7 replies to this topic

[FriendDave]

A friend of mine with tetraplegia has just recently been taken into hospital. He has had a bedsore for seven weeks now and it won't budge. It seemed to be getting better, but now it's much, much worse than it ever was (his words: "a hundred times worse"). He told me just before he went into hospital that if it didn't get better soon, I should buy myself a new black tie. He says if the bed sore doesn't kill him, then MRSA will. He caught MRSA when in the spinal unit originally (about 13 years ago now) and he says that it possible for it to come back, especially because of his compromised immune system. He seemed genuinely scared when they took him in. I don't know enough about all this. Could this be the last time I see my friend?

[Smileyblue]

Nobody ever know for sure when we are going to go.. All we can do is be there for each other while we have the time and appreciate them for who they are..

Pressure sores can be life threatening if not treated properly or in time, and sometimes can be just too far gone for treatment to be effective.. However, you have every reason to hope.. He is in hospital now where he can receive the most appropriate treatment for his wound..

Hang in there.. A pressure sore is not a life sentence! And although I don't know much about MRSA, I have heard MANY recovery stories.. ;-)

I hope this gives you at least some comfort..

[mellowgator]

i have a friend who was in your friend's situation last year. she was home for 8 months with a pressure sore that was being treated by a visiting nurse. the nurse keep telling her she was doing great. my friend starting running a fever and could no longer stand the smell and drove herself to the hospital. the nurses there said that one of the sores was unstageable and that it was filled with mrsa. my friend finally had surgery and after several months is out of the hospital. her wound has healed she still has some mrsa issues but they seem manageable. your friend has a very good chance of survival. i hope he gets the correct care and antibiotics. chances are it will take him several months to completely recover.


mellowgator

[plank]

Dave

Don't you get down. Your friend needs some positive reinforcement at this extremely difficult stage he is going through. Tell him black ties don't come on sale until the post Christmas sales next year so hang on till then.

He has a really good friend who cares enough to find this site and ask for help and I am sure you are not the only positive in his life.


Keep upbeat about it. Let him be sad and morose and pissed off - he deserves to be down with what he has gone through and is faced with now - but keep a smile on your face. Your smile will be just as infectious as MRSA.


Plank

Edited by plank, 16 June 2011 - 01:55 AM.

[goose]

I've been thinking about my answer. First, keep on being a good friend. He's gonna need your support and friendship. This is really a hard time for him.
Second, I had friend who was a doctor who also was sci. She developed a bed sore that wouldn't heal. To my surprise, she did die about a week after her surgery. I was in shock because I never realized just how serious this can be. Her death still haunts me. I figured since she was a doctor that she would have been more proactive.

I didn't want to scare you but I do want you to know this is a serious situation. Does he have family that can make sure he's getting adequate care? I hope he gets better soon.

[FriendDave]

Thanks for all your adivce and stories. I think I have a better idea now. I would really appreciate it if someone could explain the medical side of things. What is the danger with bed sores, is it infection or something else? I don't want to ask him these questions because I don't want him thinking about the worst.

I appreciate your honesty Goose I think it's important that I know the reality. To answer your question, I would have to say no. I live some distance away (250ish miles). He lives near his parents but they are getting on now and sometimes struggle caring from themselves. He currently lives with four children. His wife left him. She probably made things worse by refusing the nurses entry into the house on several occations while they were still together (not to mention te stress she caused). The nurses are pretty rubbish as well, a couple of young polish girls who struggle with english.

[Smileyblue]

"What is the danger with bed sores, is it infection or something else?"

This is what I've been told: Basically a pressure sore is where the flesh dies because of lack of circulation.. It is therefore critical to keep weight/pressure off the area to try to get circulation back as soon as possible.. If it is still closed (a hard red patch) it is sometimes recommended to rub the area (using some kind of lubricant so as not to cause friction to the skin) in order to stimulate the circulation.. Infection is a major risk as soon as the wound is an open wound..

If you google "pressure sores" or "pressure ulcers", there is a lot of information on the different stages of a pressure sore..

I'm sure there will be many more with more details on pressure sores, as I (fortunately) have very little experience with them.. The worst ones I've had were only closed blisters, so I only know what I've been told..

;-)

[FriendDave]

Thanks I'll do that now.