Gross Wound - Need Advice!
Terri,
After my second surgery I don't think I had anything as deep as you have, but it took from 1/5 (date of surgery) until almost the end of Feb. for everything to close up, so almost 7-8 weeks. Within probably the first 3-4 weeks it was almost completely closed, but the bottom was very stubborn.
I would not hesitate to see a wound specialist if you think that would help you. If you don't want to feel like you are going behind your surgeon's back, just let him or his nurse know that you are going to go to the wound care center, and ask if they have any special concerns or instructions that you should relay to the specialists there.
After my second surgery I don't think I had anything as deep as you have, but it took from 1/5 (date of surgery) until almost the end of Feb. for everything to close up, so almost 7-8 weeks. Within probably the first 3-4 weeks it was almost completely closed, but the bottom was very stubborn.
I would not hesitate to see a wound specialist if you think that would help you. If you don't want to feel like you are going behind your surgeon's back, just let him or his nurse know that you are going to go to the wound care center, and ask if they have any special concerns or instructions that you should relay to the specialists there.
I agree. I don't want to go behind surgeon's back, I want his support and input. Hopefully I will hear from him tomorrow, if not I have an appt. Monday and will discuss it with him. This has been oozing since my third surgery on June 23rd! He just realized how deep it still was this past Monday. T
Ht: 5'7" HW/247ish SW/234 CW/141-145 (Over 100 pounds lost in 8 months!)
Hello!
The whole point of packing a wound with saline gauze is to debride it (remove the crap bit by bit). Your wound will start to heal from the bottom up but it needs to be kept open so it doesn't heal over at the surface and fester and track underneath.
The stuff coming out of the wound is likely haemoserous ooze (blood/plasma product that helps woulds granulate...or build bridges across negative spaces). If there is necrotic fat then this needs to come out and will on the gauze.
We used to use sterile long q-tips to pack long and narrow sinuses (tracked wounds). They work a treat. Make sure the nurse knows she isn't following the full tack of the wound when she is packing it. On a brighter note...perhaps the base has granulated so well that it has healed that much since it opened. Anyway I hope you are doing better. I hate that you had all of these complications.
Best of luck love. xxx
The whole point of packing a wound with saline gauze is to debride it (remove the crap bit by bit). Your wound will start to heal from the bottom up but it needs to be kept open so it doesn't heal over at the surface and fester and track underneath.
The stuff coming out of the wound is likely haemoserous ooze (blood/plasma product that helps woulds granulate...or build bridges across negative spaces). If there is necrotic fat then this needs to come out and will on the gauze.
We used to use sterile long q-tips to pack long and narrow sinuses (tracked wounds). They work a treat. Make sure the nurse knows she isn't following the full tack of the wound when she is packing it. On a brighter note...perhaps the base has granulated so well that it has healed that much since it opened. Anyway I hope you are doing better. I hate that you had all of these complications.
Best of luck love. xxx
RIP Mickie aka Happychick. You will be missed deeply.
I was told in the hospital that it is the fat stuff. The part I don't like is that my covering bandage now stays really clean! Meaning it is staying in there until I unpack it. Don't know why it won't wick out except that the little hole is so tight that it won't let it.
Ht: 5'7" HW/247ish SW/234 CW/141-145 (Over 100 pounds lost in 8 months!)
Terri, do not be affraid to tell them if they don't pack it enough or you see them do something wrong... I had a wound problem that lasted over 7 months. it just kept festering up.. they finally took me to surgery and cleaned it then I got a wound vac. that finally did the trick!
It is awful to go through, hope you get healed faster than I did!
Good Luck hon!
shele
LiFeLoNg hEaLtH iS mY GoAl
RNY 5-11-04 280
Lowest weight 174
Highest re-gain 238
erny 3-23-09 (120 common channel
low post revision 190
Current Weight 204
Height 5'6"
GOAL 154 Normal BMI
I can't believe they have not called you back. I would just keep calling and calling tomorrow. You should not have to wonder all weekend and wait for your appointment with the woundcare specialist. You have been through a lot and they should be MORE attentive to you and not less. Keep us posted, and let's hope it heals quickly.
Going to a wound care center is really a good idea. I don't even know if your HH nurse has given you the right equipment and supplies and information! It doesn't sound like it, from what you said about her only packing 1/4" of a 3" wound. I'm sure you need to have a recommendation or something from your doctor for insurance to cover any of the wound care charge.
If it's what I'm envisioning, what you need is a length of sterile gauze that's narrow and long, and it's wet with sterile water with perhaps some antibacterial solution. It's specifically made to thread into a wound like that, where there is a crater type of problem with a relatively small opening. In hospital, we got this stuff in dark glass jars that generally had enough gauze in it for 2-3 packings, and we'd get a wound care kit for every change. Sterile gloves, sterile forceps, etc. We had a whole clean to sterile protocol for wet to dry dressing changes. But rather than describe that whole thing, I think it makes more sense to visit the wound care center and have them teach you. It could very well be that, in the privacy of your own home after you learn to pack it yourself, you don't need to use the sterile protocol. When you're out in public or heaven forbid in hospital, you have to do a lot of things sterile that can be done clean at home. Your own germs, you're used to them.
If the wound isn't getting bigger, the skin around it isn't getting red and/or streaky, or anything ugly like that, you're probably healing up even though the packing isn't being done exactly right, it sounds like.
Dennie
If it's what I'm envisioning, what you need is a length of sterile gauze that's narrow and long, and it's wet with sterile water with perhaps some antibacterial solution. It's specifically made to thread into a wound like that, where there is a crater type of problem with a relatively small opening. In hospital, we got this stuff in dark glass jars that generally had enough gauze in it for 2-3 packings, and we'd get a wound care kit for every change. Sterile gloves, sterile forceps, etc. We had a whole clean to sterile protocol for wet to dry dressing changes. But rather than describe that whole thing, I think it makes more sense to visit the wound care center and have them teach you. It could very well be that, in the privacy of your own home after you learn to pack it yourself, you don't need to use the sterile protocol. When you're out in public or heaven forbid in hospital, you have to do a lot of things sterile that can be done clean at home. Your own germs, you're used to them.
If the wound isn't getting bigger, the skin around it isn't getting red and/or streaky, or anything ugly like that, you're probably healing up even though the packing isn't being done exactly right, it sounds like.
Dennie
"It's so beautifully arranged on the plate - you know someone's fingers have been all over it. ~Julia Child"
Terri - I had a similar situation on a previous surgery. It was years ago, so I don't know if this reflects current practice, but they actually opened the wound quite a bit more. After that, the packing was far easier. Also, I had a visiting nurse come, at first daily, later on less often. Have you been offered that option?
It was hard for me at first to trust others (the nurse, my husband) to help with the packing (in fact, I did some crying at first, not because it hurt, but because I was afraid and humiliated), but I did get used to it. I think I told you before that it actually turned out to be a bonding experience for my husband and me. Seems unlikely, but true. You may need to reach out for some regular help.
Hugs.
-- Lenore
It was hard for me at first to trust others (the nurse, my husband) to help with the packing (in fact, I did some crying at first, not because it hurt, but because I was afraid and humiliated), but I did get used to it. I think I told you before that it actually turned out to be a bonding experience for my husband and me. Seems unlikely, but true. You may need to reach out for some regular help.
Hugs.
-- Lenore
Courage is more exhilarating than fear, and in the long run it is easier.
-- Eleanor Roosevelt
HW - 320, SW - 277, CW - 144, GW - 137
5' 2.5"; 120 cm. common channel; 3-4 oz. sleeve
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