Fwd: [QUAD-L] Pressure wound advice

[Larry Willis]

I sleep on my left side..it is my only option. Of course, I am constantly 
fighting sores on my hip bone. I fight it by using a lightly inflated donut. 
Too much air is painful and too little makes it useless. I know it is probably 
wrecking my spine, but I have no other solution.

Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:

> Resent-From: quad-list@eskimo.com
> From: Don Smith 
> Date: May 18, 2017 at 3:56:31 AM EDT
> To: bmatt...@earthlink.net
> Cc: quad-list@eskimo.com
> Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Pressure wound advice
> 
> I agree 150% with what at Wheelchair  said, wound vacs are great at healing, 
> just make sure your wife and caregivers learn how to trouble shot it and keep 
> any extra clear adhesive drape in case a leak occurs.  Also  the KCI Wound 
> vacs are much better then any others.
> 
>> On Wed, May 17, 2017 at 6:29 PM,  wrote:
>> Hiya Ben! An open wound should be treated with the utmost respect, and 
>> never... ever be taken lightly. I hope you are being service by a certified 
>> Wound Care Clinic/Specialist. Make sure your Nurse is a Certified Wound 
>> Nurse and knows how to use a smart phone to take pictures every day or every 
>> other day and send them to your Medical Wound Doctor.  I'm sure by now, your 
>> wound has been de-breeded and measured before the wound vac was applied.  
>> Wound Vacs can be a pain in your butt, but you know that already.  If you 
>> have an aid, have them watch what is done, so they can know what to do if 
>> tubes to the vac become tangled or your alarm goes off.  How many pounds of 
>> Vac, are you using?  An air mattress is most important and laying on your 
>> side at night time. I truly hope you don't smoke, as that will delay the 
>> healing process.
>> Do well my friend.
>> Best Wishes
>>  
>> In a message dated 5/17/2017 7:41:41 P.M. Central Daylight Time, 
>> bmatt...@earthlink.net writes:
>> I have a Stage 4 pressure wound on my tailbone –  my first ever!  Doc is 
>> recommending a Wound Vac and perhaps a "low air loss" bed mattress.  Anybody 
>> have any experience with either? How am I going to function witha Wound 
>> Vac attached to my butt? Do they work quickly?   Also,I don't have a 
>> hospital bed –  I share a regular queen-size mattress with my wife – so I'm 
>> not eager to make my bedroom into a hospital room. What sort of beds do you 
>> all use? Maybe a Roho overlay would be good enough?
>> Thanks for your thoughts.
>> Best,
>> Ben  (SMA quad, 54 years old)
> 

Re: [QUAD-L] Re: Pressure wound advice

[wheelchair]

Are you a candidate for having your butt, pressure mapped, just to be sure  
its not your chair or the cushion.
Best Wishes
 
 
In a message dated 5/18/2017 6:03:37 P.M. Central Daylight Time,  
bmatt...@earthlink.net writes:

Thanks, everyone, for your comments and  feedback.  It's interesting how 
different people have very different  experiences.  I don't yet have the Wound 
VAC but should have it soon.  Oddly, sitting in my chair does not seem to 
be the cause of the pressure  wound.  So maybe it's my bed.  I find it hard 
to breathe when I lie  on my side very long, hope a different mattress will 
help.  Frustrating,  not knowing the cause or the best solution.  But you all 
give me hope  that there WILL BE a solution, eventually.  Peace!

Re: [QUAD-L] Re: Pressure wound advice

[Lori Michaelson]

Yes, I forgot to mention in my post what Larry just did... it is extremely
difficult to keep the wound vac on... even when laying perfectly still. Any
little movement will make the alarm go off because the seal is breaking
loose. It was my husband who had to be on top of that all the time.

