I’ve been to see my new surgeon, his name is Dr. Schlesinger. He runs a weight-loss clinic with another doctor, but that’s not why I’m going to him.
I first met Dr. Schlesinger in the emergency room of my local hospital. He came to see me in an emergency consult regarding an abdominal issue I’ve been having for a month now. Yes, four weeks. It started out as red, itchy skin and an area on a previous surgery scar that was beginning to bulge.
I went to my primary care physician and explained to him I had this area that was not looking so good. He diagnosed it as cellulitis, gave me a prescription for an antibiotic, and happily sent me on my merry way. I was totally oblivious to the fact that it might be something more serious. I filled my prescription, took it faithfully and, yes, the redness subsided, but the “cellulitis” did not go away. The medicine was not helping, in fact, whatever it was that I had was (other than the redness) was actually getting worse.
I went back to the doctor two days later, saw the physician’s assistant, and she prescribed yet another antibiotic, one that was stronger and should help my condition improve. Still no improvement and getting worse.
A couple of days later, the bulge had grown. I went to bed that night knowing full well the bulge would burst and spew forth blood and pus (sorry, too graphic? Well, you haven’t heard the end of gross then. Maybe you’d be better off stopping here and not reading any further). Please be forewarned, it will not get any prettier from here on out and it’s best not to sugarcoat the details. If there is anyone else out there who may be suffering like I am, I want them to know what the possibilities may be for them, hence the graphic descriptions and details.
When the bulge first blew, I thought it was nothing but pus and blood, an infection coming out of a tiny hole and that I would finally get better. Well, needless to say, I did not. I am now in a situation where my body is expelling fecal matter through a very tiny hole in my abdomen. I have a fistula, which is a connection from somewhere inside my body to the outside world.
