Back in September I posted this update about my wound and mental health. I had some really lovely feedback and messages, so thank you to all the well wishers.

Dealing with the mental health first – I saw the GP, and was signposted to South Gloucestershire Talking Therapies also known as IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) and had an assessment consultation which assessed me as having moderate depression/ low mood. I’ve been assigned to a course for support and although I have to wait a while for one that fits in with work and everything else, but have support at work and from my family too. Opening up about it has really helped, but I’m going to see it through and get the help.

In the last update I said we were bringing out the big guns and going back to vac therapy as the PICO dressing hadn’t been able to cope with the exudate. So we started the Acti VAC therapy with a little portable unit (see picture).

Sadly it was not possible to maintain the seal which seems to be due to the position of the wound as much as anything, although it was also still pretty wet – so I ended up having to remove it – in the photo below at work. Vac dressing also includes a free wax, in my case of the buttocks. I also think that being at work and managing a toddler didn’t help.

The Acti VAC pump was pretty easy to manage though – it comes with a little carry bag and doesn’t need to be constantly plugged in, and is nice and quiet. It does take a while to change the dressing, as it has to be framed and then applied, then the seal checked and any gaps filled in.

Following the failure of this, and been advised to apply something antibacterial, so went back to the Ortem metronizadole ointment which once again did some good stuff. At the same time I wrote to my surgeon requesting that either I be admitted for the vac therapy as an in-patient – or be referred to the Wound Healing Unit in Cardiff, where Professor Keith Harding is the lead consultant. My wife heard about this unit by chance at a conference, and I’m very glad she did!

Patients I speak to online often seem reluctant to ask for a second opinion. Perhaps they fear upsetting their current team or consultant, but this has never been my experience – in fact twice I have had consultant surgeons say they want me to see someone else because either they recognise they can no longer help me, or they just want me to hear other options. My consultant referred me to Cardiff, and because of a cancellation I am going there on Wednesday, which has pleased everyone involved.

In the mean time, the tissue viability nurse has started me on a different negative pressure therapy – SNAP by Acelity (see picture below).

This silent, spring based unit has a dressing more akin to a stoma bag, so it has been much better at maintaining the seal and seems to be working well – however I am not going to be cancelling my appointment with the Prof just yet…

So, that is my little health pdate – I have some other stuff to update on too, but now it is late and time for bed (after I schedule this post!). Until next time, which will feature nudity (sort of).