We went to the wound care center this morning and met with
Dr. Marcus for the first time. She
examined G’s wound and told us her plan of action and proceeded to cut away all
the hypergranulation (overgrown new tissue) with cuticle clippers.
I don’t like blood and gore. The
process was gruesome looking, and thankfully did not cause G any pain. Once the blood and gore was over with, she
dabbed silver nitrate around the edges, dusted the wound with Multidex Powder Wound
Dressing which looked like sawdust and then bandaged it.
She assured us that the orthopaedic surgeon had done
everything he should have thus far. She
also gave G a set of instructions about eating a high protein diet (which he's already been doing) with six
small meals per day.
“No showering,” she said.
G visibly slumped in the examining chair. He’d graduated from sponge bathing to showering
a couple of weeks ago.
“I stink if I don’t shower,” he replied. In his opinion sponge bathing just doesn't cut it.
Dr. Marcus correctly gauged his resistance and got blunt.
“There are so many bugs around the mouth and nose area, not to mention the terrible bugs around the anus. Showering with an open wound is essentially pooping in the wound.” Ugh! Seriously?
With this sort of blunt speech she knew she would get her point across.
“And don’t sponge bathe with a washcloth either,” she instructed. “Your washcloths have bugs too.”
Now I feel like I need to throw out all our washcloths and
buy new ones and sterilize them after each use.
The good news is that G has avoided infection for three
months, is walking like a champ with his new knee and is pain free. The bad news is he’s back to
sponge bathing and can’t shower for four to six weeks more.
Methinks he beginneth to stinketh.
The high protein diet reminds me of a story my mother used to tell. Her cousin was badly burned (gasoline fumes) and while he was in the hospital his mother brought him nuts, nuts, and more nuts to eat. Actually, I think they were peanuts... Anyway, he ended up healing way faster than the doctor had anticipated. I say go for the protein. Maybe that shower is closer than you think.
ReplyDeletePrayers for healing.
PS. Find someone in your area who sells Norwex. They make microfiber cloths with silver embedded in them. The silver is antimicrobial. You won't have to worry about them being contaminated. (Bethany is selling it. I'll ask her who sells down there.)