My open wound isn't healing

[jodiee]

Hi all, I had incision and drainage 11 weeks ago. This was my first time having an abscess. The wound was healing great at first. Now everything has just seemed to have stopped and I haven't made any progress in weeks.

The wound tracks about 2 centimetres and just won't seem to get any smaller. I am having dressing changes every other day.

Has anyone else had similar issues with tracking? And how long did it take you to completely heal? I am waiting to see my surgeon again but the wait list is very long unfortunately.

 

[abcdefg]

Hi, sorry you've had it for so long, that's rubbish. I'm only 3 weeks post I&D so nowhere near the length of yours but mine isn't healing either. There's nothing wrong, no infection, it just... isn't getting any smaller. The nurse doing my dressing changes suggested trying medihoney. Basically, they fill the wound with liquid manuka honey and plug it up with gauze to try and stop it from leaking. Apparently, it can help with stalled healing and speed it up so if you haven't tried it already it might be worth mentioning.

 

[EmCav]

Wound healing well initially is always good but sorry you’re in a stuck phase where progress has stopped.
Make sure you’re eating plenty of protein .
I had a wound healing problem for a long time .
I’m wondering if you are also having packing ?
My wound healed in blocks then healing would stop like you described .
It might be worth discussing a change to a different type of dressing .
Over a lengthy recovery time my nurses used different types .It was a bit of try and see but eventually did heal so frustrating as it is try to keep positive and think of it as a pause .Talk it out with the nurses /your Gp .

 

[jodiee]

Hi, sorry you've had it for so long, that's rubbish. I'm only 3 weeks post I&D so nowhere near the length of yours but mine isn't healing either. There's nothing wrong, no infection, it just... isn't getting any smaller. The nurse doing my dressing changes suggested trying medihoney. Basically, they fill the wound with liquid manuka honey and plug it up with gauze to try and stop it from leaking. Apparently, it can help with stalled healing and speed it up so if you haven't tried it already it might be worth mentioning.

Hi, thank you for your reply. Same here, no signs of infection, everything has just come to a stop for me. I'm going to try asking about alternative dressings and see what my nurse recommends. I am using Aquacel ribbons at the moment, willing to give anything a go currently!

I wish you all the best with your healing, 3 weeks is still early days but I really hope things pick up for you soon.

 

[jodiee]

Wound healing well initially is always good but sorry you’re in a stuck phase where progress has stopped.
Make sure you’re eating plenty of protein .
I had a wound healing problem for a long time .
I’m wondering if you are also having packing ?
My wound healed in blocks then healing would stop like you described .
It might be worth discussing a change to a different type of dressing .
Over a lengthy recovery time my nurses used different types .It was a bit of try and see but eventually did heal so frustrating as it is try to keep positive and think of it as a pause .Talk it out with the nurses /your Gp .

Hi, thank you for replying. I've been eating plenty of protein since my surgery, I don't think I could possibly fit any more into my diet! I'm still having packing done every other day. They are using Aquacel ribbon at the moment.

I'm definitely going to discuss alternative dressings with my nurse. Hopefully there is something else out there that I can use. May I ask which types of dressings worked for you?

 

[jodiee]

Another week of no progress

Still no signs of improvement with my wound. It has been over 6 weeks since anything last happened. I wish it was as simple as sewing up the hole and it all being over, but I know that can't happen.

The wait to see my surgeon is still incredibly long. I hope I hear something soon so I can put this all behind me. I can't believe I had never heard of PSD before I had it. It's absolutely awful and more people need to know about it! People have had far worse surgeries for other things and recovered in half the time!

