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Looks like a scrape. She broke ankle on Sept 17th. So in wheelchair a lot since but now on a walker with supervision and P.T. about 40% of time. But still sitting a lot. She did not have one and hasn't whole time I've cared for her and Dad, 7 yrs. Dad passed on Sept.22nd, 2019 and Mom fell Sept 17th and broke her ankle. Her and I were not there when Dad passed. Hospital, no surgery. But slow recovery due to having to move her to my sibs house 1 hr and half away in another state. So when she did move sibling messed up and didn't have Mom's usual mattress. So Mom had to use a different one. Foam, and scooting on it was hard. It also had an egg crate foam topper (egg crate down) but she sank into it and couldn't move around much or adjust position, I'm thinking. Like I said she has never had this until she moved Dec 29th to sibs on that foam thing.


Well bedsore pops up. Home health said stage 1 then it went to stage 2. It was bumps at first and red all over. 2 inches from top of crack, in between crack. Then apparently bumps/tops came off. I've seen it twice. First right after nurse saw it. I was visiting and helping. It was red and bumpy. Then next week husband and I brought Mom's usual mattress and switched them out. It seemed to get better I was told. Then I just went and now it looks like road rash sorta or a scrape in crack. No depth. Not really red around it except right on it. But looks like someone (which didn't happen just explaining what it looks like) took a piece of skin and ripped it off. A little long piece in the crack about 2" fr top of crack (down). So home health is putting Phytoplex (?) Silicone cream and saying clean it with the hypoallergenic huggies wipes but I thought there was a saline wash for bedsores with a tad of bleach in it. Starts with a D? I think we are beyond huggies wipes to clean and I also think this cream stuff is making it too wet or soft to heal.


I've been in med field since 18 but these are not my specialty. What have others used? I bought her a coccyx pillow with slit in it to get weight off while in wheelchair and her reg chair. I told her she has got to get the pressure off. She has CNA there with her M-F while sib is at work. I also turned Female depends around where padding wouldn't hit that area to see if that helps. Hope my sib and CNA are doing that. She has been in female depends since Sept so only thing different was mattress and not getting bath for 7 days after arriving at sibs, from final move from her apartment, due to my sib not having bath tub ready with anti skid treads so she could have bath with Carousel bath chair. Excellent chair fr Platinum Health. It is expensive($ 300) but it turns 360 and glides seat into tub. 4 legs. 2 in an 2 out of tub.


So not much was ready for my Mom in way of safety and bathing and basic med stuff a human would need to stay clean and not be so jarring to my Mom. And not even have her matress she loves. No bars. No treads. Her room was a nightmare. And hoarding is a prob with sib. But house sure was decorated for xmas to the T. Sib had 2 months to get these few things done. I meantime was living with Mom. Fr Oct till Dec 29th. Away from my husband and sons. Mom can't be alone now and big fall risk. And like I said 40% only on walker with supervision. Then packing, insurance adjustment, adjust bills, new address with S.S. banking stuff then all med stuff to see about. She has many specialists. She has Pulmonary Fibrosis. Diabetes. Diverticulosus. Sciatica. But she's a tough lady and nicest person I know. I hated her moving but I needed a break mentally and no room at our home. Sib has never caregived. An said "you will need to train me!" So I did mention bed thing, tread thing, the room issue but not done when we finally did big final move. So gets there an gets bedsore withn 2 wks!! So what have others done for them? A wash of some kind? Help! And it's hurting her.

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I would get a wound care consult right away. The "depth" is something that you don't see until it is too late, and happens drastically and quickly down to the bone. The skin layers are likely already highly compromised and dying. By the time the skin and tissue necrotizes completely and sloughs off it is often to the bone. Please ask MD to order wound care consult and follow their guidance. It is decades since I was in nursing and I know there have been many advances. I am wishing you good luck.
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Lynn, in case you don't see my reply to your message to me below, I am so very sorry for hurting you with my carelessly cold words. Please forgive me if you can.
Reading more about your situation I can see that you have been through an absolute wringer. It seems you have been put in an impossible spot, with terrible stress and responsibilities on every side. Going above and beyond for years, taking care of your family with so much strength and love. (You are definitely stronger and more loving than I am, even on my best day!) And now grieving your beloved dad.

I hope you will not give up on this forum because of my stupidity! Again, I am deeply sorry for my hurtful post.

Yours truly,
SnoopyLove
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"But slow recovery due to having to move her to my sibs house 1 hr and half away in another state. So when she did move sibling messed up and didn't have Mom's usual mattress."

"She has CNA there with her M-F while sib is at work."

"She has been in female depends since Sept so only thing different was mattress and not getting bath for 7 days after arriving at sibs,"

"So not much was ready for my Mom in way of safety and bathing and basic med stuff a human would need to stay clean and not be so jarring to my Mom. And not even have her matress she loves. No bars. No treads. Her room was a nightmare. And hoarding is a prob with sib."

"Sib has never caregived. An said "you will need to train me!" 

So your mom is with a person with no training or aptitude for caregiving who works all day and then comes home to more work. And she hoards.

