Colleen: The Return of Fistula

[mdlbear]

Yes, I'm using a horror-movie-style title deliberately. Colleen got her labs back from the visiting nurse's last visit yesterday; the results were basically "call your doctor: your white cell count is way too high." And she's been showing signs of inflamation near her fistula site for a couple of days. So when it, or a new one nearby, opened up at about 5:30 and started oozing goop, we knew the drill. At least this time there won't be any delay starting treatment -- we've been through that last time. And if they have any damned sense they'll move her surgery date up. And hopefully that will fix it.

She'll almost certainly miss Saturday's party, which will be particularly grumpy-making. And she may well miss Conflikt, which is only a month away. She's angry and frustrated and disappointed, but not in any pain at the moment. On a happier note, she's lost a tremendous amount of the water weight she'd put on; her legs are actually looking quite good.

I'll keep you posted.

12-31 8:18am Near as I could tell last night after they got her a little bit cleaned up, it's the old fistula and not a new one. I still don't trust anything in that area very much, though.

Comments

[lisa-marli.livejournal.com]

*hugs*
I do hope they can get her better soon. May everything heal up quickly so she can get back home again.

[selenesue.livejournal.com]

Oh, for pity's sake. I'd pay real money to figure out what is really causing all this so it can be fixed, and new incidents prevented!

Hugs to y'all.

[mdlbear]

They know what's causing it: some combination of the hernia and Crohn's disease. The big problem is that the top choices for treatment are surgery -- which will fix the hernia but might make the Crohn's flare up somewhere else, and can't be done while she has an active infection, and Remicade, which will take care of the fistula but will suppress her immune system while hiding symptoms of infection.

[obsessivewoman.livejournal.com]

Damn!

At least she got a few good days of eating and bathing - and got to spend Christmas at home.

[mdlbear]

Indeed. It was a good couple of weeks.

[carmiel.livejournal.com]

Oh no! My heart goes out to you guys. (hugs) It would suck rocks if she missed Conflikt. (prayers & good thoughts your way)

[mdlbear]

Thanks! I'm still cautiously hopeful at this point, but...

[randwolf.livejournal.com]

Oh, ick. Sympathies.

[dormouse-in-tea.livejournal.com]

Well, dammit.

Much sympathy.

[joecoustic.livejournal.com]

Ugggghhh!

Sorry you all have to go through this again!

*hugs*

[lapislaz.livejournal.com]

There are days that the Universe just SUCKS. Hang in there, folks.

[kyrielle]

Oh, man. I'm sorry to hear this, I hope they're able to help her soon and that she doesn't have to miss Conflikt.

[mdlbear]

Depends a little on when they schedule the surgery, but it's likely that she'll be on TPN until then. Conflikt looks unlikely. I'll be there, but it won't be the same without her.

[rowanf.livejournal.com]

Ooooh noes! Hugs and healing energy streaming you'alls way.

[mdlbear]

Thanks!!

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

At least you got Christmas together. Here's hoping the treatment won't mean too much isolation from the family back at the hospital. You're in my thoughts and prayers.

[mdlbear]

Thanks! Hopefully we'll have her home a lot sooner; she still won't be able to eat, but at least she'll be less isolated and able to do things.

[brmj.livejournal.com]

Gorramit! I'm hoping they get it resolved as quickly as possible, with as little medical stupidity as the American health care system can provide.

[firecat]

Argh, I'm so sorry. Wishes for quick and permanent healing.

[filkferengi]

I was really looking forward to seeing Colleen at Conflikt, but it's more important to get her more durably fixed-up. She'll definitely be missed, though; I hope she's better soon!