The event that stuck out to me the most was that since the wound vac sucks
out any bad stuff that might be in the wound... it did very little of that
to me as the one thing I COULD see was some of the tubing. But what I could
see was a fluorescent neon green color of whatever was in my wound was
being sucked out so I guess I must be part Martian. :-)

On Thu, May 18, 2017 at 6:01 PM, Larry Willis 
wrote:

> Pressure sores on my butt have been an issue for years. I have used the
> wound VAC more than once. The most difficult part for me was maintaining a
> tight seal. The contours of the butt and the tailbone are not conducive to
> a tight seal. The wound vac is very effective, though. So is good nutrition
> and heavy doses of protein as someone has already said. God bless and good
> luck.
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> *Resent-From:* quad-list@eskimo.com
> *From:* "Kay at Amplified Agility" 
> *Date:* May 18, 2017 at 7:13:00 PM EDT
> *To:* "'Ben Mattlin'" , 
> *Subject:* *RE: [QUAD-L] Re: Pressure wound advice*
>
> Hi Ben –
>
>
>
> I have seen the replies and just want to chime in with a “remember that
> wounds are an inside out and outside in” issue…meaning gut health, presence
> or not of “opportunistic critters” in the gut, nutritional status etc. are
> really important.  Also, when you have a wound as you are describing you
> need considerably more protein and other micronutrients to facilitate
> healing as well….I hope you have a knowledgeable nutritionist on your team.
>
>
>
> We deal with this a lot…
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> 
>
> *Kay Lathrop*
> Program Director, Amplified Agility, LLC
>
> 1-619-501-3752 | www.amplifiedagility.com |
> 4275 Executive Square, Suite 200 La Jolla, CA 92037
>
> [image:
> https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.wisestamp.com/icons_32/facebook.png]
>  [image:
> https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.wisestamp.com/icons_32/linkedin.png]
>  [image:
> https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.wisestamp.com/icons_32/twitter.png]
> 
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Ben Mattlin [mailto:bmatt...@earthlink.net
> ]
> *Sent:* Thursday, May 18, 2017 4:04 PM
> *To:* quad-list@eskimo.com
> *Subject:* [QUAD-L] Re: Pressure wound advice
>
>
>
> Thanks, everyone, for your comments and feedback.  It's interesting how
> different people have very different experiences.  I don't yet have the
> Wound VAC but should have it soon.  Oddly, sitting in my chair does not
> seem to be the cause of the pressure wound.  So maybe it's my bed.  I find
> it hard to breathe when I lie on my side very long, hope a different
> mattress will help.  Frustrating, not knowing the cause or the best
> solution.  But you all give me hope that there WILL BE a solution,
> eventually.  Peace!
>
>


-- 
"Petting, scratching and cuddling a dog could be soothing to the mind and
heart and deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer." ~Dean
Koontz

Re: [QUAD-L] Re: Pressure wound advice

[Lori Michaelson]

I have had 2 Stage III wounds and, unfortunately, it started out as
pressure but was exacerbated by the laziness of the health care
professionals involved. I.e. not getting a script off fast enough for a new
wheelchair cushion in 2009 and a home health agency nurse infecting that
wound which made it go out of control and therefore took a long long long
time healing.

Anyway, in 2004 I had one on my left ischial tuberocity (but bone) and I
was put on the KCI Wound Vac. We never knew what caused that wound but it
wasn't pressure. The Wound Vac cut my wound in the half over night (pretty
much literally) and then it healed rather quickly (albeit six months). My
only insurance was Medicare and Medicare would only pay for the wound vac
for one month. The rest of the time I had to stay off of it and began
drinking protein drinks. HOWEVER, thanks to my husband's medical knowledge
he would not let me drink one of those big protein jars or cans every
single day. I asked him why and he said "It will ruin your kidneys." Not in
those exact words but pretty much.

I have always used a rotating air mattress and, because of caregiving, have
had to be in a hospital bed. Well, not the entire time because other times
I have slept on a waffle air mattress or a cushion/gel mattress. But,
especially with my last Stage III wound that began in 2009 and having to
spend a lot of time in one position... I have been on the rotating air
mattress all the time.

