Wound Care - Itchy bandages!

loopylucy08 · 28-07-2007, 06:40 AM

Hello

The nurse had to completely bandage up my arm yesterday from halfway between my elbow and shoulder down to my wrists. She put a gel gauze thing on it to start with to cover up the wounds and then another layer of thin bandage which she wound round over the gel gauze and finally another banage like a support bandage over the whole lot. The thing is its really hot and its making my wrists in particular unbearably itchy. I was wondering if there was anything I could do to help this? Also does anyone know if its safe to get it wet, like if I take a bath or shower? I was really dazed when she did it so I didnt really think about any of the questions I should have asked, and she didnt tell me! Advice would be cool

Bitter_Angel · 28-07-2007, 02:22 PM

Can you describe the gel gauze. Is it like a thin cris cross material covered in gel? Or is it more like a big piece of jelly?

Also you say is hot. Do you think the heat is likly to be from wound infection? Or just generally hot due to the amoun of layers on it?

Did you recieve any stitches of steri strips on the wound?

loopylucy08 · 28-07-2007, 02:41 PM

The gel gauze is a thin criss cross piece of material. The nurse said its the same stuff they put on burns???

I dont think it could be infected because the doctor who examined me has put me on really strong antibiotics 4 times a day, but I only started taking them this morning. I did not have stitches done or steri strips, she just covered the whole lot cause there was rather a lot of it. But I looked at it closer wear it is really bad and the gauze has stuck itself into the really deeper cuts and thats where it is worst for itchyness and heat.

Bitter_Angel · 28-07-2007, 06:55 PM

hmm well the gauze will be pertorlum jelly covered to prevent the bandage sticking to the wound. I assume it was white? not yellow.
If the doctor started you on antibiotics, then my guess is that there is already likleyto be some sort of infection present. The heat worries me most. If it is at a stage where the heat is uncomfortable, then the infection may not be clearing up.
The gauze also shouldnt cause itchyness.

You could possibly lossen the bandaging a little bit. That may ease it a little. However, i think that it might be a good idea for you to go back and get it checked over. They should be able to give you better wound care advice. Suchas not getting it wet ect.

Take care
Kim

Storm · 28-07-2007, 11:50 PM

Also, if you need to wash, have a bath and keep that arm out of the water, just in case.

Aidee · 29-07-2007, 02:50 AM

Yeah, the jelly gauze they put in it is not supposed to stick in wounds, so if something has stuck into a wound it needs to be removed, and since you have so many cuts you should probably have a doctor or nurse look at it since the whole thing will prolly need to be re-bandaged.

loopylucy08 · 29-07-2007, 05:51 AM

Thanks very much for your help guys! I've got to go back on Monday any way to have it dressed again and so they can inspect it for infection so hopefully I'll be more prepared with questions to ask. Thanks for all the advice in the interim.

Bitter_Angel · 29-07-2007, 11:35 AM

You could alwas write down your questions before hand so that you dont forget them.
Good luck

loopylucy08 · 30-07-2007, 10:07 PM

Just 2 let u kno, I went bck 2day and its all fine. She said that I was healing nicely, no infections and they still have 2b bandaged. On a less positive note, she took 1 look at my other side and said that had 2 b done as well 2day but @ least Im now heat and itchyness balanced!! Thanks once again 4 all yr replies. xxx