One day I know I will post on hear that I am better, here's to that being sooner rather than later

 

[princessprin_x]

Hi Jodie, just joined the forum and saw your post which resonated with me! I'm currently 2 weeks post op, never had it before, just decided to shave higher up than usual one day and here we are. I started off being packed with Alginate i think its called, but now using Aquacel also as its what my GP surgery has. My wound has been doing well, not shrinking much but not much leaking/bleeding etc, but since Sunday after what I believe was a rough packing from an A&E nurse, my wound is now leaking and bleeding freely. I've had 90% of the nurses I've been to either pack it wrong or ruin my progress, not to mention my actual surgeon incorrectly saying I didn't need the wound packing even though its 2cm deep! I wonder how you've found the nurses/NHS treatment so far? Seems we're just left to figure it out on our own. My anxiety and depression has gone even worse than it was prior, I've gone from exercising daily to basically being unable to do much, its honestly the worst thing I've had happen to me to date. If you ever need a friend during this, as I'm struggling to find people who understand - my parents have told me to 'get a grip' lol - then please feel free to message. My life feels ruined and just want you to know that someone is going through a similar situation, and that you're not alone x

 

[jodiee]

Hi Jodie, just joined the forum and saw your post which resonated with me! I'm currently 2 weeks post op, never had it before, just decided to shave higher up than usual one day and here we are. I started off being packed with Alginate i think its called, but now using Aquacel also as its what my GP surgery has. My wound has been doing well, not shrinking much but not much leaking/bleeding etc, but since Sunday after what I believe was a rough packing from an A&E nurse, my wound is now leaking and bleeding freely. I've had 90% of the nurses I've been to either pack it wrong or ruin my progress, not to mention my actual surgeon incorrectly saying I didn't need the wound packing even though its 2cm deep! I wonder how you've found the nurses/NHS treatment so far? Seems we're just left to figure it out on our own. My anxiety and depression has gone even worse than it was prior, I've gone from exercising daily to basically being unable to do much, its honestly the worst thing I've had happen to me to date. If you ever need a friend during this, as I'm struggling to find people who understand - my parents have told me to 'get a grip' lol - then please feel free to message. My life feels ruined and just want you to know that someone is going through a similar situation, and that you're not alone x

Hey, our experiences sound so similar! I had issues with nurses doing my packing incorrectly when I was about 4 weeks post surgery. I had one nurse that was so rough with me, and another that over packed my wound (almost double what should have been in there). I constantly wonder if that may have damaged the new tissue in some way. All the problems I had were at an urgent treatment centre. I had no choice but to attend them over Christmas as they were the only place open! I wish I hadn't gone! The nurses at my GP surgery are lovely and gentle, but I worry that the damage has already been done. It really does play on your mental health doesn't it? I too feel like my life has been ruined. I hope this is over soon for the both of us x

 

[princessprin_x]

Hey, our experiences sound so similar! I had issues with nurses doing my packing incorrectly when I was about 4 weeks post surgery. I had one nurse that was so rough with me, and another that over packed my wound (almost double what should have been in there). I constantly wonder if that may have damaged the new tissue in some way. All the problems I had were at an urgent treatment centre. I had no choice but to attend them over Christmas as they were the only place open! I wish I hadn't gone! The nurses at my GP surgery are lovely and gentle, but I worry that the damage has already been done. It really does play on your mental health doesn't it? I too feel like my life has been ruined. I hope this is over soon for the both of us x

So sorry for the late reply I’m still new to this forum lol. Yes they’re so wound and it’s so frustrating that us, as a normal person no medical training, is trying our upmost to look after our wounds because we want to get back to normal, but it’s the so called ‘professionals’ that set us back. It’s so bad for your anxiety as well especially when you sit and think about all the things that could go wrong and all the what if’s my wound has gone from looking quite good, not much leaking etc to now bleeding so badly everyday, it’s so tender to touch and be packed again and the wound has actually gotten bigger at one part there is nowhere near enough light or knowledge on this condition, we’re just cut open, dug out and then sent home to hope for the best. I really hope it’s over for us both soon also, well anybody who has to deal with this awful experience. I’m not even enjoying life anymore I’m literally just here because I have to be sending so much love to you I hope your wound makes some progress soon x

