Anyone had a wound vac??

I had my incision open up at an intersection after a thigh lift (5/23). Yesterday my doctor opened up my dime size wound to maybe 6x the size. On monday I will be getting a wound vac placed. Anything that anyone could tell me about them would be greatly appreciated. How did you carry it around, for instance? Did you work with it? Thanks for any help.

my situation was different that yours. I had open surgery for a perforated colon with an illiostomy.  I was septic during the surgery and they had to leave the incision open to heal from the inside out - they couldn't close it with staples like in a normal open procedure.  After about 2 weeks of changing dressings, they decided it would heal faster and better with a wound vac but I was an inpatient in the hospital the entire. I Was in the hospital for 2months in total, so by time I went home, it was out.  They had to change the packing for the wound vac every 2-3 days which i won't lie wasn't pleasant and they gave me  a shot of morphine each time when they did it.  Mine was  alarge abdominal wound.  When I went home, my incision was still open.  It was close to being closed when I went in for another open surgery to reverse the illiostomy and thank goodness that time they were able to close it that time with staples.

When the staples came out, there was one piece that didn't close properly and did get infected - the surgeon had to open it up a little bit more and drain but I just packed it daily with a special packing material - didnt' need a wound vac for that.

I don't know how a wound vac works at home or how it gets changed when you are home, I would think a nurse would have to come and change it for you.

good luck

Now orries about the wound vac. I am an RN and have dealt with tons of wound vacs. They have small units for home and are really no big deal. they close wounds fast. Your dressing changes can be performed at home by a visiting nurse or you can go to a clinic too. Don't be fearful of it! it will help a lot  If you have any questions or problems you can email me at [email protected]. It will come right to my smart phone.