Pressure Sore Update 4-27-12

Went to see the plastic surgeon today for the surgery consultation. When they took the wound vac off, the skin around the pressure sore was very irritated. She said it looked like a yeast infection. So, now the wound vac is put on hold and we have to clear up the yeast infection. We will need to go back to packing the wound, which needs to be done twice a day.

As I mentioned before, the wound is about the size of a quarter on the outside, but very large and very deep on the inside. The surgeon was even wondering if the bone might be infected too. Josh has had this pressure sore for quite a while without knowing that it had tunneled as deep as it has. More blood work was ordered and we got that done today. I had to run all over town to get the proper supplies for packing the wound. This doctor used different supplies and we wanted to keep with what she suggested.

So far, no date has been set for surgery. The surgery will involve taking fat from his upper thigh to flap up to the area of the sore. He doesn't have any fat to spare and she is wondering if that would be a good idea to take fat from that area (if she can find any) and risk getting a pressure sore there. I offered my fat for the surgery, but I don't think that is how this works...I would love to be a fat donor. I have PLENTY to spare. LOL Hey, anything for my son!

Josh has never been a big eater. He usually isn't hungry and just has to force himself to eat. The doctor said he was way too thin and so now we have to fatten him up...and he needs lots of protein for the healing process. When he first went into the hospital at the end of March, they said his protein levels were dangerously low. I went to the store and got protein shakes, cheese, eggs, and meat. He ate two helpings of supper tonight and I know he was forcing himself to do that. He told the doctor to tell him what he needed to do and he would do it. I can see that he is doing just that.

We are in the process of getting a stand-up wheelchair for Josh. He has to be up-right each day. This helps with circulation and helps keep the pressure off his butt.

We were hoping a surgery date would be set, but that will have to wait til Josh's health in a little better and they figure out the extent of infection in this pressure sore. We will keep you posted when we learn what comes next.

We appreciate prayers. God is good and will help us through this as well.

Pressure Sore

Josh has had trouble with pressure sores over the past few years since his accident. He has one on his sitting bone of the right side of his bottom. This area has been a problem for quite some time and he has had some minor surgeries to take care of fistulas that have tunneled from that area. On the outside, it is about the size of a quarter. In the last few weeks we found out that it has developed into a baseball-sized sore further in that we were all unaware of. It is quite deep and definitely not a good thing.

He was admitted into the hospital on March 24th with high temperatures and nausea, and stayed the weekend. He hadn't been eating well for a few weeks before this due to the infection in his body. His protein levels were dangerously low...and you need protein to heal. During this hospital stay was when we found out about the larger pressure sore. Josh has seen the wound doctor a couple times since then. He is on total bed rest and can only be up 1 - 2 hours a day. He is actually doing pretty well with that, considering he is a very active young man. He has a TV, video game system, and access to cable and Netflix. His friends come to visit, and that helps too.

A nurse had been coming to our house every-other-day to change the packing in the wound. The nurse only comes once a week now and we have to change his packing daily. Lisa helps out with this too.

We just had a wound vac delivered to our house. Josh will take that with him to his next doctor visit at the wound clinic on Tuesday. The doctor will put it into the wound and hopefully we are able to handle what needs to be done after that at our house. I guess that will help keep the wound clean since it is so deep.

April 27th he has a consultation with a plastic surgeon for reconstructive surgery to fill in the area of the pressure sore. I took the day off from work to go with him, so that I can learn more about what will be done.

I will keep you posted as things progress. Prayers are much appreciated. God will help us get through this just like he has these past 8 years since the accident. It will be 8 years on May 9th.