Yesterday, the Wound Care Specialist, Judy, came to my apartment and examined my leg. She slowly cut off the bandages, while I explained that I became excruciatingly anxious since the time the nurse pulled off the bandages and blood forcefully spurted inches out of the wound. I took my painkillers and my Ativan too late to experience their effects until after I had the new bandages.
Nurse Judy took some time unwinding the gauze and pouring saline over the parts that were stuck. She wasn't as slow as other nurses, but she was gentle with a brisk attitude. I will admit that I screamed a few times as she pulled off the last pieces of blood-soaked gauze.
Nurse Judy explained that the healthy skin behind my knee was sticking to the bandages. Athena described it as "a line of red blisters, paper cut size". The nurse said that we needed to stop using one type of bandage and start using a new one that was coated in Vaseline and had antibiotic and anti microbial properties. She happened to have just one in her bag. When she applied it, I felt like when my mother put cream on my sunburnt shoulders after a day at the beach; the cooling sensation was relieving, but the painful pressure from Mom's fingers made the whole experience intense.
Today, Nurse Matthew came to check on my wound and to change my bandages. I explained to him everything Nurse Judy said to me. He said she ordered supplies, but they had not come yet. Our plan was to re-use the innermost bandage, as it was still ok to use. He started taking off the bandages. Despite taking morphine beforehand, we still needed to take breaks because I was in too much pain. During one of the breaks, a doorbell rang. Nurse Matthew suggested that he check it out. He returned with a big box of bandages and other supplies. UPS finally was able to deliver me a package at this apartment. They also had the best timing ever.
Happy Thanksgiving to the readers, their friends, and families. There's so much to be grateful.
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