 

[jodiee]

So sorry for the late reply I’m still new to this forum lol. Yes they’re so wound and it’s so frustrating that us, as a normal person no medical training, is trying our upmost to look after our wounds because we want to get back to normal, but it’s the so called ‘professionals’ that set us back. It’s so bad for your anxiety as well especially when you sit and think about all the things that could go wrong and all the what if’s my wound has gone from looking quite good, not much leaking etc to now bleeding so badly everyday, it’s so tender to touch and be packed again and the wound has actually gotten bigger at one part there is nowhere near enough light or knowledge on this condition, we’re just cut open, dug out and then sent home to hope for the best. I really hope it’s over for us both soon also, well anybody who has to deal with this awful experience. I’m not even enjoying life anymore I’m literally just here because I have to be sending so much love to you I hope your wound makes some progress soon x

No worries! Every 'professional' I've seen always mentions how common this condition is, and yet these people still seem to know absolutely nothing about it! It's driving my anxiety crazy, I feel like I'm thinking about my wound 24 hours a day. Absolutely relate to not being able to enjoy life anymore. I have had to drop out of so many things, I can't wait for the day that this all comes to an end! x

 

[jodiee]

Weekly Update - Hello week 13

Hoping to keep at these weekly updates in the hopes that they'll help someone else further down the line. One day this thread will end with me posting that this is all over, until then:

I'm still waiting to see my surgeon for my follow up appointment. NHS waiting times are dreadful at the moment. I'm so scared for what he will say, but at the same time I just want it over and done with. I need to know what's happening!

I think about my wound every waking hour of the day. It's crazy how something so small can impact your life so much. I am having some bleeding at the moment which is worrying me. I am still not sitting down and the constant laying sideways is starting to make my arms ache. Not being active is difficult, I am eating more than I usually do - partly due to boredom, and partly because I'm on some sort of quest to consume as much protein as possible? It's meant to help wound healing, I'm yet to see results!

Hopefully something good will happen soon!

 

[jodiee]

Also I just wanted to say, this site has been such a comfort to me over the past few weeks, so thank you to all those involved! I lurked for a while before I officially made a profile, I'm so glad I did. It's very easy to feel alone, but being able to see everyone else's stories has helped so much

 

[ducky]

Hello Jodie

Have you tried salt baths? I too have slow healing wound of two months. I am yet to try the bath but have heard it can be good to do.

Regards,
D

 

[jodiee]

Hello Jodie

Have you tried salt baths? I too have slow healing wound of two months. I am yet to try the bath but have heard it can be good to do.

Regards,
D

Hi, thank you for your reply! No, it's not something I've done yet, though I've seen them mentioned quite a few times on here. I'll have to add it to my ever growing list of things to ask the nurse (she must be fed up of my questions by now but I will keep going!)

Let me know if you go for it and if it works! If I end up trying it, I will be sure to post about it in one of my updates on here

 

[jodiee]

Midweek post as I'm feeling very frustrated. At my last dressing change I tried to ask the nurse a few questions. Nothing bad, just asking about a few of the tips I've heard on here and what her thoughts were. I mainly wanted to enquire about alternative dressings.

She was so annoyed that I had been doing my own research and made it clear I shouldn't been looking on the internet. I tried to explain that I would never do anything without her approval, and that was why I was asking her in the first place. Of course you shouldn't believe everything you read online, and I take everything I read on here with a pinch of salt. I know that just because something worked for someone else doesn't mean it will work for me. I just wish she could understand how desperate I am.

Anyway, alternative dressings are apparently a no go. No explanation as to why. And there is nothing else they can do for me except wait. I think I will get a second opinion. The worst they can say is no.

 

[ducky]

Hi, thank you for your reply! No, it's not something I've done yet, though I've seen them mentioned quite a few times on here. I'll have to add it to my ever growing list of things to ask the nurse (she must be fed up of my questions by now but I will keep going!)

