Can I stop treatment

[Ladymuck2022]

Hi,

I had surgery on a foot (egg of fluid appeared in a furious red leg) and accept it may /is a long process of recovery.
The surgeon said where they thought they’d get an easy time it was harder then they anticipated and vice versa. Can’t say where the origin of infection came from.

I’ve been on IV antibiotics primarily one type for at least 7 days 5 plus times a day drip feed into a cannula which hurts but they assure me it is good just on the best of a bad vein and getting a central line via ultrasound would take time.

Things took a turn last night when I started developing a rash on back, bottom, armpits- today it is coming for the top of the face and neck. Diarrhoea when ever anything is eaten. Skin peeling near the vagina like years ago before the don’t get sunburnt warning it’s that type of shredding.

Every thanks to the male type catheter my water works are via that.

The only place not touched by rash is my now ideal right leg.
Blood cultures are taking forever.

I tried asking the Ward sister how much longer - another 3 days but surely no one should be on antibiotics a real prolonged period. ?

They introduced another antibiotic last night which I was surprised at because when they opened the post surgery wound in a curious way which an ulcer nurse last dressed I could not deny it looks blooming better then it did last Monday from someone who has to look away when something awful medical procedure but I get it’s best I took a look.

I’ve just been seen by yet another doctor giving an opinion I’m rashed up because I can’t leave the bed. Have I gone through a weekend of doctors thinking this isn’t my patient.

Do I start to refuse treatment.

Yes you have the right to refuse treatment.
However, if you have a bacterial infection it could get much much worse and eventually kill you without antibiotics.

Make sure you're eating lots of natural yoghurt.

You have my sympathy, it all sounds very tough and I hope you get better soon.

I agree with PP.

You can always choose to stop treatment for yourself byt it may not be a wise decision.

Sending you massive hugs. I had a post-op infection last year, which developed into sepsis. I was on IV antibiotics for nearly three weeks, and then swapped to the same antibiotics in tablet form for a further three weeks once I was discharged. It was brutal and I really do feel for you. But you can’t give up now. They will only take you off IV antibiotics once your infection markers are low enough. If you’re still on them, you still need them. Hopefully not too much longer now. I hope you’re feeling better very soon.

Don’t give up now!

My DH is recently out of hospital after having 2 weeks of intravenous antibiotics with some drips taking 8 hrs to dispense. Lots of cannulas being swapped around so it was very uncomfortable but the alternative wasn’t pretty.

However, he is cured, the infection is gone and it’s like he's 10yrs younger.

Please keep going. Sending you hugs. xx

@Ladymuck2022 as an ex nurse I would say that I empathise, and I can't blame you for wanting to stop treatment. However, the nature of bacteria is that they multiply exponentially. So 2 become 4, become 8, become 16, become 32, etc.

If you stop treatment, by the time you feel poorly enough to regret it, it will be much, much harder to treat.

You can refuse treatment but I wouldn't mess around with something like a bacterial infection.
My DS had 2 weeks of IV antibiotics in hospital and then 6 extra weeks IV antibiotics at home, it's not uncommon.
I hope you feel better soon.

A suggestion BTW for your cannula, if you can get hold of a clean Alice hair band the fabric kind then I find placing it over the site until it's on firmly but not too hard helps with the pain.

You can refuse treatment, no issue there but it could kill you or you could develop sepsis.

It's probably a difficult bug to treat that's why they are trying all sorts.

My mum had an eye ulcer, it took over a month to find treatment that worked, but she can still see and is now much better.

@Ladymuck2022 you do have the right to refuse treatment but that really is not the correct course to take here! if you dont get rid of the infection it could get a lot worse and you could end up losing your leg altogether!! keep on with the treatment as advised!

Thank you, they won’t even give Amitriptyline (at home this use to help me sleep deeply wish I’d listened to the signals when that was failing after long term use) until nearly 11pm and then’s it’s off white not striking blue.

My Dad said maybe drink less jugs of water and you are right I got to stick with it as I really don’t fancy meeting him upstairs.

No wonder the porters Monday/Tuesday of last week refused to take me to scan and mri seeing infectious on the door. I don’t remember anything about the surgery apart from when I come round I said where am I apparently.

There is a M&S here at this hospital maybe I get my parents to try and get me one of those Zoe probiotic shot bottles tomorrow.

Thank you so very much.