Guest guest Posted December 28, 2001 Report Share Posted December 28, 2001 Jane, How about a bath...............and use of one of those shower hose sprays.............then you can use one hand and arm............and keep the other side covered with some glad wrap..........just incase of an accidental spray. I found sitting in the tub.........much easier when it came to having things stay dry. I had to do that with my foot surgery, dislocated elbow in a cast - (that went from my armpit to my fingers), and my five picc lines........... ConnieK nwnj Leave no stone unturned.......and ask questions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2001 Report Share Posted December 30, 2001 In a message dated 12/30/01 9:30:11 AM, toil_for_lyme@... writes: << They are about 4X4 or 4X6 and they are plastic-backed to keep from leaking moisture and/or topical medications through a wound area to the clothes. I would use one for showering, then change it after a shower and use a new one to keep the port covered (loosely) during the day. Glad to hear your surgery went well, and that you didn't have to even have anesthesia! That is pretty brave! Are you doing the infusions yourself okay by now? >> Hi Rose The nurse and doctors are really being strict about my having a sterile dressing. I have to call if the dressing becomes loose or wet. On Thursday night I must have tossed and turned like crazy, because when I woke up the dressing was no longer against my skin and a bit of blood escaped. I called, and the nurse came by to do a dressing change. I wonder if they are being so cautious now because the site is not yet healed. There are sterile dressing kits in my bag of IV goodies, but they told me NOT to change the dressing myself. I think it would be difficult for me to change the dressing anyway, because when I had my cervical spine surgery I lost some up and down mobility. I had a local anesthetic for the procedure. They had a surgical drape over me, so I really couldn't see what they were doing. My veins are so crappy I figured I was better of without them poking around to put in an IV for sedation. I also didn't have a ride home, so I preferred to be able to drive myself. It is amazing how " brave " one can be when the motivation is high enough <g> I am becoming an infusion expert. LOL It isn't really that difficult to do, just a lot of steps to remember. I have a " double " , so the line we aren't using right now also needs to be flushed with heparin. It is kind of cool how the infusion syringes screw into the tubes. I am going to do the infusions after work instead of in the mornings. I am afraid that I'll make mistakes if I try to do it before work. You can tell that I am planning on feeling good enough to go to work as usual. It was a good idea to start the process while on vacation. May 2002 be a Healthier and Happier year for All! Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2001 Report Share Posted December 30, 2001 Hi Jane, Ooh, it's been a few years for me...trying to remember. I know I had some large gauze plastic-backed bandage pads. I think I tacked them down with adhesive tape for extra security during a shower. They are about 4X4 or 4X6 and they are plastic-backed to keep from leaking moisture and/or topical medications through a wound area to the clothes. I would use one for showering, then change it after a shower and use a new one to keep the port covered (loosely) during the day. Glad to hear your surgery went well, and that you didn't have to even have anesthesia! That is pretty brave! Are you doing the infusions yourself okay by now? Love ya, Rose ======== From: jvspl@... Hello Again I have yet another question for those of you that have or have had a Hickman Catheter Port. Has anyone found a really good way to cover the area to keep it dry while showering? I am dying to take a shower, but I am afraid I'll get the dressing wet. Thanks in advance! Jane T.O.I.L. for Lyme! T=Teach tolerance; O=Overcome ignorance; I=Initiate insurance reform; L=Labor for Lyme literacy *Websites* http://www.angelfire.com/tx3/RoseWriter or http://www.angelfire.com/biz/romarkaraoke/james.html --------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2001 Report Share Posted December 30, 2001 Hi Jane, Glad to hear you're planning on getting back to work this week! You must be doing pretty well after the surgery. That's good to hear. I had to wait about 2 or 3 days before I could change the dressings myself or take a shower. (They don't want any infections cropping up from the incision/port site, so it's pretty important to follow those directions.) After that, I used the & Sterile Gauze sponges (4X4 inches), which can be used to cover a wound or to apply topical medications or clean wounds (they're sterile). You sure don't want to get it wet, so maybe baths would be best until you can start changing the dressings yourself. I know it can be a bit difficult to see the area...I had to look in the mirror to do all this because my neck is not that flexible either. That's another reason I was scared to do the infusions myself. I really don't know how I would have done it, although I'm sure would have been able to do it for me. He does my intramuscular injections when I'm on that regimen. I could learn to do it, too, but I'm chicken! Hope everything continues to go well for you! Love ya, Rose JVSPL@... wrote: Hi Rose The nurse and doctors are really being strict about my having a sterile dressing. I have to call if the dressing becomes loose or wet. On Thursday night I must have tossed and turned like crazy, because when I woke up the dressing was no longer against my skin and a bit of blood escaped. I called, and the nurse came by to do a dressing change. I wonder if they are being so cautious now because the site is not yet healed. There are sterile dressing kits in my bag of IV goodies, but they told me NOT to change the dressing myself. I think it would be difficult for me to change the dressing anyway, because when I had my cervical spine surgery I lost some up and down mobility. I had a local anesthetic for the procedure. They had a surgical drape over me, so I really couldn't see what they were doing. My veins are so crappy I figured I was better of without them poking around to put in an IV for sedation. I also didn't have a ride home, so I preferred to be able to drive myself. It is amazing how " brave " one can be when the motivation is high enough I am becoming an infusion expert. LOL It isn't really that difficult to do, just a lot of steps to remember. I have a " double " , so the line we aren't using right now also needs to be flushed with heparin. It is kind of cool how the infusion syringes screw into the tubes. I am going to do the infusions after work instead of in the mornings. I am afraid that I'll make mistakes if I try to do it before work. You can tell that I am planning on feeling good enough to go to work as usual. It was a good idea to start the process while on vacation. May 2002 be a Healthier and Happier year for All! Jane T.O.I.L. for Lyme! T=Teach tolerance; O=Overcome ignorance; I=Initiate insurance reform; L=Labor for Lyme literacy *Websites* http://www.angelfire.com/tx3/RoseWriter or http://www.angelfire.com/biz/romarkaraoke/james.html --------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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