M** is still wearing the compression socks she was given while in hospital. These socks are to prevent blood clots forming in her legs, after surgery.
Depending on what surgery you have, depends on when you can take them off. By now, they were driving M** mad, she just couldn’t wait to be allowed to have them taken off.
I phoned the hospital for advice, and asked if it was ok to take them off, or would M** have to wait any longer.
They said it was fine to take them off now.
The other thing I asked for advice on was M**’s dressing. This was the original dressing, as she wasn’t provided with any other dressing once she was discharged. Probably because it wasn’t needed.
The dressing was what I could only describe as just a few pieces of tape.
By now it was looking like it would fall off soon.
I asked the nurse if I needed to change the dressing for fresh dressing, or should we remove it.
The nurse asked if the wound was weeping, or if it was dry.
I told the nurse, the wound was dry and scabby, as it was healing.
The nurse said it was fine to remove the dressing, as this is no longer needed, and letting the air in will also help with the healing.
M** was so pleased when I took her compression socks off, she said her legs and feet felt so much better. I told her we’ll keep an eye on her ankles and feet, and make sure they don’t swell. If they did, it would mean I’ve taken her socks off too soon.
They didn’t swell, so it was fine.
I also removed the dressing, it all looks fine. I measured the main incision, this was approx 4 inches, from left to right.
