Wound care, pain, regret

Well, just an update because I NEED to get it off my chest and dont really have anywhere else to do it.  Things are NOT getting better...  I am SO damn MAD I just want to scream!  I have a wound vac on my right side, to address the first gaping hole that opened up.  This has been on for about 3 days now...  Its VERY uncomfortable.  The whole area around it is red, swollen, tender and since its on my back/butt it makes sitting, reclining, laying pretty freaking impossible.  I havent slept in 2 nights because i just can NOT get comfortable.

WELL- cue the left side, which had ONE small opening, that WAS getting better.  As of last night- 2 new areas have opened up along either side of that first opening and its now draining.  I see a wound vac being added to THIS side of my back/butt before the end of the week.  

OH- and have I mentioned my allergy to adhesive, apparently?  Yeah.  No matter WHAT kind of tape is used, I am allergic to it and when it comes OFF, it takes a few layers of skin WITH IT.  So I have ALL these raw, seeping areas where tape has been.  No one can give me an alternative to keep the damn dressings on though and I am trying to get by with the smallest amount of tape as possible, but it is still so PAINFUL to have all these little raw areas in addition to what else is going on.

AND- this is the part that ****** me off to NO END.  He did a horrible job.  I absolutely hate the results, and there is so much that needs to be "revised" that I cant even contain my anger...  So all of this is so not even worth it!

I did not use any adhesive or tape. I used unscented maxi pads and they were just held in place by my support garment. I had one of those that fascined at the waist and zipped up the sides. I fascined the hooks at the top, put the maxi pads all around my incisions, then zipped up the sides. Not sure how the wound vac works, but maybe something like this would help you??

Maxi pads...  BRILLIANT!  Thank you!  Id have never thought of that!  Whew.  Hope!

I used Maxi pads too! lol When I went to see my plastic surgeon he said a lot of women prefer them to the gauze. The do stay in place better.

I so wish I could call you and help you they this!
If you want that we email then send me a pm.
My email is [email protected]
I had dehiscence on my lower left side and where belly button would have been that had turned slough to gangrene and the wound vac was attached with a forked divider and the sponges swished and matrederm on top. It did take almost seven weeks to heal and I was in hospital the entire time. I could not imagine how I would have managed being home (I live alone) with a wound vac. Now when my right breast opened the hospital sewed it up in day surgery bug within five days it reopened! That was treated with tielle and silvercel bandages and somehow it got infected. I would take a shower and get nauseated at what I saw come out of it so I would ask a reins come be with me in case I would faint. I have dog-ears on the sides of my boobs which I hope can be repaired but with my wound healing issues it is a problem. And I do not have diabetes, my hba1c is low outside the norm and my zinc is high outside the norm.
Mikimi in Israel

I am so very sorry you are going through this. Your post is giving me flashbacks of my gastric bypass. I was in the hospital for three months. A nightmare of an experience. Wounds, pain, regret, surgeon telling me it's in my head.... I feel your pain sweetie!! I'm so sorry. You WILL be normal again. Just remember that.

I suppose the fear of an experience like yours is what has taken me nearly 5 years to be ready for plastics. I'm actually expecting a nightmare like yours. I pray that because I am, I'll be happily surprised. I expect to be totally out of commission until next fall. Seriously.

As for FMLA, I don't know the law but don't they HAVE to give you 12 weeks minimum?

 

 

How are things now?? Thinking about you!!