AIBU - Is it fair for me to live like this?

loopyloo

It might be more painful because it's healing? The nerve tissues are regenerating??
So pleased it looks better.
How's your general health ?
Taking some vit c might help.

Taking some vit c might help

And D and zinc.

I know when I had a knee operation I got some very strange pains a while afterwards, when the wound had healed, sudden sharp jabbing pains which I assumed were nerves ever-growing and coming to life!

Nerve ends

There will be a consultant and his team who deal only with pain relief, and you should ask for a referral there because, to date, nothing has helped you.

Sorry, I have been out of the business for too long to give you advice re non-stick dressings.

Around Easter, I had both legs dressed, with the dressings secured in place using a stockinette-type Tubigrip and a light Tubigrip from my toes to below my knees. This was done x3 a week, and I had no problems. I would be capable of doing the dressings, but being partially sighted, that was then out of the question. I had itchiness but no pain. I was impressed because if one dressing did not work, it was changed immediately.

Hello Ferry - I can’t tell you sorry I am about all you’re going through. You’ve had an amazing response and lots of advice and support. Have you come across iodine dressings for leg ulcers? Some years ago my son had a horrible accident that needed leg dressings changed daily. When he came home the district nurse started to use iodine dressings and the way it cleaned up the wound and started healing was nothing short of amazing. Contrary to what you would expect 😳 they don’t sting!

Yes, DH had iodine patches from the hospital, they are good. He said they didn't sting. I might try to buy some because he's always doing something!

It's called Inadine.

DD mentioned Manuka honey to aid good wound healing too.

Just let you know that I'm making note of all your suggestions for dressings and pain relief and will go armed to the vascular nurse tomorrow. Thank you all 😊

I honestly don’t know what to say, you’ve been treated appallingly badly. So I’ll just say all the best for tomorrow, we’re all behind you!

Today's update -

Just got home from seeing the vascular nurse. True to form as my luck is going at the moment, hospital transport picked me up at 9, got me to the hospital at 10 and I saw the nurse at around 10.30. However, they forgot to pick me up so I was sitting there for over 3 hours waiting. But I did get a free lunch and read a lot of my book!

She was very thorough and very kind. She answered all my questions clearly and knowledgeably and explained everything she was doing.

My GP had sent her a photo of my leg when he expedited the appointment a couple of weeks back. She said the improvement since then was excellent. Wounds are healing well and drying up nicely. She was happy with circulation and blood pressure.

So we talked about why my leg is still very painful. It could be the discharge still burning back into my skin or it could be neuropathic. It was a little easier during the night and not too bad today - so that could either be the discharge subsiding or the cumulative effect of the morphine and the antibiotics. So that's really for me to hold off the morphine and see what it's like.

It was quite a serious wound so if it is neuropathic I've just got to be patient through the healing process.

And whilst I was there I had a call from the wound clinic asking me when I could attend for a first appointment. Vascular nurse said this would be her preferred route, she said they're very good at my local clinic.

I don't know if I'm going to get a dressing change this weekend as I haven't yet been able to get through to my surgery to see if they have remembered to refer me and if they have, whether a District Nurse is actually going to come. Having said that, the vascular nurse said she doesn't think it needs to be dressed every day now. So as long as her dressings stay on and it stays reasonably dry, I should be ok for Monday.

So a positive day, I just hope this is the start of a better treatment regime and it really is starting to heal properly now.

I'm concentrating on getting this leg better right now. When my head is in a better space I shall start considering how I have been let down by the surgery - should I have been referred to vascular much earlier - should they have left me sitting in infected dressings for 4 days at a time when I first started going - how could they "lose" a patient's prescribed medication - why is a Practice Nurse not reading patient's notes prior to treatment, etc. But that's for later.

I’ve been watching for your update ferry23 and happy to hear you’ve had a positive visit with the vascular nurse. It sounds like you are moving in the right direction at last. I hope your progress and good healing continues 💐

That sounds much more positive ferry23!
At least those dealing with you now seem to know what they're doing but you should have been referred ages ago. Your surgery does sound incompetent but, as you say, that's for later.

I can't remember how you got the wound in the first place but, if the nerves were damaged, perhaps that's why you're getting pain but the vascular nurse seems to be on to it now, thankfully.

I hope you have a comfirtable, pain-free weekend.

Thanks for this update ferry.
So pleased everything is moving in the right direction.

I hope the weekend passes with minimal pain and the dressing stays dry.
Please do keep us informed as to your progress.

That all sounds quite positive Ferry and certainly a whole lot better than it was a few weeks ago. One point, which I may have mentioned before, have you been taking photos, including when the dressings were falling into a soggy heap as you described in your OP? It's all evidence for when you are feeling up to making an official complaint.

Meantime I hope today is the beginning of proper treatment and healing. Have a good weekend - or at least a better one.

Yes, I took photos. Probably should have taken more, but got it at it's worst.

Pleased to hear more positive news ferry23 and wishing you a reasonably comfortable weekend. 🤞💐

Good news indeed, ferry.

All of this should have started 7 months ago but at last you appear to be on the right track.

I am hoping you will have a reasonably pain-free weekend with no major traumas.

Best wishes for a much more comfortable and happier weekend.

I am quietly optimistic 🤞

Sounds so much more positive ferry. Sleep well

Yes, hope you have a relatively pain free weekend..and catch up on some sleep that you’ve been missing…💐

Good news, but the negligence factor can’t be forgotten, it’s a wonder you don’t have sepsis.
A relief that at last you’re getting the right treatment.😃

I’m so glad to have your update Ferry and really hoping that having been reassured by this competent and sympathetic nurse has made things easier in your mind. I would have been climbing the walls. I really hope you’re having a good (ish) weekend, it’s been awful for you. Take care.

Hi everyone.

Just a little update so as I don't bore you all to tears!

As I thought, my surgery hadn't referred me for weekend dressing change with District Nurse. I phoned myself and a lovely DN has just been out. She said it's definitely healing well. It wasn't dry but very little discharge, especially since dressing wasn't changed yesterday.

I mentioned to her that I'm hoping to get an appointment at the wound clinic which she said was definitely the best route for me. As luck would have it (which is unusual for me lately!) one of the wound specialist nurses is on the District Nurse round today and within minutes of DN leaving, I received a phone call and I'm booked at wound clinic for this Tuesday. . Along with hospital transport.

DN couldn't understand why weekend dressing changes hadn't been requested months ago - not at this late stage. She seemed a bit shocked when I told her that I had to find out and push for a referral myself. Surgery doesn't seem to be at all clear about referrals to other services - another issue to be bring up a little down the line.

I'm still in some pain but less frequently and not so intense. Haven't taken any morphine since Friday evening, just relying on paracetamol now with another 5 days of antibiotics to go.

I'm cautiously seeing a little chink of light at the end of a long tunnel.

So pleased to read that. You must be relieved progress at last. Have a lovely sunday.