21 July 2022
That's the question everyone asks me. And the answer is, "The same." Always. Still, it's time for a progress report.
One thing I learned at St. Francis where Joyce had her hyperbaric oxygen treatments is that radiation wounds don't heal quickly. "Quickly" is the wrong word but I had to put something in there.
Because, you know, we have to keep thinking that the excavated wound will eventually heal. Although, as I said, it's the same as it has been.
We're down to the last tube of the six tubes of Santyl, so Joyce reordered today.
When Kristine the LVN changes the dressing, she takes a photo and measures it in three dimensions. "Same size?" I ask her. "Yes," she confirms.
But we both notice a few small changes.
The yellow slough, which prevents the good tissue from growing, is not as thick as it has been. The Santyl seems to be having some effect.
But there's enough slough still that Joyce feels no pain when either of us work on the wound. Which is not really a good sign.
And there are a few spots of pink tissue that come and go. The Santyl again.
We're down to the last tube of the six tubes of Santyl, so Joyce reordered today. Using the Web site (with its infinite scrolling that leaves the buttons behind at the top of the screen), the estimated charge was over $360, which is insane. She paid $94 for 180g last time and this is a reorder of exactly the same quantity.
We canceled out of there and ordered by phone where they don't estimate the price. I'll bring the invoice with us when we pick it up on Monday afternoon. And if she has to pay more than $94, we'll take it up with customer service. Again.
The whole reordering experience confused and upset her. The same, in short.