She was put on wound vac about 1 1/2 months ago after surgery to fix broken hip. The wound is a lot shorter, but the nurse thinks it is deeper than it was and Mom keeps pulling it out so the dressing has to be changed a lot more often than it would if she didn't have dementia. This probably helps to irritate it more I would think. My main concern for her now is her comfort more than anything else. She has been in enough pain since this all began. I think the wound is causing her more pain than the actual break. Her geriatric doctor said that if comfort care is what we are going for now, that we could take her off the vac and use sterile dressings but the PA that put her on the wound vac seems to think that it could increase chance for infection. I don't want her to have to go through any more surgery to clean the wound out again if it gets infected, but the wound vac doesn't seem to be doing any good any more. I hope this all makes sense. What do you all think I should do? When she first got out of rehab, she was able to walk short distances with a walker, but now it is all she can do to stand. She is in a wheelchair. She of course doesn't understand any of this and only knows that her leg hurts. She is on a pain patch that has just been increased in strength. Thanks for any and all thoughts.
With her health failing, and pain issues that apparently cannot be cured....I finally called in hospice.
Honestly, once they took over, their doctors and nurses directing her care....I feel such an enormous relief, and they are very good about keeping her pain well under control. That burden has moved off my shoulders.
I understand exactly your feelings. Focus now on getting her the care to keep her comfortable.
*hugs*