Going to try and glue myself back together

EZLiving66

My port site (port is gone) is still an open sore.  They told me to come back in 10 days if it wasn't healed but that 10 days is tomorrow and I don't think they'll be there on New Year's day soooooo, I bought some steri-strips and I'm going to try and stick myself back together tonight.  It will be four weeks on Tuesday since my last chemo and I am still sick!  Dizzy, nauseous, tired but can't sleep, numb fingers and feet, peeling skin, poor eyesight, diarhhea and swollen ankles and legs.  I'm sick of being sick!!  I wouldn't have been able to have chemo last Tuesday because my red blood cell count is so low.  I just can't figure out why that third chemo did such a number on me!!

Hopefully 2016 is going to be a better year than 2015.  I have to go back to my oncologist the middle of March for my first checkup but will have to go see my GP next week if gluing myself back together doesn't work!

Happy 2016 my friends!  Maybe it will be the year they find a cure for this d*mn disease!!

Love,

Eldri

Abbycat2

I am sorry to hear that you still don't feel well,Eldri

You certainly have been through the ringer! Let's hope that 2016 will be a happier and healthier year for you. The specialist who are the experts on wound care are plastic surgeons-they do much more than just cosmetic surgery, such as breast enlargements or face lifts. Can you get your doctor to refer you to one?  My brother is a plastic surgeon here in FL and through him, I have learned a great deal about wound care. Most doctors know ZIP about how to heal wounds. For example, in almost every doctor's office you will find peroxide which they use on open wounds.  It is one of the worse things you can do to a wound as it causes the injured cells trying to heal to die. It is, afterall, rocket fuel! Also, the old wive's tale about allowing your wound to air dry and develop a scab is just that- an old wive's tale! For a wound to heal well and with less scarring, put petroleum jelly on it and keep it covered with a bandage until the oozing ceases. A scab forming means that it is healing poorly.   I always treat my significant wounds this way. Don't ever use an anti-bacterial cream on a wound unless you definitely have an infection.  

Hope this helps,

Warm Wishes for a Happy New Year,

Cathy   

EZLiving66

Abbycat2 said:

I am sorry to hear that you still don't feel well,Eldri

You certainly have been through the ringer! Let's hope that 2016 will be a happier and healthier year for you. The specialist who are the experts on wound care are plastic surgeons-they do much more than just cosmetic surgery, such as breast enlargements or face lifts. Can you get your doctor to refer you to one?  My brother is a plastic surgeon here in FL and through him, I have learned a great deal about wound care. Most doctors know ZIP about how to heal wounds. For example, in almost every doctor's office you will find peroxide which they use on open wounds.  It is one of the worse things you can do to a wound as it causes the injured cells trying to heal to die. It is, afterall, rocket fuel! Also, the old wive's tale about allowing your wound to air dry and develop a scab is just that- an old wive's tale! For a wound to heal well and with less scarring, put petroleum jelly on it and keep it covered with a bandage until the oozing ceases. A scab forming means that it is healing poorly.   I always treat my significant wounds this way. Don't ever use an anti-bacterial cream on a wound unless you definitely have an infection.  

Hope this helps,

Warm Wishes for a Happy New Year,

Cathy   

Thank you, Cathy!  I will try

Thank you, Cathy!  I will try the petroleum jelly.  It sure can't hurt and I'm getting desperate to get this cleared up and stop the pain.  Even just turning my head pulls on it and it hurts.  The skin around it is just raw from the tape which is probably the cause of the pain.  I bought some special "gentle" tape at Walgreens and that seems to be helping.

Love,

Eldri

Unknown

EZLiving66 said:

Thank you, Cathy!  I will try

Thank you, Cathy!  I will try the petroleum jelly.  It sure can't hurt and I'm getting desperate to get this cleared up and stop the pain.  Even just turning my head pulls on it and it hurts.  The skin around it is just raw from the tape which is probably the cause of the pain.  I bought some special "gentle" tape at Walgreens and that seems to be helping.

Love,

Eldri

You definately have lots to deal with, sorry.

My husband was a paraplegic, and we watched carefully for any wound that wouldn't heal.  I second the motion for seeing a wound doctor.  I know that there is a variety of things that they do, and I know the really bad adverse effects of not being able to heal one.  My husband, even going to a wound doctor, developed MRSA infection, and we had to amputate his leg above the knee to save him.  Please don't wait too long to get pushy with your doctor.

ConnieSW

unknown said:

You definately have lots to deal with, sorry.

