John S.

It is the phone call you can’t believe you’re hearing. “We’ve struggled with John’s low blood pressure all night and don’t know if we can pull him out of it, you need to be here as soon as possible”

My first thought was what has this got to do with his kidneys failing the day before? What is going on, will my husband die? What caused this?
Five days earlier, he had surgery to remove a large polyp from his colon. (Sepsis and Surgery)  By day two after surgery he ran a fever. A test showed something going on with his lungs. Antibiotics were given, but early the next day his kidney function had declined, so the IV antibiotics were discontinued and he was given pills. When I arrived that morning, he was “gulping” air, speaking like he had something in his mouth, and very uncomfortable.”Oh, he had a lot of pain meds and something to help him sleep,” was the nursing response to my concern. The pain medicines had be increased the day before and continued. His abdomen became more distended. “His fever is down, he’s OK” I was assured. But the next morning his room was empty. He’s been taken for an ultrasound because his kidneys have shut down completely. He will be sent to ICU and someone will call when he is there to let you know.

The first phone call I received was advice that they have a urologist coming to insert a catheter since the doctor and nursing staff could not get one inserted. The second call was a while later and it was the surgeon informing me that a CT scan was done and they will have to take him back to the OR. Hours later he arrived in ICU. No one mentioned “infection,” “sepsis,” “septic shock” … nothing. They explained what surgical procedure was done, that was all.

I entered the ICU to find him on a ventilator, hooked up to everything, NG tube emptying his stomach of some awful looking stuff. Still no explanation. Still didn’t know what the anastomosis leak had to do with kidney failure and why he was ventilated. Actually I thought perhaps the ventilator was still from having surgery and he would be taken off soon.

That telephone call was 5AM the following morning. I was met by a nephrologist when I arrived, who said they needed to put John on a dialysis machine due to the kidney failure. I suggested that perhaps the hospital’s larger site about 1 hour away would be better equipped to handle John’s condition. The response was that he was so critical and we were dealing with multiple organ failure that they needed to start right away and that it could be handled where he was. Still no one mentioned respiratory failure, vascular collapse, septic encephalopathy, let alone septic shock.

After 2 days the blood pressure was stabilized, but peritoneal infection persisted. Some abscesses were “drained,” other ones not accessible without further surgery. John was in no condition to undergo another surgery, so 6 weeks of IV antibiotics followed and a few weeks of dialysis treatments. He was so sick he could not appreciate his condition even though he was awake, the infection and medicines had him totally unable to understand what treatment he needed. He was totally wasted physically.
Thanks to being strong and in previously good condition, he has recovered from the infection and the kidney injury. Like many others, he does not remember almost all of the entire month and a half in the hospital. The only memories are bits and pieces and really not based on any reality. So, I relate the story: he doesn’t want to know it. Well the doctors say oh, he’s recovered, he’s a normal person now… not so! If only I knew then what I know now, I might have my strong, vital, active husband and he would once again be “65 is the new 55.”

Source: Sharon, wife