I agree with all the advice given as well. When I did not want to stay off
the "small" wound that started in 2009 I got up 5 hours every day but, in
hindsight, that was stupid and it cost me more than words can say. In other
words, Kay described wounds very well. Prior to 2010 I never knew what
"shearing" was and ever since getting that wound and having it turn into a
Stage III wound... I soon learned that every bump I go over with my
wheelchair or in my van... the bone underneath wants to push through the
compromised skin so we have to stay on top of it all the time or it will
break open again and again and again which it has... even with protective
practices from my wound care doctor. If the bone wants to break through
from going over an unexpected good bump... it will.

Get on top of it ASAP and then stay off of it. It's a real pain in the ass
(pardon the pun) but you have to do what you have to do. Having a Stage IV
makes things even more vulnerable.

All my best, ~Lori

On Thu, May 18, 2017 at 4:13 PM, Kay at Amplified Agility <
k...@amplifiedagility.com> wrote:

> Hi Ben –
>
>
>
> I have seen the replies and just want to chime in with a “remember that
> wounds are an inside out and outside in” issue…meaning gut health, presence
> or not of “opportunistic critters” in the gut, nutritional status etc. are
> really important.  Also, when you have a wound as you are describing you
> need considerably more protein and other micronutrients to facilitate
> healing as well….I hope you have a knowledgeable nutritionist on your team.
>
>
>
> We deal with this a lot…
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> [image: photo]
>
> *Kay Lathrop*
> Program Director, Amplified Agility, LLC
>
> 1-619-501-3752 | www.amplifiedagility.com |
> 4275 Executive Square, Suite 200 La Jolla, CA 92037
>
> [image:
> https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.wisestamp.com/icons_32/facebook.png]
>  [image:
> https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.wisestamp.com/icons_32/linkedin.png]
>  [image:
> https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.wisestamp.com/icons_32/twitter.png]
> 
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Ben Mattlin [mailto:bmatt...@earthlink.net]
> *Sent:* Thursday, May 18, 2017 4:04 PM
> *To:* quad-list@eskimo.com
> *Subject:* [QUAD-L] Re: Pressure wound advice
>
>
>
> Thanks, everyone, for your comments and feedback.  It's interesting how
> different people have very different experiences.  I don't yet have the
> Wound VAC but should have it soon.  Oddly, sitting in my chair does not
> seem to be the cause of the pressure wound.  So maybe it's my bed.  I find
> it hard to breathe when I lie on my side very long, hope a different
> mattress will help.  Frustrating, not knowing the cause or the best
> solution.  But you all give me hope that there WILL BE a solution,
> eventually.  Peace!
>



-- 
"Petting, scratching and cuddling a dog could be soothing to the mind and
heart and deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer." ~Dean
Koontz

Fwd: [QUAD-L] Re: Pressure wound advice

[Larry Willis]

Pressure sores on my butt have been an issue for years. I have used the wound 
VAC more than once. The most difficult part for me was maintaining a tight 
seal. The contours of the butt and the tailbone are not conducive to a tight 
seal. The wound vac is very effective, though. So is good nutrition and heavy 
doses of protein as someone has already said. God bless and good luck.

Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:

> Resent-From: quad-list@eskimo.com
> From: "Kay at Amplified Agility" 
> Date: May 18, 2017 at 7:13:00 PM EDT
> To: "'Ben Mattlin'" , 
> Subject: RE: [QUAD-L] Re: Pressure wound advice
> 
> Hi Ben –
>  
> I have seen the replies and just want to chime in with a “remember that 
> wounds are an inside out and outside in” issue…meaning gut health, presence 
> or not of “opportunistic critters” in the gut, nutritional status etc. are 
> really important.  Also, when you have a wound as you are describing you need 
> considerably more protein and other micronutrients to facilitate healing as 
> well….I hope you have a knowledgeable nutritionist on your team.
>  
> We deal with this a lot…
>  
>  
>  
> 
> Kay Lathrop
> Program Director, Amplified Agility, LLC
> 1-619-501-3752 | www.amplifiedagility.com |
> 4275 Executive Square, Suite 200 La Jolla, CA 92037 
>   
>  
>  
> From: Ben Mattlin [mailto:bmatt...@earthlink.net] 
> Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2017 4:04 PM
> To: quad-list@eskimo.com
> Subject: [QUAD-L] Re: Pressure wound advice
>  
> Thanks, everyone, for your comments and feedback.  It's interesting how 
> different people have very different experiences.  I don't yet have the Wound 
> VAC but should have it soon.  Oddly, sitting in my chair does not seem to be 
> the cause of the pressure wound.  So maybe it's my bed.  I find it hard to 
> breathe when I lie on my side very long, hope a different mattress will help. 
>  Frustrating, not knowing the cause or the best solution.  But you all give 
> me hope that there WILL BE a solution, eventually.  Peace!

