Slow Healing Wound

[NotMuffy]

...we went to see the surgeon today and and asked for a referral to the Wound Center for an evaluation. He wasn't very enthusiastic at all, said they wouldn't understand the complexity of the wound...

No problem. Just print this up and hand it to the guys at The Wound Care Center:

Mike's wound is in his buttock where mortar shells entered during the war. He had extensive surgery but shrapnel was imbedded into his iliac bone and left undisturbed all these years until he had hip replacement about 10yrs ago. He's had 5 acute abscesses since then requiring surgery about 5" deep to the bone. The shrapnel itself is inside the hipbone surrounded by bacteria but cannot be removed without losing his leg. IV Antibiotics can't get to it. In the past it's taken 2-3months to heal but that's because the top closes while the bottom has not healed completely. This time the Dr keeps stretching the opening with an instrument 2x/wk to keep it open to allow for packing until the bottom heals... "There is adequate blood supply, evidence of new tissue growth, wound bed is beefy red w/granulation,no sign of infection or necrosis,but because of previous surgeries there is tunneling in different directions which is hard to heal".

[NotMuffy]

...we went to see the surgeon today and and asked for a referral to the Wound Center for an evaluation. He wasn't very enthusiastic at all, said they wouldn't understand the complexity of the wound...

Of course not. They're a Wound Center. Why would they know anything about wounds?

[NotMuffy]

...we went to see the surgeon today and and asked for a referral to the Wound Center for an evaluation. He wasn't very enthusiastic at all, said they wouldn't understand the complexity of the wound...

OK, tell him that you'll have The Wound Center call him to explain that. I'm sure he'll be eager to share his expertise.

[NotMuffy]

...we went to see the surgeon today and and asked for a referral to the Wound Center for an evaluation. He wasn't very enthusiastic at all, said they wouldn't understand the complexity of the wound...

Although when you think about it, given the brief vignette you posted about his character

...when we're actually face to face with his "God".

That was probably the only thing he could say, with only perhaps variations in the manner in which he delivered that thought.

[NotMuffy]

The surgeon did say he'd still like to see Mike on Friday to check the wound so we will certainly do that. He didn't kick us out yet! I'm not holding out much hope but maybe the wound people can help us heal it for now and buy a little time to catch our breath while we think of the next step before the next abscess.

Perhaps it would help if you told the surgeon that you're getting advice from a character who purports to be "baked goods" on a CPAP self-help forum. At least you'd get an idea of what a developing stroke looks like.

Certainly, seeing the people at The Wound Center in conjunction with your surgeon could be a possibility (unless they have a preferred guy).

"IMHO", competitive egos being what they are, on Friday your surgeon could very well say, "You know, a couple new products just came out that I think we could try".

If nothing else, I think you've at least got a few people looking at other options to put on the table.

[ozij]

The surgeon did say he'd still like to see Mike on Friday to check the wound so we will certainly do that. He didn't kick us out yet! I'm not holding out much hope but maybe the wound people can help us heal it for now and buy a little time to catch our breath while we think of the next step before the next abscess.

Perhaps it would help if you told the surgeon that you're getting advice from a character who purports to be "baked goods" on a CPAP self-help forum. At least you'd get an idea of what a developing stroke looks like.

Certainly, seeing the people at The Wound Center in conjunction with your surgeon could be a possibility (unless they have a preferred guy).

Muffy, are you sure you the operative word was "guy"? I was expecting "God" in that sentence....

[NotMuffy]

The surgeon did say he'd still like to see Mike on Friday to check the wound so we will certainly do that. He didn't kick us out yet! I'm not holding out much hope but maybe the wound people can help us heal it for now and buy a little time to catch our breath while we think of the next step before the next abscess.

Perhaps it would help if you told the surgeon that you're getting advice from a character who purports to be "baked goods" on a CPAP self-help forum. At least you'd get an idea of what a developing stroke looks like.

Certainly, seeing the people at The Wound Center in conjunction with your surgeon could be a possibility (unless they have a preferred guy).

Muffy, are you sure you the operative word was "guy"? I was expecting "God" in that sentence....

