This isn't right (need advice)

[mct601]

This is going to be a somewhat long post so bare with me.

My mother has had a fibroid tumor in her uterus for 2-3 years now. At first the doctors said it should be fine if it doesn't grow, but then it grew. She finally got it out at the beginning of December- the doctor performed a partial hysterectomy removing her uterus and fallopian tubes. Here's where the story takes a negative turn. During the surgery, apparently he severs an artery (she was told 3 different stories on how it happened, from he purposefully snipped it to it was an accident that he didn't see coming) and she loses alot of blood. My dad said she got 6 bags of blood and her blood pressure dropped to 90 systolic (dad couldn't remember the diastolic rate). She was in an outpatient clinic, so they had to call an ambulance to rush her to nearby Lakeview Regional Hospital to go under the knife to repair the artery. From there she goes in to ICU and then to a room for 4 days before she's released.

Since then, it's been nothing but problems. She was fairly mobile and not in much pain her first two weeks, and after then she was just sore. However, that's the only good aspects of it. Her incision healed, but its bulky- almost bulged out in comparison to how it was before. She had problems with her urinary tract and bowels the first few weeks, but I believe they're better. After her second visit, (3 weeks into recovery I think, or maybe it was 4), she had a yeast/hive-like rash breakout around the area of the incision. It would flare up anytime she would apply any ointments or even water to the area. Nothing in her life has changed to cause this (no new allergens, etc). It has now started coming up on her wrists and around her eyes. Anytime she applies water, etc to these areas they flare up. Also, her blood pressure has had a tendency to be in the high 140s/90 since the surgery, and before the surgery it was typically low-to-mid 130s pre-surgery.

Today she went in for her next checkup. Going in her BP (she's 39 btw) was 148 systolic and the doctor shrugged it off. When she got to the back she explained her situation and how's she's been feeling. He told her "it had absolutely nothing to do with the surgery", did her pap smear, and left. That's all he did. When she was leaving he said he called in some steroids for her skin but it wasn't related to the surgery. He's a family practice doctor and he's refusing to even look into the situation or run any kind of tests. I called her on my way home from class and she was crying. I'm not going to put up with this much more, it took everything I had to not call the office and tell the doctor what I thought and threaten a lawsuit.

ANYone here have ANY idea of what could be going wrong, or what she can do? The doctor is refusing to do anything about her complications thus far as if he doesn't want to take the blame for his mistakes (after all, he did damn near kill her). I'm going to force her to go to a different doctor but I can't let this doctor do this to my mother without doing something. I'm pretty sure I'm going to call his office in the morning.

 

[frdude1000]

You have a young mom! I hope she feels better.

 

[mct601]

Yea, she had me at 18.


This thread was mostly a vent but at the same time- has anyone seen any of this? I know we're just pre-hospital at best on this site, but on a personal level have you seen or known anyone to have complications of the skin after a surgery? I feel a lot less angry now that I've vented a few times though

 

[Veneficus]

for the benefit of public education

Not to be used as substitution for seeing a doctor.

My mother has had a fibroid tumor in her uterus for 2-3 years now. At first the doctors said it should be fine if it doesn't grow, but then it grew. She finally got it out at the beginning of December- the doctor performed a partial hysterectomy removing her uterus and fallopian tubes. Here's where the story takes a negative turn. During the surgery, apparently he severs an artery.

Cutting a branch of or the uterine artey itself is a normal potential complication. They are concealed in the mesometrium and they are difficult to spot. Sometimes anatomical variations are near impossible to account for and a growing tumor may have developed new vascular channels to feed itself. When the uterine artery, or branches, are cut they retract into the peritoneum and are extremely difficult to locate and ligate.

(she was told 3 different stories on how it happened, from he purposefully snipped it to it was an accident that he didn't see coming)

That is hearsay. Unless it is provable it means nothing.

