Finally back after emergency surgery that saved my life! Have some questions please :)

[missmichelle01]

I had emergency surgery Oct 8th. I went in to have a procedure on the 7th to fix a condition of my esophogus called aclasaia(don't know if I'm spelling that right). They dialated my throat to expand the lower sphincter muscle so that I could eat and drink again. Came home from the procedure and had excruciating pain all night. Called ambulance at 3 am and went to the hospital. While in the emergency room I vomited and felt my throat tear. It hurt so bad! They did a CT scan and found that my esophogus did actually tear and the bile and fluids in my stomach leaked into my left lung. This is life threatening and can kill you in as little as 8 hrs according to the surgeon that saved my life. I had a thoracotomy done with 2 chest tubes to drain the fluid and a feeding tube inserted in my stomach in case I couldn't eat after I left the hospital. I was there for 18 days. I am still in alot of pain and have a few questions....

1. Should it take this long for recovery?
2. When the surgeon removed the feeding tube he didn't stitch up the hole. He placed gauze and a tape over it. The following day I changed it and it smelled awful. Like gagging awful. I assumed this is because the bile that was being bypassed into the tube was still kinda oozing out. ( I know that is disgusting).
3. Does anyone know if the side effects of Vicodin are joint/muscle aches? When I wake up in the morning all my joints hurt especially where my arm sockets are.

Thank you for any and all input. I never want this to happen to anyone. It's the worse thing I have ever been through.

Michelle

[cupunlvr]

Glad you are on the road to recovery. I am sure you will be going back for some kind of follow-up, make a list of your questions and bring them with you, doc should not mind to answer your questions. If he does, too bad, it's part of his job.

Makes sense that the G-tube wound was left to drain and heal without sutures. Sutures would have sealed the drainage in causing possible sepsis.

Everyone's recovery time is different, don't be discouraged. Hope you continue to improve.

[cori n wes mom]

I've got a lot of friends with kiddo's with feeding tubes. It's rather normal to just pull the tube and slap a band aid over it...normally they close up fairly quickly.....If it keeps continuing then they may need to help stitch it back up.

I also have lots of friends whose kiddo's have had nissens...now not exactly the same surgery...but similar area...and it can take months for the swelling to go down so that they can swallow properly.... However if it starts hurting more...be sure to give them a call...just incase.

Please feel free to PM me...if needed...I can get into contact with some of my tube feeding mommy friends to help you out.

((HUGS))

[missmichelle01]

ty for helping ease my mind both of you :) I just get so scared that something is going to go wrong during healing. I know I do alot thinking about it all the time that makes me stress out, but sitting in the house when I'm used to working 40 hrs a week makes me think alot.
Thanks again :) I really appreciate it.

[carisal]

wow that sounds scary! I'm glad you are ok...

I don't have any info for you really, but as to your ? #3 - after DD I didnt take any pain meds except ibuprofen, and I don't remember much pain in my joints. but after DS I took percoset (which is not the same as vicoden but I think pretty similar? vicoden is hydrocodone and percoset is oxycodone... I think...) and I did have lots of pain in my hips. so, maybe it is a side effect of the meds... interesting.

[Macaela25]

Muscle pain/weakness is often a side effect of anesthesia. If it's severe, call your dr. I've taken Vicodin extensively over a period of time for a knee injury and I've never heard of such a side effect. It relieves pain, doesn't create it.