You got that right, o.

As in any sport, use their perceived strengths against them ("the bigger they are...")-- or in this case, "Y'know, I hear they're really good over there. They are cutting edge and can heal anything! Especially, where others have failed."

Why do manual labor? That's what tools are for.

[DoriC]

...we went to see the surgeon today and and asked for a referral to the Wound Center for an evaluation. He wasn't very enthusiastic at all, said they wouldn't understand the complexity of the wound...

No problem. Just print this up and hand it to the guys at The Wound Care Center:

Mike's wound is in his buttock where mortar shells entered during the war. He had extensive surgery but shrapnel was imbedded into his iliac bone and left undisturbed all these years until he had hip replacement about 10yrs ago. He's had 5 acute abscesses since then requiring surgery about 5" deep to the bone. The shrapnel itself is inside the hipbone surrounded by bacteria but cannot be removed without losing his leg. IV Antibiotics can't get to it. In the past it's taken 2-3months to heal but that's because the top closes while the bottom has not healed completely. This time the Dr keeps stretching the opening with an instrument 2x/wk to keep it open to allow for packing until the bottom heals... "There is adequate blood supply, evidence of new tissue growth, wound bed is beefy red w/granulation,no sign of infection or necrosis,but because of previous surgeries there is tunneling in different directions which is hard to heal".

NM, with all the knowledge you possess and have tried to pass on to me(see head spinning!) , this bit of advice has brought me to tears and I wish you could hear me breathing a sigh of relief. I just reread my post and realize that this will be a valuable piece of the puzzle that I don't have to try to resurrect. It also reminded me to bring along the article that was written about Mike in our local newspaper when they came to interview us in the hospital several years ago, it's similar but even more detailed.

[rested gal]

Perhaps it would help if you told the surgeon that you're getting advice from a character who purports to be "baked goods" on a CPAP self-help forum. At least you'd get an idea of what a developing stroke looks like.

ROTFL!!!

[DoriC]

We had to have our Primary fax over an RX to the Center which they received and we're waiting now for a call to set up the appt. The head of the Center is a well respected plastic surgeon who I hear has done some wonderful work with deep and disfiguring wounds, so he can't be that bad!

NM, I'm sure you didn't give it a second thought by suggesting something simple like printing out my own post, you're usually in another "zone", but you'll never know how that little tidbit and your other "comments" and the responses I see here have given me so much courage to keep going! Blessings! I'm thinking maybe you deserve the whole pot of chicken soup for yourself! And who said anything about matzoh balls! And can you see me trying to describe who this character Not Muffy is? I don't think so!

[sister]

Hi Dori,
I would like to send you all my love and especially all my prayers. May GOD hold you both close in his arms now,and may things get much better very soon.
GOD BLESS YOU BOTH!

[ozij]

I'm thinking maybe you deserve the whole pot of chicken soup for yourself! And who said anything about matzoh balls!

As long as it's not muffins... Muffy may choke on eating his family members....Oh wait. He Not Muffy now. Ans so is a matzoh ball,
OOPS.

[chunkyfrog]

Dori, I am optimistic about this, now.
Isn't it odd how things get clearer from another viewpoint?--
Answers which seem obvious, in extreme stress, are so much harder to see.
Bless you both and keep you safe.

[SleepingUgly]

The surgeon did say he'd still like to see Mike on Friday to check the wound so we will certainly do that. He didn't kick us out yet! I'm not holding out much hope but maybe the wound people can help us heal it for now and buy a little time to catch our breath while we think of the next step before the next abscess.

Perhaps it would help if you told the surgeon that you're getting advice from a character who purports to be "baked goods" on a CPAP self-help forum. At least you'd get an idea of what a developing stroke looks like.

Certainly, seeing the people at The Wound Center in conjunction with your surgeon could be a possibility (unless they have a preferred guy).

Muffy, are you sure you the operative word was "guy"? I was expecting "God" in that sentence....

Funny, I was expecting "gal"!

[SleepingUgly]

I'm thinking maybe you deserve the whole pot of chicken soup for yourself!

Let's not go crazy now!