RE: [QUAD-L] Re: Pressure wound advice

[Kay at Amplified Agility]

Hi Ben – 

 

I have seen the replies and just want to chime in with a “remember that wounds 
are an inside out and outside in” issue…meaning gut health, presence or not of 
“opportunistic critters” in the gut, nutritional status etc. are really 
important.  Also, when you have a wound as you are describing you need 
considerably more protein and other micronutrients to facilitate healing as 
well….I hope you have a knowledgeable nutritionist on your team.

 

We deal with this a lot…

 

 

 


photo


Kay Lathrop
Program Director, Amplified Agility, LLC 


  1-619-501-3752 |   
www.amplifiedagility.com |
4275 Executive Square, Suite 200 La Jolla, CA 92037 


  
https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.wisestamp.com/icons_32/facebook.png  
 
https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.wisestamp.com/icons_32/linkedin.png  
 
https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.wisestamp.com/icons_32/twitter.png

 

 

From: Ben Mattlin [mailto:bmatt...@earthlink.net] 
Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2017 4:04 PM
To: quad-list@eskimo.com
Subject: [QUAD-L] Re: Pressure wound advice

 

Thanks, everyone, for your comments and feedback.  It's interesting how 
different people have very different experiences.  I don't yet have the Wound 
VAC but should have it soon.  Oddly, sitting in my chair does not seem to be 
the cause of the pressure wound.  So maybe it's my bed.  I find it hard to 
breathe when I lie on my side very long, hope a different mattress will help.  
Frustrating, not knowing the cause or the best solution.  But you all give me 
hope that there WILL BE a solution, eventually.  Peace!

[QUAD-L] Re: Pressure wound advice

[Ben Mattlin]

Thanks, everyone, for your comments and feedback.  It's interesting how different people have very different experiences.  I don't yet have the Wound VAC but should have it soon.  Oddly, sitting in my chair does not seem to be the cause of the pressure wound.  So maybe it's my bed.  I find it hard to breathe when I lie on my side very long, hope a different mattress will help.  Frustrating, not knowing the cause or the best solution.  But you all give me hope that there WILL BE a solution, eventually.  Peace!

[QUAD-L] Google Home - Hands-free calling

[Jim Lubin]

https://www.cnet.com/news/google-home-gets-a-slew-of-new-features/
​

​
Hands-free calling
Again, like Amazon, Google is introducing hands-free calling
. Unlike the Echo,
though, the Home will be able to call phones
. For now, Google is not allowing
users to call other Home devices, which it says is a privacy breach -- a
shot at Amazon's feature
,
which *does* allow Echo-to-Echo calling, and *doesn't* allow users to block
calls. One extra benefit: If you live in the US or Canada, phone calls made
from the Google Home will be free.
​

RE: [QUAD-L] Pressure wound advice

[Danny Espinoza]

I’ve got a circulating low air loss air mattress hospital bed twin sized that 
keeps me from getting both pressure sores and women “joking”
-Danny

 

From: Nichole Rohling [mailto:zoocr...@windstream.net] 
Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2017 9:49 AM
To: 'Ben Mattlin' ; quad-list@eskimo.com
Subject: RE: [QUAD-L] Pressure wound advice

 

I have an air bed mattress that lays on top of a regular bed but recently had 
the beginning of a sore on my tailbone. We took foam from a mattress overlay 
and double layered it. We cut a circle out of it and placed under me at night 
so there is no pressure at all on the tailbone. It healed rather quickly.

