Granulation tissue

April 11, 2005

Hey Y'All!

What does granulation tissue look like? Connor has an infection at

the wound site for the g-tube and we are treating it with internal

antibiotics and topical ones. He has a little bit of tissue or may

be even fat protuding from the site and there is a green, snotty

like ooze coming from it too. I took him to the doc five days ago

and it looks a tad bit better but certainly isn't healed. We go off

the antibiotics in one more day.

Any thoughts out there regarding the wombat. Mind you, he's

terribly active now that he's getting all these extra calories and

it's not unusual for him to wrestle with his brother's which is

pulling on it I'm sure. In fact, one of the nurses who care's for

Connor cares for another child who has cebral palsey. Because she

isn't mobile, her tube site never got infected! Oh, the balls we

juggle to keep our little ones healthy!!!!

Everyone has been commenting on how much more energy Connor has. If

you met him at convention than you know that it's hard to believe

the little guy could be even more active. I put him on my scale the

other day and Connor is up three pounds! Three pounds in one

month. It's a miracle. Have I told you all how much I love that g-

tube? I may have to compose an ode to that little ole' piece of

plastic or at least wax philosophical. All I can say, is that next

to finding the Magic Foundation, tubing Connor was the next smartest

thing we have ever done for him.

Got to go - tlak to you all soon!

Mom to Graham 8 ADD; Cameron 5; Connor RSS Kyphosis Periactin

Augmetin Zantac G-Tube and Nutropin AQ.

April 11, 2005

,

Granulation tissue looks almost like a tiny wall of extra fat around

the site or around part of the site. I used to think it was some

sort of hard blister, actually. There should NOT be green stuff

coming out of it. That is the sign of an infection.

Treating the granulation tissue is very easy. You have to get

silver nitrate sticks from the doctor. They look like long

matchsticks. You just gently touch the granulation tissue and

almost immediately it will turn gray. It should not hurt. If it

does, then you have touched skin and it will burn. The tissue will

dry up and go away in a few days. Because your wombat is so active,

you will probably have to do this on a regular basis. Max had

terrible granulation tissue and that stuff can bleed something

fierce. He used to come to me with all of this blood pouring from

the site and I used to get so scared! (He was older then and would

take care of it himself. He neglected to tell me when there was

granulation tissue, though, so it would get pretty bad.)

One thing that we found helpful was to put a couple of squares of

gauze between his skin and the button. We would get 2 " squares at

the drug store and cut halfway up them, then just put them in

place. Then we would put tape over that to stabilize the button.

It helped a lot.

I am still thinking about your email to me regarding the book. I've

been on some pretty strong painkillers from my surgery a couple of

weeks ago, so I am not too creative right now. Give me time and I

will be able to be more inspirational and helpful. Your idea is

wonderful and would be a real asset.

Jodi Z

April 11, 2005

,

Isn't it funny how quickly we learn to love those tubes!! We fought ours

tooth and nail and doggone if it wasn't the best thing in the world!! As

Jodi said, the granulation tissue is like and extra fatty rim around the

stoma. We had it the worst right after surgery while Alyssa still had the

foley tube before she could get her button. It was MUCH easier to prevent

once her button was placed. That said our Dr. did a silver nitrate

treatment in her office, but was uncomfortable giving us any to do at home.

She did give us a steroid cream which helped keep the tissue from coming

back. However, once her button was placed and we started using a different

kind of dressing we have had no more problems and believe me, Alyssa is

ACTIVE. Her newest past time is sliding down our 4 sets of stairs on her

stomach! Talk about your friction! We use a pink foam like dressing called

Polymem. It acts like a sponge and draws moisture away from the stoma. IT

has been a miracle worker. Dr. H thought it was so cool when we saw her

last month, she had never seen it before. IT comes in 4x4 squares that we

cut in quarters. We then cut about halfway up one side and slide it under

the button and tape the other side to keep it in place. I change it daily.

It's usually slightly crusty. Not only does it keep her stoma looking good,

but it keeps the crusty's off her clothes!

Just what works for us! We get the polymem thru our DME, Apria.

Dayna, Mom to Alyssa

_____

From: Kearns

Sent: Monday, April 11, 2005 5:31 PM

To: RSS-Support

Subject: Granulation tissue