Are you dealing with infections or bandaging during palliative care??
Hi everyone. I'm starting this topic because I haven't found a similar one to help answer questions and offer me advice. I know I'm a rare case managing my own palliative care, in Asia, while under the care of a great doctor who's using both eastern and western medical traditions. I'm on hormone therapy (Tamoxifen then Letrozole) with homeopathic and naturopathic medicines as my current technique of living with MBC IDC. No infections for two years until I stopped using antibiotic cream daily on my dressings, concerned that I was building an immunity to AB. Not! Infections began, strong AB pills also. Immediate positive results, then infection returned. Second round is going ok, but I've developed a strange sensitivity to AB - nausea. So during the dressings, I've returned to switching between metronidazole gel & wash to counter anaerobic bacteria, and the AB to counter aerobic bacteria.
Can anybody share experiences with general internal infections? I've already read of the high number of 'infections' from breast reconstruction techniques (TE's), which is so sad.
Maybe most community members have insurance and nurses doing these things, and may occasionally need to change their own dressings/bandages, deal with non-emergency situations, etc. Unless they live out in the countryside ;). I guess I'm also looking for (and to share) palliative care tips on dealing with daily discharge and bandaging. Please share if you can!
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Ok. I'm going to go ahead and share some bandaging tips. If you have MBC IV and don't have medical insurance or access to health care, you're doing it all on your own. This bandaging system has impressed doctors in Asia, and maybe these tips will be of help some day in an emergency:
I've found that nighttime heavy-flow sanitary pads are cheap, easy to find, and work great to absorb discharge, occasional blood, and to cushion the tumor. Use micropore tape to adhere them on the body. In three years, I progressed from needing only 1 pad to needing 3 pads taped together. At night I also wrap a 1/2 sheet of the matty pads around the torso to help catch any discharge and save on sheet washing. A crepe bandage holds it all in place, necessary since I've developed an allergy to the micropore tape.
Et voila. May this be of help to another woman, or man, diagnosed with MBC!
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