I’ve been off the wound vac for about three weeks. One day we were taking off the drape (fancy adhesive sheets that protect your skin) when part of my skin came with it. It was bad. Parts of my tush were red, raw & sadly bloody. I’d also developed a bad blister where the vacuum attached to my skin. After 5 weeks my body was finally rebelling against the machine. 

We put the wound vac back on, avoiding the most tender areas. Within 12 hours I was calling the nurse begging for them to remove the wound vac. I had developed another blister. This one was larger and more painful. And when the drape was removed my entire backside was inflamed. The nurse actually gasped when the drape was removed. “We can’t put that back on your skin!” So that Thursday was the last day I had the wound vac.

We went to the doctor and he was amazed at the size change. What was originally a 10-12 centimeter wound was now just 1 centimeter. The pain was better and things were looking good. The wound vac had worked. It was a time to celebrate.

We still had to do wound changes twice a day but after the wound vac, the daily changes were a breeze.

Then last week happened. Husband was doing a wound change when he noticed a new open area. “That wasn’t there before.”

*sigh*

The original wound site had healed. We were days from being finished with the whole thing when this new wound appeared. We’re not sure why it happened. It could be infection or part of the surgical area that didn’t heal right the first time or something else we’ve not even considered. We see the doctor today.

I’m back to sitting gingerly, if I sit at all. I have to take pain medication often times just so I can sit. It’s like the whole thing is starting fresh.

The original cyst appeared in April. I’ve been dealing with this for eight months, two surgeries and 5 weeks being attached to a machine.

Staying positive is exhausting.