Scary week for my family

Hi all.. I have met some great people on this site and felt I could share what has been going on.

My husband, Steve, developed a fever of over 102, headache and stiff neck on April 16. Went
to ER Easter night. Followed up with Dr. the following Wed. He admitted him right to the hospital.

He was hospitalized on Wed. at XXX hospital.  He had an infection but no Dr. could come up with the location. During the next 24 hours, his health deteriorated fast.  He was slow in speech, confused, gait was uncoordinated, fever going higher, all of his organs were markedly affected.  After spinal taps, brain scans, x-rays, every lab test under the sun, to name a few, finally Dr. #8 found a diagnosis.  Steve had a cyst in his chest that abscessed.  The cardiovascular surgeon said he had to have a thoracotomy ( 8 inch incision on his side, go behind his heart, through his ribs to get to the cyst and try to remove it). He said the surgery was risky but, it didn't matter, if he did not have the surgery within 2 days, he would die.  It had began to affect all of his organs. The cyst was pressing on his lungs, heart, trachea, valves and covering part of his esophagus. 
He survived,  which I was terrified he wouldn't.  He has a chest tube, drainage tubes out of his 
side, and he will be going home with an IV for us to administer antibiotics for at least a month.

His fever returned last night and his blood counts are still too high.  It appears he has sepsis and
we are hoping it has not infiltrated his heart, lungs or bone. He could remain in the hospital another
week, if all goes well.

He will be out of commission and work for at least a month.

I have never been so scared.  When he was taken away to surgery, I cried thinking... he didn't teach me to use the snowblower fearing I would use it when the snow was too wet and heavy and ruin in. (the weirdest things enter your mind).  His parents left and I sent my kids home.  They all didn't have to wait around for hours until the surgery ended and he was out of recovery.  I had to get out of the hospital.  I went out front, took off my shoes, sat in the grass, all alone, and stared at the pager, hoping it wouldn't go off before time (that would mean something bad happened) and then fearing it wouldn't go off to long after the quoted time (that would mean something bad happened)

Who would think a simple trip to the doctor thinking he would either say it was viral (ride it out) or
an infection (take this antibiotic) would turn into this.

We have a great support system that has helped a lot.  Better get to bed.  Have to get to the hospital early.  Thanks for listening (via font).

So sorry gabby.  I hope all went well with the surgery and everything turns out for your hubby.  Thoughts and prayers are with you.

medtrans

Oh no gabby very bad indeed. I hope all works out and prayers are sent up for you .

So sorry to hear your scary story Gabby.  I hope all is well for your hubby and he gets through this ok.  Take care of yourself and make sure you eat properly so you are strong and there for him when he comes home. 

Very sorry to hear about this Gabby. I hope everything will end well. Take care of yourself and your family.

Wow, what a horribly scary thing to happen!  And such a freak thing, too - I've never heard of cysts that deeply in the body.

My mother got sepsis a couple of years ago, and it hit her hard & fast.  Scared the crap out of us, and my sister is a nurse!  We thought she had had a stroke - she couldn't walk, talk, open her eyes, or even hold her head up by the time the ambulance got here, and her kidneys had shut down by the time she got to the hospital.  All of this happened within 30 hours of her leaving the ER for a back issue!  We were in shock.  The doctor decided to flush her kidneys, and it kickstarted them back up, thank God.  She was in the hospital/rehab for about 7 weeks, but she came thru with everything ok.

I hope your husband (and you) get thru all this ok, with no permanent damage. 

Hope he gets well soon. stay strong gabby!

So sorry to hear this Gabby, scary is a mild word to describe what you went through. I hope everything get back on track very soon, try to think positive.

Omg gabby i can only imagine the stress and worry you had to go through. Especially when something so serious happens out of the blue with no warning. I am just happy he got there in time and went to the doctor when he did.

I wish him a speedy recovery and hope he is home soon. Please keep us updated.

Lips

Hi gabby, I really hope your husband has a speedy recovery

Thank you all for the kind words.

Husband is still in the hospital.  Hopefully he will be discharged soon to start his
long recovery at home.

I'm so sorry gabby. It's great that you have support through this and I hope your husband makes a quick recovery.

Thanks for the updating gabby and our prayers are with him, you and your family.

Thank goodness he'll be home soon.  I hope he has a speedy and full recovery.  Thanks for the update Gabby and do keep us posted.

Thank You, LCB family.

My husband was discharged Friday night after 10days in the hospital, 5 in ICU.

This awful infection invaded all of his major organs.  He developed pneumonia, pulmonary infiltrates, lung abscess, sepsis (blood poisoning), acute renal failure, too name a few.

He has a PICC line for me to administer IV antibiotics daily.

Who would have thought a fever and stiff neck would result in all of this. 

It is going to be a long recovery journey but I am happy to have him home.  Family, neighbors and friends have been very supportive, which is touching and warms the heart. 

So good to hear your hubby made it home from the hospital...finally.

It does sound like a long road to full recovery but I'm sure now he is home with you, he will improve in leaps and bounds.  What a rough time of it he has had, poor thing. 

I'm glad you have plenty of family and friends around; I'm sure it will make life a bit easier.

My thoughts are with your and your hubby Gabby.

Gabby,
So glad to hear your husband is home with you!  Prayers for a speedy recovery!!!

Aww that is great news Gabby. It has to be a tremendous relief to have hubby home where he belongs. He will get a lot more rest in the comfort of his home and bring you peace of mind i am sure.

Good to hear the hospital stay is over, he should have a much faster recovery at home with people who love him around.

Gabby we are so glad your husband is ok . I have been with my husband going on a little over 30 years , "High school sweethearts" I couldn't imagine something like that happening to us. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your husband and family.      sincerely  The twins    Diane and Denise
                                                               

OMG Gabby,I just read this.I'm so sorry you and your hubby had to go thru this!!

I'm glad he is home now and my thoughts are with you both!
If you ever need to talk,just pm me and if I'm not here to get it,I'll receive the e-mail.
I know how it feels to have a loved one in the hospital....so if you need me....just let me know!!

              Sorry Gabby,  I just read this post.  I hope all is well and the scan is negative.  Usually in hospitals  no news is good news.  I certainly hope that is the case.    Pray for a speedy recovery.