Currently considering making a claim. Not me but my husband. I'll try to make this brief;
11/22 planned colon resection. Laparoscopic but warned it may convert to full open abdominal which it was and temporary ileostomy formed. Told surgery was more complicated as bowel was disintegrating due to existing crohns disease. Recovery was ok and discharged on morphine for pain.
4 days later 999 blue light to a&e abdominal wound burst and intestines outside. Emergency surgery to washout and reclose. The original surgeon came to the hospital and carried out. 11 day recovery and then discharged. Met surgeon 2 weeks later and advised just unlucky but said wound healing OK and sent on our way to recover. There was some fluid leaking from wound but this was dismissed. No blood tests to check for possible infection.
Less than 2 weeks later emergency a&e from hell. Wound reopened, sepsis etc. 1 month in hospital on antibiotics. During this admission was told there was a problem with enlarged kidney/infection and was prepped for surgery, transferred to another hospital and just as being wheeled down was told surgery was not required as scans showed all ok. Discharged home feeling weak. With an open wound that needed dressing every other day at gp. Extreme back pain on oxycontin. Gp said back pain to be expected and dismissed concerns.
Less than 2 weeks later again readmitted infection markers high, in agony, unable to eat. Scans showed kidney enlarged, antibiotics started. Put on emergency list for op to putvin ureteral stent. 3 days Nil by mouth, spiking temps but no theatre space. Ended up having to have emergency nephrostomy as could be done in radiography. Discovered during this a large urine leak from kidney that formed a urinoma so a second drain was put in this. Discharged after 2 weeks by this stage walking was hard and getting up from bed excruciating due to back spasms. Had to get a toilet frame and also a bed frame installed at home. During this admission was under urology but also input from the original gastro surgical team. A wound vac was put on the surgical wound that was not healing. Wound vac was cared for by district nurses who were not given details of what rate and what dressings. Met surgeon 2 weeks later and discovered wound vav had caused damage making the wound bigger and deeper so immediately taken off and given news that wound would now take at least 9 months to heal by secondary intention. Husband felt so poorly but was told this is normal. He got weaker and weaker and yet again sepsis and an emergency admission. This time remaining in hospital from March to June. Pumped full of antibiotics, daily blood cultures. TPN. Central lines. Severe kidney infections. Nephrostomy replacements. Ureteral stent op. Left bedbound with no physio and had to learn to walk again, to eat again. Terrible neglect that made me realise I had to be there every single day so I was signed off work from December 22 to September 23. My husband left hospital needing to use a wheel chair. Now registered disabled on highest pip for both living and mobility. On universal credit as he hasn't worked since November 22. Still has kidney infections and stent that requires regular op to change it. Suffered another bout of urosepsis 3 weeks ago that required 999 ambulance and emergency op that thankfully was treated promptly and was only inpatient for 2 nights. Its been a living nightmare and he has terrible mental trauma. His colorectal surgeon says due to previous surgery stoma will likely be permanent. Likewise with the ureter damage it would require reconstruction so there is currently no happy ending in sight. I'm sorry this is a rambling mess but writing it down is helping me gather my thoughts. I'm fucked off about what he has gone through. Tbh this is only the half of it as there has been so many mistakes, poor care, neglect.
Thank you if you do read to the end. I'm going to ask for an initial chat with a legal firm but just thought I'd also ask here if anyone had been through anything like this.