Hiatus - The Pico-vac Dressing

The morning after we got home a Community Nurse came and applied a Pico-vac dressing to Ferretfingers wound. Absolutely tiny compared to the hospital one, and much simpler to apply

 

Firstly it has everything incorporated into it: the dressing, airtight adhesive surround and little integral tube are all in one piece.  It has to have an airtight seal to keep the dressing "on the bed of the wound" to help it 'granulate'.  The dressing is put in place and the cover taken off the adhesive film, which is pressed down.  Sometimes it isn’t airtight, but there are spare bits of sealant to go around the edge to make it so.

The tube is attached to another which goes into a tiny pump, smaller than a cigarette packet.   It is powered by two AA batteries and the pack lasts about a week.  Roll on some 'yellow stripe' and ankle socks and we're done.  The tube can go up the inside of a trouser leg, out at the waistband and into his pocket.

Every Tuesday and Friday a Community Nurse calls and changes the dressing, replacing the power pack once a week

Ferretfingers is completely mobile, goes to the gym with Emil and does upper body work.   

He’s even been away on his respite weekend.  

I take him to his day centre on Mondays and Wednesdays as they are able to give him his lunchtime antibiotics.   

I’ve briefed them on what to do if the dressing stops being airtight and the pump alarm goes off, and left some pieces of sealant to put it right.

Sadly Ouseburn Farm is out of the question until this is all over and the wound completely sealed.

The pump buzzes at irregular intervals which is disturbing at night.  Luckily we have a plush penguin pencil case to put it in which muffles the sound.  Ferretfingers tucks it into the waistband of his pyjamas if he needs to walk around.   

The head and wings on the outside make him look like some strange Frankensteinian marsupial.

 

Hiatus - Back To Normality?

Facebook Tuesday 15 April 2025 at 13.18

Ferretfingers and I finally got out of the RVI last night with a bagful of medication and discharge letter.

Below is an image of my notes to myself as to what to take when. Any medics who'd like to advise on what to give when let me know, I've gone off reading the boxes. 

In hospital they put them all in one little pot and gave them to him at mealtimes so I'm doing the same; and have brought home some little paper pots to do so.

The discharge letter says we have a 10 week supply of antibiotics so we've a way to go.

The District nurse is due to call sometime today to fit him with a new community/portable VAC machine/dressing. She will be coming twice a week to check on it and the wound - which is much healthier looking but still open.  He will also have fortnightly appointments with the consultant at the Freeman.

Obviously I won't be going to the Coven in Portsmouth next week, or to visit The Niece and The Griblings in Bournmouth afterwards.

Ferretfingers' respite weekend in May will depend, amongst other things, on whether Emil is allowed to supervise/give him his medication.

The ten weeks ends just before we are due to go away in June, so that's not 100% certain either.

I'm going to try and spend the next couple of weeks being kind to myself, get the house into some semblance of decency and pottering about the garden. Distractions welcome.

There may be blogging if the spirit moves.

Mrs Burney  Hope things go as smoothly as they can for you both x

Ms DB  Hi Ben, would something like a medibox be helpful?  You can sit down once a week to organise them.   They come in different shapes and sizes for different times of day. Dx

Mr Whyte  Yay

Mrs Lasagne  Poor Ferretfingers and poor you Ben  It’s taking a long time xxxx get well soon Ferretfingers xxxx

Paganess  Sending hugs and healing    

Ms LNR  I’m so glad Ferretfingers is home Ben. I pray you both keep well. Sending much love to you all. 

Dulcima  Perhaps a meet up at the H@H cafe with Ms Telyn ?

Henlady  Sending you both big hugs. What a time you are still both having.   

Poor Ferretfingers, he must be so uncomfortable.  Have you cabin fever with being in hospital so long?  It’s so nice to be home again though.  Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Bentonbag  It got to the point where I just longed to be in my own home, surrounded by my own things and do ordinary stuff like make myself a cup of coffee.  

Ms Exlibris  So glad you're home. It's been a long haul. I hope the home care isn't too stressful and you can get some rest xxx

Woolerwoman  There'll be such a lot for you to do so I hope you get some time off now and again.  I had a vacuum thing on my leg for 6 weeks - it does restrict mobility considerably! Does Ferretfingers need a downstairs bed?  At least you'll be able to get a coffee when you want one and get out into the garden - as you say.  Sending love and good wishes.xxxx

Ms Saints  Just take it slow and steady.