From Within So Without Part 7: Wookie
Now that my routine was underway, and I was actually initiating parts of it myself, I was comfortable getting in and out of the HBOT, I would get in and sleep in there, or spend the entire day in there. Someone was always there anyway, in case I did need help, usually my husband. They set the HBOT up downstairs in what was basically a game room. It had a tv and a sitting area. My husband dutifully did not leave my side, everyone else went golfing and boating, and played pickleball, I stayed in the chamber watching/doing Q digs, slathering on burn cream, taking pot gummies and trying to remember to drink the water that stayed in there and never seemed to need to be replaced! As Tom sat on the couch, Wookie, my parents new puppy, laid by the chamber.
Wookie and I had history. Originally, in June of 22' before my accident, I went up to help my mom unpack and get the house decorated. I had scheduled two weeks, and ended up staying, until 4th of July. By that time, my husband was ready to get out of the Florida heat, so he came up and we stayed another month.
When Wookie had arrived that summer, he had to stay in his crate at night. My parents put the crate in the kitchen. One night, I heard loud wailing coming from upstairs (my/our room was downstairs off of the game room inside, and to the right of the covered patio in the back as you looked out of the house). I went upstairs thinking it was one of my nephews, but it was dark and it was like, 3am. I thought, "What on earth could possibly be making those noises?" As I got closer, it was a deep moan/howl, that sounded of sadness and despair; It was heart wrenching. I climbed the stairs, and they stopped. I knew, it was Wookie. So, I moved the crate and the dog into our room, and he slept there. Originally, we moved the crate upstairs in the day and down to our room at night, but eventually, the crate just stayed in our room. Now, as I healed, Wookie, would not leave my side.
In the early part, Tom was also always there. Apparently, the one time he left to take my brother to the airport, I woke up and had a panic attack. My poor mother had to call him to talk me out of the tree! I do not remember.
Miraculously, within five days of removing the bandages, and lots of chamber time, my silver dollar sized wounds were healed and my hand looked angry and red, but normal. I know I was averaging 13 hours a day in the chamber, at one point, but cannot remember if it was this early.
We did not need to go for the skin graft appointment! Anyway, the drive was long and arduous, and they had not given me any post op treatment the last time I was there. When I asked, they just said we will check you in a week and in 6 weeks, we will evaluate you for further recommendations. Spoiler alert, their further recommendations were EXPENSIVE.
One of my best friend's, Stacy, who was in Italy, at the time of the accident, prayed for me at every church she could find; which in Italy, is a lot! When she returned, she called immediately. I was two weeks into my healing at this point and had the bandages removed, and could talk. Feeling like the hospital was failing us, we were frustrated at the lack of instruction/involvement. Stacy is good friends with the CFO of the whole group of hospitals, and a proper post appointment was made, but it was not until a month after the accident. Thank God for Stacy and her friend, Shelly, who got me a proper appointment!
On the third trip to the hospital, to review my progress and discuss follow up, they were amazed to see that my wounds were gone, and that I did not have any "rivering" the term for how the skin gets gnarled after a burn. I told them about the burn cream and the HBOT. They were not interested in the cream, as for the HBOT, the Dr. said," We have one of those, but we don't use it. Your skin looks great, maybe the nurses should use it for anti-aging." Wait, what? This world class surgeon has a tool at his disposal that prevents rivering, and these people aren't using it! And his first thought (beware of the first thought) is to have the nurses use it? We asked about home care, they had none! They gave me a sleeve to avoid the rivering, which they said, at this point, if I didn't have it, would not get it, but I wore them for the sun and they made me feel better. I also learned about feliculitis, and they gave me some sunblock and told me to stay out of the sun. That was it. No burn cream, no HBOT, no nothing. They then told me they have this laser that makes everything look great, but it had to be approved by insurance so they had to submit pictures first. There's more to this later, and it is sad and a travesty endemic in our medical system.
