
I don't remember that period. I was under sedation for most of the first couple weeks in ICU. Then I came around, and I remember just tons of fear and pain, fear and pain. I had to get on some Xanax at one point, I had so much anxiety.
Eventually I got dialysis, and that's when things started to improve. I was reduced back to normal size. I could breathe more easily. Less pain/discomfort.
Ok, sorry, I said this would be the short version... I gradually recovered enough to get out of ICU, go to a normal recovery floor, and then from there to physical therapy. My muscle strength was completely gone, I couldn't even get out of bed myself, much less walk. I got stronger, though, thanks to some very good therapy, and I was out in 2 weeks. I am still very weak, little tasks wear me out, and I use a cane sometimes, but I'm at home now (as of 9/23, exactly 2 months from my entry), and that feels good.
The experience was a wake-up call for me in a lot of ways. I was stuck in a rut, living a sedentary and fairly isolated lifestyle, spending a large chunk of my free time on TV, video games, and forum/news. That is going to change. I also learned about the importance of relationships; about how much caring/support there is out there for me that I didn't realize, about my need for a healthier diet/lifestyle; and how I need to be less hoarding and cheap with my money and instead spend it on enjoyable experiences and stuff (e.g., I plan to buy a new house and new car).
