Kim Lane

At age 42, I went in for a total colectomy. (Sepsis and Surgery) Once the colon was removed and the surgeon reconnected me, he did not put enough staples at the connection site. I was released after five days in the hospital, only to return less than 24 hours later. Three liters of stool and stomach acids had leaked into the abdomen. Unconscious, respiratory failure, etc. After emergency surgery and 19 liters of saline to “wash out” abdomen, I remained in ICU unconscious still on a ventilator and now with sepsis, septic shock, peritonitis, ileostomy bag, etc. Ventilator gave me staph pneumonia and I then received a tracheotomy.

I spent one month in the ICU, and had six more major surgeries over the next four years because of damage from the leak. I have multiple recurring intestinal obstructions and have been in the hospital four times a year (since 2005) for the past fifteen with anesthesia to have a stricture from adhesions dilated. I have been left with severe abdominal pain from severe adhesions, chronic fatigue, and pus. After many emergency room visits, hospital stays and doctors, I only seem to overwhelm the medical community, and no treatment thus far has relieved my symptoms.