 

Nicki

 

From: Ben Mattlin [mailto:bmatt...@earthlink.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2017 7:41 PM
To: quad-list@eskimo.com  
Subject: [QUAD-L] Pressure wound advice

 

I have a Stage 4 pressure wound on my tailbone –  my first ever!  Doc is 
recommending a Wound Vac and perhaps a "low air loss" bed mattress.  Anybody 
have any experience with either? How am I going to function with a Wound Vac 
attached to my butt? Do they work quickly?   Also,I don't have a hospital bed – 
 I share a regular queen-size mattress with my wife – so I'm not eager to make 
my bedroom into a hospital room. What sort of beds do you all use? Maybe a Roho 
overlay would be good enough?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Best,
Ben  (SMA quad, 54 years old)

RE: [QUAD-L] Pressure wound advice

[Nichole Rohling]

I have an air bed mattress that lays on top of a regular bed but recently had 
the beginning of a sore on my tailbone. We took foam from a mattress overlay 
and double layered it. We cut a circle out of it and placed under me at night 
so there is no pressure at all on the tailbone. It healed rather quickly.

 

Nicki

 

From: Ben Mattlin [mailto:bmatt...@earthlink.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2017 7:41 PM
To: quad-list@eskimo.com
Subject: [QUAD-L] Pressure wound advice

 

I have a Stage 4 pressure wound on my tailbone –  my first ever!  Doc is 
recommending a Wound Vac and perhaps a "low air loss" bed mattress.  Anybody 
have any experience with either? How am I going to function with a Wound Vac 
attached to my butt? Do they work quickly?   Also,I don't have a hospital bed – 
 I share a regular queen-size mattress with my wife – so I'm not eager to make 
my bedroom into a hospital room. What sort of beds do you all use? Maybe a Roho 
overlay would be good enough?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Best,
Ben  (SMA quad, 54 years old)

Re: [QUAD-L] Pressure wound advice

[Don Smith]

I agree 150% with what at Wheelchair  said, wound vacs are great at
healing, just make sure your wife and caregivers learn how to trouble shot
it and keep any extra clear adhesive drape in case a leak occurs.  Also
the KCI Wound vacs are much better then any others.

On Wed, May 17, 2017 at 6:29 PM,  wrote:

> Hiya Ben! An open wound should be treated with the utmost respect, and
> never... ever be taken lightly. I hope you are being service by a certified
> Wound Care Clinic/Specialist. Make sure your Nurse is a Certified Wound
> Nurse and knows how to use a smart phone to take pictures every day or
> every other day and send them to your Medical Wound Doctor.  I'm sure by
> now, your wound has been de-breeded and measured before the wound vac was
> applied.  Wound Vacs can be a pain in your butt, but you know that
> already.  If you have an aid, have them watch what is done, so they can
> know what to do if tubes to the vac become tangled or your alarm goes off.
> How many pounds of Vac, are you using?  An air mattress is most important
> and laying on your side at night time. I truly hope you don't smoke, as
> that will delay the healing process.
> Do well my friend.
> Best Wishes
>
> In a message dated 5/17/2017 7:41:41 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
> bmatt...@earthlink.net writes:
>
> I have a Stage 4 pressure wound on my tailbone –  my first ever!  Doc is
> recommending a Wound Vac and perhaps a "low air loss" bed mattress.
>  Anybody have any experience with either? How am I going to function with a
> Wound Vac attached to my butt? Do they work quickly?   Also,I don't have a
> hospital bed –  I share a regular queen-size mattress with my wife – so I'm
> not eager to make my bedroom into a hospital room. What sort of beds do you
> all use? Maybe a Roho overlay would be good enough?
> Thanks for your thoughts.
> Best,
> Ben  (SMA quad, 54 years old)
>
>