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Perienal wound

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Posted 2/7/2011 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
I know I posted my problem a few months ago, but it is still ongoing
To recap; on June 6th 2010 I had my colon, rectum and Anus removed due to severe crohns disease. I spent almost a month in the hospital and I developed an infection where they removed my anus. The stitches opened up and the infection drained.
I was told that I would just need to pack the wound for a month or two and it would close up.
No big deal right?
Well after a few months they measured it and it was the same width and depth as it was originally. (4cm wide and 5.5cm deep)
We decided to switch to a wound vac. Carried that around 24/7 for about 2 months and did not see any improvement.
So we went back to packing it and it was still the same so the next step was a wound debriefment surgery. They scrape the tissue to make it like new. Like a jumpstart I guess.
Well here we are 2 months from the debriefment surgery and 8 months from the original surgery and no improvement.
I cannot sit down, bend down or anything. I spend most my time laying on my side and switching sides when one side gets sore. If I sit down I bleed and mucous comes out.
Since I cannot sit I cannot work and I was denied dissability and I got a lawyer to help me out with the appeal but it could take up to 2 years. I don't have an income so that's not an option.
My question is has anyone had their wound take this long to heal? Is there anything I can do to speed up this process? My doctor first said it might because I was on 60mg of prednisone for 8 months prior to my surgery, but I went off it a month after surgery. They also just said that I have to make sure I have a good diet.
I haven't really gotten any real answers as to why its not healing or when its gonna be healed.
I can't deal with the constant bleeding and the mucous coming out all day long every day.
I need some advice.
Next step is plastic surgery which they said would probably fail too!
Help!!!
Posted 2/8/2011 1:07 AM (GMT 0)
Oh wow, I am so sorry to hear this. Have you consulted with a plastic surgeon or another doctor for another opinion? Have you been to a wound care doctor? Do you have diabetes?
Posted 2/8/2011 1:28 AM (GMT 0)
my surgeon who did my stoma(did an excellent job btw) is the one who I see once a month for wound care. At the same time I see the hospitals wound care nurse and another nurse. They all say the same thing. And no I dont have diabetes and im not on any medicines.
Posted 2/9/2011 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
Brian~I am so sorry you are still dealing with that:(

I had a few months of issues with that area and did a stint with the wound vac...Does your doc have any long term suggestions?
Posted 2/9/2011 6:22 AM (GMT 0)
Brain,

I too was going to suggest get tested for diabetes.

Did you have your surgeon write a note stating you would NEED disability until this heals? I would think with that AND an atty they would not deny you. This is rough. Wish I had an answer for you. Rosemary
Posted 2/9/2011 12:26 PM (GMT 0)
No I have not been tested for diabetes. Wouldn't I have some kind of other symptoms?
As far as the dissability goes I told my dr I can't go back to work and he said I could. They know that I ride in a truck for 12 hours a day climb 20ft ladders and pick up stuff that weighs more than me on a daily basis. I can barely tie my shoe or put my pants on because I can't bend over that far or squat or anything. If I sit for more than a half hour I bleed a lot. Even drip blood. So I am sure when I go to job sites my back end would be covered in blood. It goes through the packing, the gauze and medical pad and through my underwear all the time. They suggested I get a doughnut pillow to sit on which won't help. Its hard to prove this will last more than a year. They keep saying maybe a few months. But I've heard that quite a few times already.
When I got my denial letter the people at dissability stated that they don't expect my condition to last over a year.
I'm sure the stress here isn't helping either. I live with my ex gf who constantly accuses me of all her mistakes and calls me names all day long and has physically attacked me numerous times. The agreement was I live with her for free and she helps pack my wound. In return I take care of the dog every day and keep the house clean which I do.
I would be out of here in a second but I. Have absolutely no money and nowhere to go.
Not to mention she rubs my medical condition in my face all of the time. I honestly don't know what to do.
Posted 2/10/2011 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
Is it possible to see a new doctor to get a second opinion? I'm not sure how disability works but if your wound is that bad that's still bleeding regularly and your doctor who knows what your job entails says go back to work then he/she sounds pretty dumb to me. Not offense or anything if you like them but come on, if its that bad there's no way anyone would think you can go back to work. Seek a second opinion if possible. and you'll be in my prayers for healing and improvement to your situation.
Posted 2/16/2011 9:11 AM (GMT 0)
Just another update.
Got a second denial letter from dissability. They obviously didn't read my appeal. I wrote that I cannot sit down and have to lay down on my sides most of the day. I explained that I am for the most part, bedridden. I also said that I had crohns disease and got an ostomy. Well the reason they put for the denial was "having crohns disease and an ostomy does not keep you from working. Obviously they missed the whole entire point of me applying for dissability.
I am having my DR write a letter stating my problem and that I cannot work. I will have to go in front of a judge and that can take 2 years.

As far as the wound goes they measured it and its now 7cm deep. Deeper than before. They suggested that I pack it twice a day because its bleeding so bad that maybe too much moisture is keeping it from healing. They called the head wound care nurse to find out her opinion and she didn't have any other suggestions. We've tried every type of packing available, wound debriefment and a wound vac. They said I may end up needing plastic surgery if it doesn't improve with packing twice a day. I wish there were other options.
Oh and I may end up having to pack it myself. Has anyone done this by themselves? I haven't even tried it because I know it will be really awkward since I can't really see it.
Posted 2/16/2011 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
     Brian....so sorry you are suffering like that.  I just wanted to comment on the diabetes issue.  They usually test your blood glucose while in the hospital.  Mine was a bit high because I was still on prednisone.  Only once did they have to give me insulin though.    Before my surgery I was taking an oral medication for diabetes.  I knew I had it because both my parents were diabetics.  My symptoms were excessive thirst and numbness in my fingers.  There are other symptoms too....frequent urination, fatigue to name a few.  When I was weened off the prednisone, one month post-op, my blood glucose levels returned to normal.
Posted 2/17/2011 12:45 AM (GMT 0)
You have my sympathy Brian84, you wont begin to feel human again until the wound begins to heal. ? has your doctor / nurse suggested / prescribed any dietary supplements, perhaps a protein drink which would give you body the resourses to heal. My own diet would have been reasonable but on taking a protein drink (Cubitan - 2 Euro a pop) recommeded by my wound nurse, I 'craved' it (maybe 5 a day) until i was healed; after 3 months. Now I cant stand to taste it, its far too sweet - this suggests to me that my body needed it to manufacture the new cells/ skin. I suspect that a lot less energy is energy required to get enough protein from such supplemets than from digestion of even a good diet (meat,cheese, etc).

I'm rooting for you.
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