(and she loses alot of blood. My dad said she got 6 bags of blood and her blood pressure dropped to 90 systolic (dad couldn't remember the diastolic rate). She was in an outpatient clinic, so they had to call an ambulance to rush her to nearby Lakeview Regional Hospital to go under the knife to repair the artery. From there she goes in to ICU and then to a room for 4 days before she's released.

Some people die from the blood loss.

Her incision healed, but its bulky- almost bulged out in comparison to how it was before..

Probably a Keloid, a variation of scarring.

She had problems with her urinary tract and bowels the first few weeks, but I believe they're better...

Most likely because the surgeon had to fish around to findd the bleeding artery, no matter how hard you try, some things just don't go back the same way.

After her second visit, (3 weeks into recovery I think, or maybe it was 4), she had a yeast/hive-like rash breakout around the area of the incision.

Infected surgical wound, epidemiologically the main culprit is bacteroides fragilis. Bt it could be any of a number of micro organisms. Some unrelated to the surgery or opportunistic from reduced immune response.

It would flare up anytime she would apply any ointments or even water to the area..

flare up like the keloid would expand, or flare up like a redness or exudate? In the former, nothing can be done, in the latter an infection still needs to be treated. There also exists the possibility it is unrelated to the surgery and is a result from improper wound care.

Nothing in her life has changed to cause this (no new allergens, etc). It has now started coming up on her wrists and around her eyes. Anytime she applies water, etc to these areas they flare up...

Still don't understand what "flare up" means.

Also, her blood pressure has had a tendency to be in the high 140s/90 since the surgery, and before the surgery it was typically low-to-mid 130s pre-surgery.

immune reaction or post surgical stress? Maybe even an autoimmune complication. No telling without tests. Might not even be related.

Today she went in for her next checkup. Going in her BP (she's 39 btw) was 148 systolic and the doctor shrugged it off.

Not sure what he would do for it.

When she got to the back she explained her situation and how's she's been feeling. He told her "it had absolutely nothing to do with the surgery", did her pap smear, and left. That's all he did. When she was leaving he said he called in some steroids for her skin but it wasn't related to the surgery..

In truth it may not have been.

He's a family practice doctor and he's refusing to even look into the situation or run any kind of tests. I called her on my way home from class and she was crying.

If she doesn't like her doctor, fire him and get a new one.

I'm not going to put up with this much more, it took everything I had to not call the office and tell the doctor what I thought and threaten a lawsuit.

Not sure what you hope to accomplish with this. But I doubt it will change anything.

ANYone here have ANY idea of what could be going wrong,

Common problems detailed above. There also may be unrelated pathologies that were aggravated and you may not know your mothers full medical history, so it is unwise to jump to conclusions.

or what she can do? The doctor is refusing to do anything about her complications thus far as if he doesn't want to take the blame for his mistakes (after all, he did damn near kill her). I'm going to force her to go to a different doctor but I can't let this doctor do this to my mother without doing something. I'm pretty sure I'm going to call his office in the morning.

Go to a major medical center, get a new doctor, don't do anything crazy, especially since you now posted what could be viewed as a threat posted on the internet.

 

[mct601]

Thank you, especially concering the possibility of what could be wrong with her skin


By flare up, I mean one second she is fine. When her skin gets wet, the skin gets inflammed and breaks out in an itchy rash that is red and "lumpy".


It could be autoimmune, it could be improper wound care (although I'll say it can't be, because I know that she kept it clean)- but we'll never know without him running the proper tests or references to the proper specialists.



edit: true that on the threat part, didn't even realize that. I meant by a phone call or taking legal action for negligence but I see where it could be misinterpreted. she will most likely just listen to me and go to another doctor, she is not confrontational at all and will never use a lawyer

 

[VentMedic]

but we'll never know without him running the proper tests or references to the proper specialists.

Depending on your mother's insurance, she may have to get the additional tests and/or references from her PCP. The work of this specialist/surgeon is finished.