Why on earth is your mom there? Why is she not in a facility near you or sister, so that neither one of you are overwhelmed to the point of not being able to care for mom properly or take care of her kids and spouse?

This doesn't seem like a sustainable situation to me.
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Lynn105 Jan 2020
Well first sister has no kids. Husband is a grown man who can care for himself. My Mom does not have funds for " a facility" n.H. nor assist living an cannot go onto Medicaid rt now has to spend down an then 1 yr penalties. We saw medi lawyer last yr an found that crap out. So my home is to sm. No extra room for her. Doorways to sm for walker..well wheelchair most of time.. an sister has 2 extra bedrooms an her own bathroom. CNA's are in facilities. All facilities are crap pretty much an I live in the bigger town. Ive had to deal with multi " facilities" b.s. non are safe. Non give meds properly, falls happen all time even at the ritzy ones!! If u think a facility is safer...well u prob havent dealt with them much..an I have photographic proof of negligence and not giving meds but to mentally drained an at Compassion Fatigue an dx with ADD at 50, to even start with that. My Dad just died in Sept of 2019 an just now grieving for him..an moving my Mom wasnt a happy thing but my Psych said I needed to step away fr medical or caregiving for everyones sake..Ive been n med field since 18 but havent been able to work since 2010 due to parents. An Im the one with husband an kids at home who have taken back seat for last 3 yrs really to all traumas, dramas with parents. So where would u suggest I put my Mother? She broke ankle, no surgery, in Sept. 17th 5 days b4 Daddy passed..her an I were not there when he died. It haunts my Mom an me. Sister had gotten there 40 min b4. I was discharging Mom to rush to Dad even though she was in a pain level of 8. But got thereto late. My sister is capable of careing..just needs coaching.. an a CNA is alot better than a sitter fr some dumb comp. CNA gives Mom bath an Home Health an P.T. coming 2x a wk. Its just the move wasnt handle " my way" but Im finding my way is unattainable due to anxiety (GAD). So we have a bedsore to deal with. I was explaining situation an how it became so. I guess you would suggest placing her under a bridge? She cannot afford a p.o.c. facilty an I wouldnt put her in one anywhere if I can help it. They all pretty much suck anywhere. So whats difference in that an at sibs? Alot!!! The hoarding is objects fr deceased fam members. The home is very clean. Theres just stuff in everyspace. Cleaner than a facility for sure! Why is it that everyone thinks dumbing off ur loved one in a " facility " is sooo great?!! Ha! Thats funny. Moms capable of taking her sugar an giving her insulins (dial pens)& isnt alone except 3-4:30. An is either in her bed on her side rt now takin nap or in chair on a coccyx cutout pillow I bought last week. So mental health is why my Mom is with sib now. Its sibs time. An she wants to do it but of coarse if one doesnt know how to ride a horse, do u just throw them on? Or train them to ride? Things need ironed out for sure, but I was just asking what anyone has used for a maybe 2" stage 1-2 pressure sore? I think you have anger issues also an need a shrink to. Think about it. This is second or third time Ive posted on here an got attacked by comments or no comments or help really. So prob leaving this group. Im done with med field anyway. Thanks for makin me feel like shit worse. Out.
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Lynn, I hope I didn't come off too harshly in my first response. I was in a hurry writing it and all the red flags of the situation were jumping out at me. Obviously you care and love for your mom very much. I'll bet your sister does too, but to me as an outsider reading about the situation from afar, she just seems completely not up to the task.

Anyway, I apologize if I was too brusque about this very difficult situation your family is in.
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I put Desitin (zinc ozide, baby rash med) on that area 2-3 times a day
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I can’t think of the name because it’s been awhile. My mom’s home health care nurse who knew her stuff because she had been trained in wound care applied a medicated bandage. Seems like it started with the word derm. You leave it on for a week or so and I swear it works beautifully. She ordered the bandages for mom.

Contact someone knowledgeable in wound care. There is also a barrier gel that is placed on the surrounding areas of the wound to keep moisture at bay. DO NOT PUT THIS DIRECTLY ONTO THE WOUND! The nurse ordered this too. You can also use baby diaper ointment for this purpose.

It’s a pressure sore. There are pillows made to sit on to help prevent getting these sores. The nurse told me about that too.
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Look up a wound care specialist. It could help stopping the pain for yr mom a saves you as well. We had the best here in NJ.
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So sorry you are going through such a hard time. I don’t think anyone intentionally tried to upset you. So sorry if we said the wrong thing or misunderstood. I hope things improve very soon for you and your family. You’re in a tough spot and it’s extremely stressful.
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My cousin is caretaker for her mom who has Parkinson’s. She fell and had been sitting too long in her recliner. Anyway she developed two stage one bed sores on her rear. She has been on hospice for a couple of years. Hospice team ordered her a hospital bed. They had her leave her pants off at night to let the sores air out. She also had an air mattress. I was looking back over the texts where she was telling me about it but she didn’t mention the meds they used. Hers healed up right away. It’s good your mom’s aren’t deep. I know you miss your mom but your family needs you. I’m sorry about your dad. Let us know how you are doing. It’s good to have a willing sister. Take care.
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