JasonK Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 A very good friend of mine's wife died yesterday afternoon. She was feeling ill with lower abdominal pain on last Friday which steadily got worse until he took her to the emergency room Monday morning. The doctor couldn't find out what was going on but he was concerned enough to admit her. They gave her heavy duty antibiotics and enough morphine to put a normal man down and it didn't really help the pain. By Wednesday she had gotten bad enough that exploratory surgery was indicated. You could tell the doctors were grasping at straws. They didn't know what the hell was going on. The guesses were either the worst case of colitis on record or maybe colon cancer. The surgeon didn't find any tumors or signs of cancer which was good but he also didn't find any overt cause of the infection. Her white blood cell count was in the 41,000's. That is insanely high. By yesterday morning the infection was into her blood supply and affecting the kidneys. By 4:00pm it was a lost cause and they turned off the lifesupport at 4:30. She didn't last five minutes. Gayle was only 46 and went from healthy and active on one Thursday to gone the next. I can't tell you how much this sucks. Thanks for letting me vent. There is no emoticon appropriate to this post. Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiG Lady Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 For the good of ALL concerned, I would think an extensive--perhaps even quarantined--autopsy is called for. Obviously it was serious... and it could've been something we all need to know about. Raging infections can be fast and lethal. I've come close a time or two myself. It's not pleasant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Merricks Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 Jason, Sorry to about you and your family's lose. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDean Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 That's terrible..totally terrible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spook Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 Jason that is awful! Sorry to hear it. A friend of my (now ex-) girlfriend died the same way. "Overnight" and the doctors couldn't find a thing. Later appeared to be an ectopic pregnancy. The doctors never checked that option Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nik Habicht Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 Thanks for letting me vent. There is no emoticon appropriate to this post.Jason During the five year I worked as an EMT, I was often amazed at apparently healthy, young people dying quickly, while other who appeared to be at death's door when we arrived would go on to survive. Death can be such an arbitrary and capricious thing.... Hang in there, hug your wife, and know we're thinking about and praying for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Pinto Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 Jason, Terrible news. My sincere condolences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonK Posted March 19, 2004 Author Share Posted March 19, 2004 Thank you all for your concern. An autopsy is scheduled. The most shocking thing was how fast it all happened with no apparent way to even slow it down much less stop it. JK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hey QuicksDraw! Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 Jason- Sorry for the loss of your friend. Nik- Great advice. Everyone go hug your spouse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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