What The Hell...?
Sunday, 10 August 2014 15:47![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dr_phil_physicsSo this morning Mrs. Dr. Phil was changing my bandage and dressing, when she suddenly asked, "What the hell is this?" This being a little strip of something, underneath all the bandaging.
Turned out we think it's one of the "missing" pieces of hydraferra blue, the dressing material we haven't used since July 30th, when the bleeding started up.
Counting Sponges
Twice we've not found the hydraferra blue upon opening up the bandaging. Both times we were concerned that since it gets slimy and can slide around, maybe it slid into one of the undercut regions. Both times the Wound Clinic people probed around and found nothing. The first time, we found a fairly clean piece of the dressing in the garbage and speculated that it had simply fallen out while Mrs. Dr. Phil wrestled with the tape sticking to the gloves, and never been in there. The second time the visiting nurse was unwrapping the wound and we just couldn't find it. And, as you do, we wondered whether in all the steps and cleaning it just hadn't gotten in there.
But now, of course, we're certain this got stuck somewhere in a cavity under the skin for some two weeks. Maybe even packed in tighter by the probing -- it's foam based and designed to be packed into small places. The piece is rectangular, maybe 3.5cm x 1.0cm x 1.5mm thick. The foam material is sturdy. Starts out dark blue-purple and fades with use. This piece is devoid of color, more whitish on the outside that would have been against the bandage, tinged darker from blood on the other. We saved it, of course, wrapped into one of the packaging bits that has a clear panel.
We would've known earlier if we hadn't had to wait some two weeks for the repeat MRI, since it would have shown up then -- it should be on the MRI taken yesterday, but of course it's out now.
So it's good that it's out. It's good that we have a source of the irritation, rather than just a pressure wound -- especially because the original wound has been healing so well and the foot had been looking good before this.
A little unsettling that we don't know what damage this has done. The stuff started out sterile, is supposed to promote healing, at least while the active ingredient is there, and there's no sign of infection, just drainage. Hopefully it can all heal now, unless they want to open up the undermined area. Don't need any big setbacks -- I've had sufficient, thank you very much.
And is it psychological, or just part of the limited feeling I have in my foot, that my foot feels better today walking around on it?
I tell you, this has all be one great adventure.
Out, out, damned spot!
Dr. Phil
Turned out we think it's one of the "missing" pieces of hydraferra blue, the dressing material we haven't used since July 30th, when the bleeding started up.
Counting Sponges
Twice we've not found the hydraferra blue upon opening up the bandaging. Both times we were concerned that since it gets slimy and can slide around, maybe it slid into one of the undercut regions. Both times the Wound Clinic people probed around and found nothing. The first time, we found a fairly clean piece of the dressing in the garbage and speculated that it had simply fallen out while Mrs. Dr. Phil wrestled with the tape sticking to the gloves, and never been in there. The second time the visiting nurse was unwrapping the wound and we just couldn't find it. And, as you do, we wondered whether in all the steps and cleaning it just hadn't gotten in there.
But now, of course, we're certain this got stuck somewhere in a cavity under the skin for some two weeks. Maybe even packed in tighter by the probing -- it's foam based and designed to be packed into small places. The piece is rectangular, maybe 3.5cm x 1.0cm x 1.5mm thick. The foam material is sturdy. Starts out dark blue-purple and fades with use. This piece is devoid of color, more whitish on the outside that would have been against the bandage, tinged darker from blood on the other. We saved it, of course, wrapped into one of the packaging bits that has a clear panel.
We would've known earlier if we hadn't had to wait some two weeks for the repeat MRI, since it would have shown up then -- it should be on the MRI taken yesterday, but of course it's out now.
So it's good that it's out. It's good that we have a source of the irritation, rather than just a pressure wound -- especially because the original wound has been healing so well and the foot had been looking good before this.
A little unsettling that we don't know what damage this has done. The stuff started out sterile, is supposed to promote healing, at least while the active ingredient is there, and there's no sign of infection, just drainage. Hopefully it can all heal now, unless they want to open up the undermined area. Don't need any big setbacks -- I've had sufficient, thank you very much.
And is it psychological, or just part of the limited feeling I have in my foot, that my foot feels better today walking around on it?
I tell you, this has all be one great adventure.
Out, out, damned spot!
Dr. Phil
