Retirement is a week filled with Saturdays and Sundays interrupted only occasionally by a holiday.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Nurse…Change the Dressing

Hubby continues to heal although, quite frankly, he looked worse yesterday than on surgery day. The tissue around his eye was so discolored and swollen that it hampered his vision and made him look even more bruised than we expected. We called the Dermatology Department and they asked me to bring him in for a look-see. I could tell Dr. Dermatologist was not too happy to see the state of Hubby’s face but he assured us that it was just excessive trauma from the surgery and that the swelling and black and blueness would eventually disappear. OK…I guess I’ll believe him. Some of the swelling has shifted downward to Hubby’s cheek and chin (Doc told us this would probably happen as a result of gravity) so now his face is distorted as well as battered.

Today was my first stab at playing nurse since this was “Change the Dressing” Day. I removed the bandages, had Hubby soak the area in a combination of warm water and vinegar (doctor’s instructions), applied Polysporin to the wound, cut and placed new bandages on the area and then taped it up. I had to do this a few times until I got just the right amount of bandage and tape since his darn eye kept getting in the way. OK…this is one of the many reasons I chose not to go into medicine as a career. While blood and gore don’t faze me at all, I cannot seem to master the very basics of medical care…bandaging and taping. Part of this has to do with being “scissor impaired” and some of it has to do with my self-diagnosed lack of depth perception. We have two more weeks of these daily dressing changes so maybe, by the end, I will be able to do it in one take. Here’s hoping…

8 comments:

Special K ~Toni said...

Joan- I think you need to fess up here! You smacked the hubby around for leaving dirty socks on the floor, didn't you??

I hope he recoups quickly- I'm sure it's not any fun for either of you!

Patti said...

You'll get better at the bandaging, etc. as time goes on. You can do it!
Hope R is feeling better soon...

Knock knock - it's cancer! said...

Ugh. I don't envy your position at all. Of course, you obviously have to do this and help him, I would find it extremely hard to do. I have a very weak stomach. I can't even watch that "Nip Tuck" show because it grosses me out.j

Hope it's all better soon. Not from personal experience, but "they" say that it always looks worse than it is.

Michelle

Lynn said...

I have faith in you that after a few more times, you will be changing the dressing like a pro...just remember, it doesn't have to be perfect! Good enough, will be good enough!

Renee Nefe said...

dressing the face is very hard...like you said, his eye was in the way (I don't think he would have minded if you taped over it. ;) )

I always have trouble with the tape.

Joan said...

Toni: When we got to the doctor's office yesterday, every nurse came by to ask me how I managed to win the fight. "Easy," I told them...it was a one-two punch.

Patti: R is looking a little better this evening. And I will probably learn how to bandage just when it's time to stop!

Vancouver mermaid/Montreal photographer: I can watch all the cutting and slicing...it's the damn bandaging and taping I can't take! :~)

Lynn: But I WANT it to be perfect so people will ask Hubby who did that wonderful job of bandaging!

Renee: I could do a much better job of things if his darn nose and eye weren't in the way! They're so inconsiderate!

Carole Burant said...

Considering the area where you have to put the bandage and tape, it's no wonder you're having a hard time!! At least you're willing to do it for him so that makes you an excellent nurse anyway:-) Prayers that he continues to heal and gets his face back soon! lol xox

Linda said...

Perhaps you should have done the standard "mummy wrap" and just encased his entire head in one big, white swath! Would have solved the eye and nose problems!! Heehee!