Let me know if you go for it and if it works! If I end up trying it, I will be sure to post about it in one of my updates on here

I think I will try tomorrow.

 

[jodiee]

Weekly Update - It's Week 14 Already?

And so week 14 begins. I really didn't think this would be going on this long. But here we are...

I have had a tiny tiny amount of progress. A few millimetres. I'm sort of hesitant to believe it as I've been in this situation before. Believe it or not, my wound was once smaller than it is today. A heavy handed nurse damaged my newly grown tissue about 2 months ago by overpacking. Went from under 1cm to 2cm overnight. I constantly think about where I'd be today if that didn't happen (probably healed and out of here!).

I suppose I should count this as a small win I'm really hoping this is the start of things picking up for me.

 

[princessprin_x]

Hi Jodie,

I was where you were but have thank goodness made much progress since my last post. After sudden heavy bleeding, and my nurse probing at my wound and saying it'd gotten bigger, I made an appointment with my surgeon. Shockingly, my wound hadnt gotten bigger, and he informed me my nurse was doing more harm than good by poking at my wound and overpacking. Since then, he told me to have the wound loosely packed with hands only no probes, and I mean loosely, basically draped in the wound, and have it changed every other day rather than everyday. The change has been immense, and my mom is now packing it for me too as everytime that nurse was packing me, she was creating further trauma. Since taking these steps, my wound has dried up completely and is on its way to almost closing (touch wood). Your nurse seems very defensive and uneducated, as most are, so she could be doing more harm than good like my nurse was. Good luck!!! x

 

[jodiee]

Hi Jodie,

I was where you were but have thank goodness made much progress since my last post. After sudden heavy bleeding, and my nurse probing at my wound and saying it'd gotten bigger, I made an appointment with my surgeon. Shockingly, my wound hadnt gotten bigger, and he informed me my nurse was doing more harm than good by poking at my wound and overpacking. Since then, he told me to have the wound loosely packed with hands only no probes, and I mean loosely, basically draped in the wound, and have it changed every other day rather than everyday. The change has been immense, and my mom is now packing it for me too as everytime that nurse was packing me, she was creating further trauma. Since taking these steps, my wound has dried up completely and is on its way to almost closing (touch wood). Your nurse seems very defensive and uneducated, as most are, so she could be doing more harm than good like my nurse was. Good luck!!! x

That's wonderful news, I'm so pleased for you!!! I can't believe your nurse was doing that to you, that's awful and she should have known better. I've seen a lot of people on here choose to have their packing done by family members, and I don't blame them, it feels like a much more reliable option. My mom is a bit hesitant about learning to do my packing. She said she's worried that she'll do something wrong, but I've told her she couldn't do anymore damage than what the nurses have already done!

I have my fingers crossed that you'll be done with this soon, best of luck to you too! x

 

[coffeetime8]

Hi Jodie,

I was where you were but have thank goodness made much progress since my last post. After sudden heavy bleeding, and my nurse probing at my wound and saying it'd gotten bigger, I made an appointment with my surgeon. Shockingly, my wound hadnt gotten bigger, and he informed me my nurse was doing more harm than good by poking at my wound and overpacking. Since then, he told me to have the wound loosely packed with hands only no probes, and I mean loosely, basically draped in the wound, and have it changed every other day rather than everyday. The change has been immense, and my mom is now packing it for me too as everytime that nurse was packing me, she was creating further trauma. Since taking these steps, my wound has dried up completely and is on its way to almost closing (touch wood). Your nurse seems very defensive and uneducated, as most are, so she could be doing more harm than good like my nurse was. Good luck!!!

Amazing.news! Keep doing what you're doing I guess.

Top tip on loose packing (some nurses like to pack it tight). I have just moved to every other day dressing change so hoping that might accelerate progress as mine continues to stall.

What dressing have you been using? I started on aquacell and recently moved to cutimed sorbact.