Doctor's Office Not Responding About Dressing Changes

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168
Rob38
Dec 16, 2024 10:35 pm

Not finding instructions on the frequency of changing the dressing. The hospital gave us 6 dressing changes. Some instructions are twice a day, and others are up to every two days. The last change bled a lot. Hoping for general advice based on your experience.
Any area medication/lotion/etc.?

SusanT
Dec 16, 2024 11:09 pm

This sounds like a wound rather than an ostomy. I have a drain that is still in and therefore an open wound. It is in a location where I can't do the changes myself, so a home health nurse comes twice a week to change it. We were going once a week, but it started actively bleeding, and drainage was getting on the skin. That was causing me skin issues.

So... I think you need to change at least frequently enough to protect your surrounding skin.

Edited to add:

If your surrounding skin is breaking down, I suggest you use stoma powder and "crust" with barrier wipes like you would do if you had skin problems around your stoma. It has helped me tremendously with the skin around my drain.

Posted by: ~traci~

For those of you still looking for love after your ostomy... don't give up! One day, when you least expect it, there will be a message in your inbox... always remember that when you're not looking, life has a brilliant way of surprising you with someone in your life you have so much in common with, and either you make a great new friend or you will find the person you were always looking for! I, for one, thank God I found this website... I was in a low place when I first started, and now I've never been happier! ~Traci~

Happytostillbehere
Dec 17, 2024 12:02 am

If the doctor's office is not getting back to you, I'd be making a pain in the ass of myself calling them continually until they did get back to you!

warrior
Dec 17, 2024 12:43 am

Please explain what "the dressing" is, where its location is, and why you have it to help you more.

Rob38
Dec 17, 2024 11:43 am

Thanks. It is an ostomy reversal without a drain. We expected the dressing remarks were in the discharge notes, but unfortunately not.
So no water was used in applying the 4x4 dressing or when removing the bandages (to lessen bleeding)?

 

My Ostomy Journey: Kimberly | Hollister

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Rob38
Dec 17, 2024 11:46 am

Ostomy reversal.
There's a bit of bleeding when changing the dressing, so

  1. frequency of changing and
  2. any water to help lessen bleeding?

Those are my questions for this board.

Appreciate the feedback.

warrior
Dec 17, 2024 1:32 pm

Ahh.. I am sorry u have this going on. Sadly I can't even imagine drains or dressings for reversal. I don't know anything about this except where they cut into u to hook you up.

I vaguely recall the light dessing covering my stomach where they opened me conventionally.

Maybe a dozen or so stitches north of the belly button.

I wish u well. Others more versed in this procedure will help u out. I was just curious is all. Thanks. Good luck. Patience. 👍

 

SusanT
Dec 17, 2024 4:11 pm

Ahh, I see. I had an open wound that was being dressed in the hospital. They were changing that once a day or when it looked bad, like there was bleeding through the gauze.

Actually, I think they started with more frequency and tapered off as the wound healed. I'd minimize the changes because redressing disrupts the healing. The main concern is to get blood, etc., off the skin.

They used sterile water to loosen the gauze when removing it. Otherwise, it would stick to the wound, and pulling it would cause bleeding. Hopefully, they gave you sterile water, maybe in the form of syringes? Until the wound closes, you don't want to use regular water due to the risk of contamination.

Beachboy
Dec 18, 2024 7:13 am

Sounds like you didn't receive detailed discharge instructions. You should contact the hospital or doctor and explain the trouble you're having. From what I've read, ostomy reversal will leave the stoma hole pretty much as is. It needs to heal from the inside out. Based on your unique situation, because we are all different, you need detailed instructions about caring for the ostomy wound.