Open wound care in last months of life

Deborah120

My mom is suffering with an enormous open wound on her right breast. It has slowly destroyed her breast and covers that area and more. It's rebandaged every other day by the nurses, and is so painful that she takes pain med before so she can endure the bandaging. Otherwise she is uncomfortable but ok. She never complains. I am wondering if there is a better way to cope with this in the last few months of her life. Thank you, everyone.

juliaanna

Deborah, so sorry to hear about your mom.



I know that some surgeons use a system that bathes the tissue after a mastectomy with lidocaine. They insert very small needles under the skin and a consistent dose is released over the tissue. There is a bag of solution that is worn and it lasts about three days. I don't know if it could be adapted for your mom but you might ask. Ask the wound care nurse or her breast surgeon. Is she being seen by a nurse who specializes in wound care?



Hope this might help. My prayers are with your mom, you and her loved ones.

Deborah120

Thanks, Juliaanna, for this idea. Yes, the wound nurse is coming by on Wednesday, tomorrow, and I will mention the lidocaine. I appreciate your response. Every little bit helps.



Thank you,

Deborah

juliaanna

Deborah,



Bon has a good idea. I've used it on a resident that had slow healing wound on his head that had been melanoma. It helped and we only had to change it every 5-7 days. The kind we used came on a sheet so we just cut it to fit the wound. Maybe with this your mom won't have to have so many dressing changes..