How do you bandage yourself?

[shmo]

I have an abscess drainage wound that's two months old and after speaking to the surgeon I may be in this for the long haul. It does seem like the drainage is slowing down, but eventually I have to return to a somewhat normal life.

My question is, what are some tips to bandage yourself?

Right now I use a 4x4 gauze sheet and tuck it between my bum cheeks. Then I have a feminine pad over top to make sure no pus gets onto my underwear (I also use the hospital equivalent of tighty-whities to make sure that everything is snug). I don't use any tape (I am a hairy male after all), but the problem is that frequently throughout the day if I do something like get in and out of my car, the bandage dislodges itself.

Any tricks to this stuff? Certain supplies I should have?

Thanks for your help!

 

[k2smile76]

I'm not sure if this is weird but I wear a cotton g-string. I wrap the "string" part in 3ply quilton toilet paper and wear normal undies over the top The string part holds any gauze or whatever nicely and works a treat for someone who works in retail like myself.

 

[shmo]

That's not weird at all. We have to do what we have to do.

 

[Mark63]

Shmo,

I do it just the way that you do. I seldom have problems with things slipping out of place.

I'm also a hairy male. When I came home after my first surgery the whole region was taped-up using that thick Zinc Oxide sticking plaster. The pain caused in trying to remove that stuff was worse that the pain from the abscess or having to have the wound packing changed. I'm sure some of these people do it that way for a bit of a laugh!

Hope you find something that works for you soon.

Mark

 

[Sascot]

Depends on how much it's leaking. My son has been using dressings that stick directly onto the abcess (the moist leakage allows it to turn jelly-like so it won't hurt the actual abcess site). They are called Allevyn thin and come in a handy 7 by 7.5cm plaster. Also if there is alot of discharge you can get one called Mepilex Border lite. It is similar (stick it straight onto the abcess) but has a pad in the middle which allows some extra absorption. It still comes off occasionally but easy to stick another one on. Not sure whether they would be called the same over there but they must have similar plasters.