Messages By: joan1961

I am a 50 year old 5 year breast cancer survivor who has been 'battling' MRSA since at the very least Sept, 2007.  On Aug 29,2007, I had a bilateral mastectomy (left side recurrence, right side prophylactic) followed by an immediate DIEP reconstruction, where my own belly fat was used to build new breasts.  I was on the table for 10+ hours, and while that was long and difficult, including a spell when I literally quit breathing 2 days later, the worst was yet to come.  My abdoominal incision went from 1' behind hip to 1' behind hip, long, long scar, but my belly fat was gone.  Within 10 days of that surgery, my abdominal incision began to open up and 'weep', drain, so we went back to doc.  Doc obtained culture of oozing stuff, and it came back positive for MRSA.  By that time, my incision was literally opening up and spliting like a zipper being unzipped.  Immediately back to doc, who 'snipped' the last tissue holding my abdominal wound together, right there in the office, my husband almost fainted.  The doc did this in order to allow the wound to drain and 'heal from the inside out'.  At this point, the open wound was 8' long (side to side) 1 1/2 ' deep, and 2 1/2 ' wide). After weeks of looking in the mirror at my new 'bloody smile' below my belly button, washing and rinsing and packing it daily with fresh gauze, then applying sanitary pads to cover the wounds...I was worn out.  However, the wound did gradually heal to the point that on Dec 5, 2007 I had a 'revision surgery' in order to fix and tuck some minor problems around my new breasts, build nipples, and close the remaining hole in my belly.  I was loaded up with Vancomyacin prior to that surgery, but in less than 5 days, my belly became hot, red, swollen, bloated, and the redness continued up my torso, and down my right hip and leg.  Immediately went back to doc, (this is a large metroplex hospital I'm talking about), and he admitted me.  For the next 8 days I was on IV antibiotics consisting of vancomyacin, clindamyacin, and another one IV I can't remember, plus oral bactrim.  I almost died.  When the doc 'lanced' my swollen abdomen on the 2nd day of hospitalization, approximately 2 cups of fluid and pus rushed out of my belly onto me, my bed, and totally surprised my doc.  That incision was less than 1/4 inch.  When I was finally sent home 6 days later, it was with home health and an incision that had widened and spread to approximately 4' long, and 2' wide, again having to heal from the inside out.  This time my insurance paid for home health nurses to take care of my wound daily, check my vitals, etc.  On Feb 14, 2008, I had the belly closed AGAIN, and while it has remained closed, I have a huge swelling just underneath the site, with obvious fluid buildup, but now everyone is afraid to drain my belly, for fear.  My family (extended, not immediate) treat me like a leper, who is death walking in the door.  I absolutely have to have an entire left elbow joint replacement, but until this MRSA is declared gone, I remain in pain, no surgeon will touch me, and I'm on pain meds to get me through day to day.  I'm only 50.  I can't pick up my grandkids.  This is what MRSA has done to me.

Debra