thanks for the good wishes guys.:-x

She has told me not to go up until she is moved out of ICU into the ward.

your poor wife rabbit, it sounds as if she's had some bad luck so far. hope that changes for her, and that she makes a fast recovery now

thanks ele. At least I can understand what's going on - trying to explain it to Andy is the hard part. His attention span is very short - he comes and asks me regularly "where's my mum?".

I hope your wife is on the road to recovery soon, rabbit.

It must be tough on all of you.

Take care.

thoughts and best wishes to you both 

best wishes to all you and prayers and positive thoughts for a speedy recovery

Blimey shes' had a rough trot. She must be in pain too...

Last Thursday, I got a ring from the nurse in ICU who was looking after Sue. She said :" Look I know Sue told you not to come up until she went out to the ward, but she is in a room by herself now, so you can come up if you like".

I went up. There's a big notice on her door that protective clothing must be worn.

I asked the nurse:

"What's happened now?"

"Oh! It's OK she just has a VRI so we thought it best to put her in a private room, so as not to spread it all over the hospital."

"When did she get this, I asked, is it from the other infection she had a week or so ago?"

"No, this is evidently a new one - it sometimes happens when a person is in hospital a long time. It's only on her skin. She is not infected internally."

To cut a long story short - evidently this became apparent as a result of a skin swab they did.

"It's OK though as long as you wear the yellow gown and gloves etc."

So, today I went up again. Still the same - gloves, gown etc.

The doctor came up - from virology -

"I am just checking on the Operation wound - so far the VRI has not invaded the wound. We did another culture this afternoon and I would like to keep an eye on it".

So, as far as I can see - the VRI that exists on her skin - that dictates that everyone that goes into the room wear protective clothing - has only got to move from her skin to the wound and she can kiss her xxx goodbye. Is that the case? I did ask the Doctor but he sidestepped my question and closed off the room ie chucked us out.

don't put up with that crap Rabbit...she's your wife and you have a right to have any questions answered.!

bed time.  ni ni xx

It is probably called VRE Mr Rabbit. 

VRE is a bacteria that has become resistant to, and cannot be destroyed by, vancomycin.

http://www0.health.nsw.gov.au/factsheets/general/vre.html

I am sorry that the hospital has not explained things better to you. 

It does not mean that if it infects her wounds that you can kiss her goodbye.... it just means they need to use stronger drugs to make her well again and it is really important that we don't have to do this as there is a chance of creating superbugs... 

Unfortunately,  bugs such as VRE are present in hospitals, no matter how hard staff try, patients who have immune systems worn down by surgery / illness / increasing age / ill health / frailty / long hospital stay / .

will be likely to have infection at some stage.

The number of wounds and breaks in the skin eg drainage / urinary catheters / intubation - increase the risk.

Staff these days are well aware of infection, but where you have a large number of very sick, especially surgical patients,  'bugs' happen

There will always be and has always been 'bugs' who will take the opportunity to take advantage in a low immune system person.

I hope your wife improves and can be on her way home soon  - ask about  a place in a rehabilitation centre, when she is fit for discharge.

My late mum spent 3 weeks in one, after her major bowel op - was excellent and got her strong and confident enough to come home safely

.