More on Mom

Saturday:
    Mom and sister discussed what to do about infection and decided to call doctor's exchange. Doc said since it is an incision do not take chances go to ER, Mom goes to ER they admit her for antibiotics via IV

Sunday - Monday:
    Partner Dr. of her neurosurgeon(her is out of town)  comes to assess situation. He has her sent for CAT scan to check for fluid build up.  Scan reveals fluid build up. Partner says that if he was to decide he would take her back into surgery and clean up wound. Partner Dr. confers with Mom's Dr.. Mom's Dr. calls her and tells her that he agrees with Partners assessment and plans to do Surgery first things Tuesday morning (he cancels other scheduled surgeries to be able to do this).
    Hospital's Infectious Disease Specialist visits Mom and asks questions about her discharge instructions (basically she was not given any), asks if was taking antibiotics after being sent home (Mom says no she was only given pain meds). IDS explains a little more about what was done during initial surgery including something about some packing being used for when Neuro nicked disc. (not positive how accurate this info is because I am getting it second and third hand). IDS also tells Mom that she may need IV antibiotics for 6 weeks after this new surgery, and then possibly pills for rest of life. (I think this is supposed to be severe case possibility).
    Some time during all of this they indicate to Mom that she is probably to fault because of not cleaning wound properly at home (Remember no wound care instructions given at discharge) (I am not happy with the sounds of this)

Tuesday:
    Mom has surgery at 8:30 am. As is typical Dad forgets to call me later to let me know surgery is over and Mom is in new room. I have to call him and find this out.
    Mom is told by doctor's that infection was only in the skin not inside the wound. She is also told that after stay in hospital she will have to be on IV antibiotics for 4 while at home. (I am curious why she would need such extensive amounts of IV antibiotics for only skin infection, when they did not even send her home with pill antibiotics after first surgery)

As of Tuesday night, Mom is in room had dinner (soup and juice and pudding and such). She is on IV antibiotics and pain meds, but doing okay.

I will be heading in to see Mom today while I am in doing Union paperwork, I will also be going over to clean Mom's bathroom thoroughly and replace shower curtain on bath window, because she is worried that some how she may have gotten bacteria on her  in there to cause infection (Mom has a clean bathroom, I do not believe this is what happened but I will do this for Mom).

I have told Mom and Dad both that just to be on the safe side they should keep track of everything they can remember being told to them and done or not done for Mom. I then think they should at least consult a malpractice lawyer. Mom and Dad can not afford a second surgery and visiting home nurse care for the IV antibiotics.  Maybe when I hear more of the information directly from Mom and Dad and not just over the phone, maybe I will feel differently.

more on mom later