Hyperbaric Chamber

[Rlenesue]

Hi ladies,

I havent been on in a while and I wanted to ask if anyone suffered wound openings from chemo? Last chemo was in June and I was supposed to start Zenula 300 soon after but the chemo opened my sutures from vreast surgery. So now I'm in a hyperbaric chamber 5 days a week for 2 hrs for the last 6 weeks. My wound was 6.5 centimeters lenthwise and 1.5 centimeters heightwise. I feel like every day I'm just waiting for the cancer to come back. Im so frustrated and scared it will before my wound closes.

On Wednesday I'm starting a wound vac which basically suctions the fkuid out of the wound and makes the skin close quicker using negative pressure. Ill have to be attached to this monitor for god knows how long. Im feeling anxious, and waiting for the axe to fall.

Anyone have experience with this?

[Neona]

I had a nasty dog bite when on chemo and had to delay the next infusion for about 3 weeks - it seemed to take foerver to heal- but it did heal. Hang on in there.

[Rlenesue in reply to Neona]

Thank you for replying. Our immune systems get a beating during chemo, that's for sure.

[lorraine71-Australia]

Hi, Sorry I can't help with any advice just a bit of encouragement, i Hope it is all sorted out soon and you can heal .Take care Lorraine xx

[Rlenesue in reply to lorraine71-Australia]

Thank you for the encouragement, Lorraine. Every little bit helps the process along. How are you feeling?

[lorraine71-Australia in reply to Rlenesue]

Felling ok 💙💙

[Rlenesue in reply to lorraine71-Australia]

Goid. Glad to hear

[27-359]

Hi. I had a vac suction machine last year, after a blocked bowl op. The wound was horrific and opened up to about eight inches long. The vac did the job and I got used to being attached to it 24/7. I was on it for about three weeks with DN coming in three times a week to change the dressing. My wound was very deep, and as the vac causes the incision to heal from the bottom up, took a while. Hopefully, if your wound isn't too deep, it won't take so long. I remember that I so wanted to be off the machine by Christmas, as the main drawback is the lead trailing under clothes to this contraption I was carrying over my shoulder!

Having said all that, it is an amazing bit of kit.

Jenny

[Rlenesue in reply to 27-359]

Thank you for replying, Jenny. Wow, only 3 weeks on the vac to close up a wound that size is amazing! Youve given me hope. Just got attached to it today and im a bit sore where the suction cup is, and I have to get used to being attached to this thing, but I'm remaining positive. My wound isn't that deep but have tissue damage from radiation many years ago. So I'll cross my fingers and hope for the best.

Rlene

[Coldethyl]

I developed an abscess on my stomach after a trauma from blunt Clexane blood thinner and it wouldn’t heal properly for weeks so in end practice nurse hot tissue nurse in and we used a mini vac pump system - it was changed weekly and I had three and the speed and quality of the healing were much better -obviously your vac will be bigger but I didn’t find it too bad - just stuck it in a small bag and lost lead as much ax possible under clothes - wishing you success with it x

[Rlenesue in reply to Coldethyl]

Thanks, coldethyl. Keeping my fingers crossed. After 6 weeks in a hyperbaric chamber I'm ready for quick results.

[Orsolini]

Hi - sorry I can't help but I wish you will heal as soon as possible, but your post helps me so much as I have a tumour that has bled and got infected and won't heal despite 2 lots of antibiotics and nurse everyday to change the dressing so I am glad there are other options. I really do wish you a fast healing, keep us posted - Nicola

[Rlenesue in reply to Orsolini]

Thank you, Nicola. I never knew of this option... The wound center has become my best friend... Perhaps you can ask your doctor about this option. I just wish my plastic surgeon had told me about it. Shame on her.

[Mommoo65]

I had 3 inches my debulking incision opened by my oncologist on my very first visit after the surgery. It was just below my belly button. He never explained why he had to pick out the stitches and clean 3 inches of open wound and pack it with gauze and topping it all off with surgical tape. He just told me to change the gauze 4 times a day and keep it clean but use NO creams or antibacterial soaps. The wound oozed fluids for 5 months while slowly healing from the outer edges in. Sometimes the fluid may have been backed up and I was in a lot of pain... I would press an area beside the wound and stuff would just shoot out! The open wound didn't stop any chemos treatments from happening, tho. I sure went thru a LOT of gauze and tape, tho.It healed fine and you cannot differentiate where it was in the long scar line I have.

I hope you heal soon and are not left with any lasting effects. Hugs!!

[Rlenesue]

Hi mommoo65... You sound like you went through hell..so sorry. The chemo did not help the healing process for sure. I went through about a year from my surgery to get the wound closed. Spent a fortune on bandages and tape. Then I did chemo and it opened back up...so frustrating when all we want is to feel some semblance of normal...good luck to you.