c-diff & surgery

[Renee]

A month ago, my brother-in-law had a seizure, then diagnosed with brain cancer & had surgery for the tumor. He was home a couple of days & developed severe diarrhea. Four days later we rushed him to the hospital where he was diagnosed with severe colitis (c-diff). To save his life, they had to remove his entire colon. (By the way, he was not immediately put in isolation.) He died yesterday. The nurse in the ICU mentioned c-diff, sepsis, & VRE (vancomycin resistant enterococcus). They figure he died from a blood clot. I feel the brain tumor may not have been preventable, but the other things were.

I had c-diff last summer. He was a prayer warrier for me. He will be sorely missed.
Renee

[Bobbie]

Renee,
Our consolations on your brother in law's death. What a horrible experience for all of you.

His next of kin should have access to his records. I would make some phone calls -- expecially to the Director of Infection Control & the CEO of the hospital.

[marscan]

Im so sorry for your loss Renee, and second Bobbie's advice on accessing the medical records etc. My aunt was hospitalized with end-stage multiple myeloma a few years back - she couldnt continue her chemo treatments after developing C Diff. We found out much later that the C Diff was actually listed as the "cause of death".

Again, my condolences on your loss.

[TheVike]

so very sorry Renee my prayers thoughts are with you and family!

[Bobbie]

Yes, chemo. can occasionally cause C. diff.