Back to the emergency room

Tuesday G's incision started to open up again.

We saw it that evening when I changed the bandaged, so I went to Wallgreen's and bought some
"butterfly" bandages, in the hopes of closing it.

But of course it didn't really work, because it probably opened up due to infection.

G had dialysis on Wed., and he had the PA look at the incision, which by then looked worse, so after
dialysis we called the Dr. office. We didn't get a call back, but we knew we would be told to go to the
emergency room, which we did.

Once again3 emergency room people looked at it, before they called one of the residents who works
for the surgeon.

He packed it with some cotton, gave us a script for antibiotics, and told us the Dr. wanted to see us in
his office the next day. The surgeon wasn't in the hospital, he had some appointment himself.

Also, G was to have cataract surgery today, but the resident told us that would not be a good idea
due to possible infection. So, we had to cancel the surgery.

Bummer.

Today we went to the surgeon's office, they looked at it, it doesn't look infected now, but decided not
to stitch it up. It's a long story, but they will let it heal up by putting cotton in it every day, washing it,
etc. (which I get to do). It's certainly better than them insisting G be admitted to the hospital.

G already had an appointment next Monday to see the surgeon, so they will recheck it then.

At least we caught the infection in time. I forgot to ask if they got the results back from the blood work,
to check the white blood count. Maybe I should call the nurse now and ask her to check.

Worrying about Incision

G had surgery a little over a week ago. It was a 4 hour surgery in his right upper leg. He has 1 incision about a foot long from his knee up the inner side of his thigh. Then an incision about 6 inches long across the very top of the leg, and then one little incision on the top of his thigh.

They showed me how to change the bandage before he left the hospital, and gave me supplies. The dressing is to be changed every day, and every day I get a little bit better at applying the bandages. It's really quite easy, with no-stick pads, some paper tape, and then a couple of stretchy net tubes which holds everything in place.

However, yesterday G said that his incision area was hurting. That really got me worried, because the last incision got infected.

As I have no medical training, I am a bit unsure of what to look for, what is normal, etc. I always spray the incision with the cleanser they gave us.

I'm still not sure what caused G the pain. From what I can tell everything looks basically OK.

He goes back to the surgeon on Friday, so I think everything will be OK until then.

On another note, 2 days ago he said "bring me some (couldn't remember word)...tweezers". I brought him some, and he showed me a stitch that had come out of this arm where the previous surgery had been performed (the one that got infected). Apparently a stitch had worked it's way out. So guess they didn't use that material that dissolves, and probably the reason for the infection were stitches that had not been removed.

He tried to pull it out,then I tried to pull it out, then I saw there was a loop, so I cut it, and then pulled out the stitch. There was blood, which G immediately blotted, I ran for a gauze pad, and then some strong tape.

Good thing we have lots of supplies in the house.