My husband was a paraplegic, and we watched carefully for any wound that wouldn't heal.  I second the motion for seeing a wound doctor.  I know that there is a variety of things that they do, and I know the really bad adverse effects of not being able to heal one.  My husband, even going to a wound doctor, developed MRSA infection, and we had to amputate his leg above the knee to save him.  Please don't wait too long to get pushy with your doctor.

Please don't

steri trip the wound edges together.  It needs to heal inside out..  Wish I could see it to give better advice.  Actually, I'm itching to assess and tend it for you.  How are your blood sugars running now?  

Editgrl

Eldri, you have had such a tough time of it!

I wish this would all just go away.  It just isn't fair that you are continuing to have these awful side effects.  I also second the idea of a wound doctor.  This has gone on far too long.  

Chris

Lou Ann M

Eldri

Sending  hugs and prayers for some needed healing.  I hope you start to feel better soon.  We must have had chemo on the same day last month. I will get my next chemo on Tuesday if my blood work is ok.  Lou Ann

Double Whammy

Lou Ann M said:

Eldri

Sending  hugs and prayers for some needed healing.  I hope you start to feel better soon.  We must have had chemo on the same day last month. I will get my next chemo on Tuesday if my blood work is ok.  Lou Ann

Please seek medical attention.

You have had so much going on, and things don't seem to be improving.  I do know that having chemo can delay healing, but this has been going on far too long for you.  If you're not better tomorrow, it might be a good idea to get to the ER.  Don't let a holiday or weekend get in the way of you seeking medical care. Please take care of yourself.  I hope you get better soon and things turn around for you. 

Suzanne

debrajo

I agree

I agree with Connie!!!  Please do not strip the wound together!  Each layer must heal from the inside out unless a surgent can excize all of the tissue.  Long story short, I had a ruptured appendix.  They cut from bellybutton to hip,lower, to get a gallon of liquid antibotics and another gallon of Betedine poured into the opening, then suction all of that out.  It was packed with gause every day and swabed clean with antibotics for over six months.  It did close, bit by bit from each end, inward.  It has to drain and heal slowly.  Don't do anything but what you have been told here for now!And see a would doctor ASAP!  Best, Debra

EZLiving66

debrajo said:

I agree

I agree with Connie!!!  Please do not strip the wound together!  Each layer must heal from the inside out unless a surgent can excize all of the tissue.  Long story short, I had a ruptured appendix.  They cut from bellybutton to hip,lower, to get a gallon of liquid antibotics and another gallon of Betedine poured into the opening, then suction all of that out.  It was packed with gause every day and swabed clean with antibotics for over six months.  It did close, bit by bit from each end, inward.  It has to drain and heal slowly.  Don't do anything but what you have been told here for now!And see a would doctor ASAP!  Best, Debra

I just left it alone since

I just left it alone since the old steri-strips fell off and there is a good size hole underneath.  I'm going to call my GP on Monday and ask for a referral to a wound care specialist.  I see there are several covered by my insurance.  I refuse to go back to my oncologist - personally I don't think the guy knows diddly squat about wound care.  I am also going to make an appointment with my GP to address my high blood glucose and fatigue.  My sister said Amgen makes an injection to help increase red blood cells so I'm going to ask about that too.  I'm sure my body is trying to produce new blood cells because my legs and hips still ache.  My right hand is still shaking along with the muscle spasms in my eyes so I still can't drive.  The skin is peeling off both my hands and the left side of my face leaving a raw area - I look just great - no hair and a peeling face!  I wonder if I had a mini-stroke during that last chemo?  When they started my blood pressure was 220/140.

Hopefully 2016 is going to be a better year!!

Love,

Eldri

NoTimeForCancer

EZLiving66 said:

I just left it alone since

I just left it alone since the old steri-strips fell off and there is a good size hole underneath.  I'm going to call my GP on Monday and ask for a referral to a wound care specialist.  I see there are several covered by my insurance.  I refuse to go back to my oncologist - personally I don't think the guy knows diddly squat about wound care.  I am also going to make an appointment with my GP to address my high blood glucose and fatigue.  My sister said Amgen makes an injection to help increase red blood cells so I'm going to ask about that too.  I'm sure my body is trying to produce new blood cells because my legs and hips still ache.  My right hand is still shaking along with the muscle spasms in my eyes so I still can't drive.  The skin is peeling off both my hands and the left side of my face leaving a raw area - I look just great - no hair and a peeling face!  I wonder if I had a mini-stroke during that last chemo?  When they started my blood pressure was 220/140.

Hopefully 2016 is going to be a better year!!

Love,

Eldri

Eldri, wound care is a

Eldri, wound care is a speciality so I am glad to hear you have some in your insurance plan and hopefully your GP knows the one HE/SHE would go to.  Be kind to yourself at this time.  You are going to make it through this patch.