Wound Care Services Experience
I was diagnosed with HS after an incision and drainage surgery in my groin and buttocks areas back a few months ago. I was having trouble with an abscess that prevented me from sitting due the pain. The two wounds wouldn't heal or recurred and my doctor has me going to the wound care facilities at my local hospital twice a week. They clean the wounds, measure tracting, do debridements(if necessary) and pack the wounds with collagen/some kind of padding. It can be pretty painful / unpleasant to deal with sometimes due to the nature of the locations of the wounds.
Has anyone else been through this or has any tips? I don't see the wound care centers discussed a lot on here.
Hi zmac! Before I was diagnosed with HS, I had a lesion on my left buttock in a spot that was really difficult for me to reach, and I was just miserable. I had to have it packed for me every day by someone else, especially the first week. It was raw. I grow scar tissue faster than most people (not keloids, but internal scar tissue), so my doc ended up busting up my wound with the stick end of a medical q-tip - without any kind of numbing or anesthesia. I think he took a certain amount of joy doing that. I, on the other hand, was sweating profusely and shaking because he just made hamburger out of my backside. Anyway, the way that it was explained to me is that you really do want that packing in there and you want to keep it raw for a long time, because you are encouraging the granulomas to form and eventually grow an actual replacement of skin, rather than leaving a divot or hole there. The surgeon's nurse gave me some leftover liquid lidocaine to drip on it to help with the pain. Unfortunately, my body doesn't really do anything with lidocaine, but it was a nice gesture, nonetheless.
I do see wound care centers discussed on Facebook groups. I haven't had to use one in tandem with my surgery, but I really do think it will depend upon what you need it for.
I apologize that I don't have any words of wisdom, except to say that whenever you are ready, start counting down to the day of freedom from the bandages. It may feel like forever, but that day will come. ~Chelsea (Team Member)
