Wound care

Hi Family and Friends!

How is everyone? I want to share another of my wound care sessions with you! It just so happens that Mark had taken this week off of work, so I had him come with me and take several photos!

We arrived @ Spohn Hospital Wound Care Center and had to wait about an hour before we were seen! Dr. Larkin kept asking us if we were willing to see another nurse other than Noel and I kept saying no! I explained to Dr. Larkin that it's rare that Mark come w/me, so I really wanted the two of them to compare notes on wound care! You'll see a photo of Noel measuring the size of the wound, after having removed the Tegaderm (clear tape) from the wound. Mark and I had told Dr. Larkin that it takes a lot of moisture and soaking of the surgicel before that comes off - we put surgicel on any area that might look as if it may cause a "bleed". Mark felt that the surgicel needed more time on being wet before removal, but Dr. Larkin wanted to use the tweezers, instead of Marks suggestion of a saline soaked q-tip and she pulled that surgicel off, causing a bleed! Nothing major as far as a bleeding - what you see on the towel is all I bled. So, in the photos you get to see my ear w/no dressing, Dr. Larkin holding pressure where the bleed is coming from and then of course my favorite pictures of all - our baby Hanz!

I get this question asked a lot - am I in pain? YES! There are times the pain is hard to control! You know from a previous blog entry how hard that can be! After a wound care session like the ones pictured - my face felt like it was "burning". The pain went away after a bit - but there are times I'm @ work and I have to get past the pain in order to start working!

This latest blog entry is just to give you an idea of what some of my days are like w/an avm. At times it seems it will never be over. All of you play such an important part in helping us get through these difficult times! All of your prayer and encouraging words make a difference!

I'm still working with the Therabite System. I'll probably need another month before I even think of calling Dr. Yakes for another appointment! Thanks again everyone!

Love,

Mark & Cyndi