Wound care, pain, regret

How long does it take for a wound to close?  I dont even care what it looks like when it does, I just want the 4" gaping hole in my butt closed and I want to stop packing it.  It hurts SO bad.  And my PS seems to think Im just "a wuss" and its "no big deal".  Well its a BIG deal to me and my poor husband that has to change my dressings, and pack it because I cant reach it, while I cry and writhe in pain and try not to pass out.  I cant lay, cant recline, cant sit- no amount of pillows and positioning as been able to get me comfortable.  Im not sleeping.  I can barely eat.   I sit home all day alone and just cry and wait unti I can take more pain medicine (even though Im already on a Fentanyl patch that is doing NOTHING anymore).  I am so depressed.  I wish I had never done this,,,,  

Yesterday was my daughters Birthday.  She turrned 5.  I tried so hard to put on a happy face, and we took her to Red Robin (her choice) and then for frozen yogurt.  But I had to take so many pain meds to physically be there, I was so out of it.  Her party is Saturday, and I just dont know HOW Im going to pull off a party for 40 people for 4 hours.

Im living on protein shakes, 3 different antibiotics, probiotics, pain meds, holistic blends and vitamins.  I feel like Im swallowing pills non stop.  All Im drinking is zero carb sports drink for electrolytes or flavored water and im getting plenty of fluids.  I can take a few bites of food, but it often just comes right back up.  Ive lost a lot of weight (10lbs in about a week, not even including the weight I lost from the skin removal).  Im 3 weeks out from surgery now...  The swelling is setting in and just making me even more miserable.  I got temporarily laid off work because I ran out of time (sick and vacation) and they cant offer FMLA or keep me on the payroll at all (very small company).  I have no one to help me...  All those people that said they would be here?  Where are they?  

PLEASE tell me it gets better....   

I am so sorry you are having so much difficulty!! I had a dime-sized tear at the 4 week mark and it closed in 2 weeks, so I'm not sure how long it will take yours to heal. Hopefully someone who had the same problems as you will respond soon.

Try to hang in there!! I do promise it will get better and hopefully will get better SOON!!

And if I were close, I would help. I am a single mom and always seem to do everything for everyone else, but they all disappeared during my recovery, too. WTH??

OMG I had to reply to this too people did the same thing to me! The chick that brought me to the hospital has once to check on me and be by here to help! I'm not getting this n I am very hurt!

A Woind Vac was not an option for you?
Ask your PS about it but seeing as it on your butt it might not be applicable.
My gangrene was 1mm (slough first) but after debridement was 3x4x7cm and I was on the wound vac for almost seven weeks. However my gangrene area was in the invert T of my tummy tuck. The wound vac closed it in about two to two and a half months.
After my Breast Lift my right breast opened around and under the areola. I had a day surgery where it was stitched closed and within five days it slowly reopened. It was totally closed by almost four months.
I can totally empathize with your pain and frustration.
I repeat, I am happy to call you if you want.
Mikimi in Israel

OK- so another question regarding this...  When did your open wounds stop hurting?  Apparently Im full of it, because "after a few days of being open, there are no open nerve endings, so there is no way you should be in pain"  and "you are already on a Fentanyl Patch, I cant imagine that not taking care of whatever pain you could be having".

 

 

The junction where the skin was pulled together at the top of my butt crack took longer to heal, but not to the extent you're describing!  My doc said that it was common to have slower healing in that area because it was a place of high tension.  My opening was the size of my pinkie fingertip and I didn't have to pack it or do anything special to it.  I put antibacterial cream on it and kept a gauze pad over it because it discharged long after everything else had healed, but it did finally close up on its own quite nicely  somewhere in the 6-8 week range.

BUT, it never bothered me or caused any pain!  In fact, the incision, which was my biggest concern pre-op, ended up being an absolute non-issue.  It was numb and healed up within a week, except for the spot on my butt.  You had an infection, though, didn't you?  I suspect that's what's causing the pain, even if the infection is cleared or mostly cleared.  And, frankly, it shouldn't matter to your doc WHY you're in pain.  If you're in pain, you're in pain, and he needs to address it

Yeah, well Im really starting to second guess my choice of surgeon, my trust in him and how I plan to proceed with my care on this issue and moving forward.  I did years of research and went to 5 consults before selecting him, but I feel extremely bait and switched...  He draws you in with a great personality, but doesnt seem to have the time, patience or true care to follow through if there are any issues or if the client isnt pleased.  Sucks you cant see THAT side of them until it happens.  And no matter how many of his patients I spoke to, none of them had issues, so of course they had a great experience.  Im also wondering just how much of my procedure was done by HIM and not the student resident that he introduced me to as his "assistant" the morning of surgery...

I feel so bad for you and i can relate to what your going through. After plastics last year i was in pain and had open wounds, 2 drains sticking out for almost 6 months . The whole summer was ruied for me because of a surgery that happened in feb last yeat. I had infection after infection, in the hospital all the time, i ended up with a second surgery. Til this day im still having pain from time to time!! Im embarassed to go back to my surgeon , he told me that i was the only one of his patients who has pain this long... It was really rough, i found myself immune to taking pain meds but eventually weened myself off.
Trust me i know what your going through, relax and take it easy, im praying you have a speedy recovery.

Val

Yeah, the snotty response I got from the office manager when I tried for like the 8th time to schedule an appointment to address this issue BEFORE it got bad was "we dont HAVE issues, we never have".  Well, you have one NOW- I suggest you tread lightly on how you choose to handle it.