Evening Sqad

[gness]

You're in demand....;-)

I had a call from the home this afternoon. My ninety year old mother has developed a Grade 3 pressure sore on her bottom. It seems to be more than the staff are able to deal with so nurses are coming in daily to dress and pack it.
If mother lies in bed all day she is on her side but won't eat or drink. When they can get her up they do, but then she is sitting on the sore.
I can't see how this sore is going to heal given that, and the state she is in physically.
So....what happens with these sores? I guess there is the risk of infection but will it spread? Is it possible that it can heal with treatment?

Thanks...Gx

[Peter Pedant]

Rowan

He is feeling down because he is post op and things havent gone as well as he hoped. Leaks after VATS are common and a CT is sensible.

Every post op course has its ups and downs. I am sure he will be all right in the end.

[Peter Pedant]

Rowan I goggled VATS and anesthesia and got this somewhere:
.Air leak
'This is when the cut surface of the lung leaks air and is a frequent
occurrence following lung surgery. It usually settles within a few days but
will mean that the chest drain has to stay in your chest while it settles. If
it is taking longer to settle the surgeon may recommend putting a sticky
solution in via the chest drain. Very rarely an operation will be required
to stop the air leak. Again this can usually be done by key-hole surgery'

[society]

My thoughts and prayers are with you Gness, Ma Gness, Rowan and Redman xx

[woofgang]

I hope gness won't mind my commenting again here, but I have just reread this thread. I would like to point out (and I am not a nurse but I know a bit about end of life care professionally) that even with every effort its not always possible to prevent pressure sores when someone is dying. Even more sadly sometimes, the regime of turning gives more distress than it does relief. I know that people have posted on here from their own knowledge and experience and made suggestions about healing and prevention; sometimes such interventions do not work or are not possible. These things are not often talked about and heaven knows that I would never defend bad care by anybody. I just would not like anyone to take away the belief that in end of life care, pressure sores are always caused by bad care and can always be prevented or healed by good care. Would that it were that simple.
gness and rowan, I wish you a better day today with better news.

[sunny-dave]

I agree entirely woofie - very well put.

I said something similar on here yesterday and I know that gness has exactly the same understanding as you do (we had a good chat about it on the phone last night).

[woofgang]

thanks dave, I thought a bit before posting, I thought that gness would understand.

[murraymints]

My FIL was put in bubble bed ! It rippled to alleviate. Bedspread ...

[murraymints]

Bedsores......predictive thingy !

[Dee Sa]

so sorry to hear about your mum gness, thinking of you
Dee

[woofgang]

murray, not everybody can tolerate them.

[gness]

Of course I don't mind, Woof and thank you for your thoughts on this. It is a difficult one because bedsores are often considered to be caused by bad or neglectful care but I now know that is not always the case. I can't fault at all the care my mother has...we were so lucky to find this home.
Being doubly incontinent will make my mother more at risk I guess but there are times when it is impossible to get near her to help. She can turn and lash out and fight for no reason and spend hours in one of these moods.
There is then the risk of hurting her fragile skin and bones even more so it's a rock and a hard place situation...

Thanks for all the nice thoughts and wishes.....x

[Ann]

We are all thinking of you Gness ....... and your Mum. Bless you both x