These Ain't Boots At All: Update on Mom's Ulcer Treatment

Things have been rather quiet on the homefront lately, leaving very little of note to blog about. I did, though, promise a follow up to this post about a new treatment for Mom's leg ulcers, so here it is.

Compression Sleeves: looks like some 1980s sci-fi torture device

It turns out the boot looks nothing like we thought it would. It's not a hard boot at all, or even a boot, for that matter. Instead, they are long sleeves sized for her legs. They cover foot to thigh, and zip up. The outer shell and inner are some sort of polyester blend. Within the shell and liner are air pockets--4 per leg. The air pockets are attached to tubes, and the tubes are attached to a compressor of sorts. Once Mom puts the sleeves on, the compressor pushes air into the sleeves inflating them, and putting consistent pressure on her legs.

They aren't very comfortable, and Mom loathes the whole process (though she hasn't complained). I can't say I blame her. The first time she wore them, I felt so badly for her that I kept checking in constantly, asking if she needed me to get her anything. After a while, I think she got tired of me trying to play nurse! (I'm not a very good nurse! There's a reason I stayed away from the health care field).

At first, she was ordered to wear them for 1.5 hours twice daily for a total of 3 hours per day. Mom followed the doctor's orders, but all hell broke less after only the 2nd day. After each treatment, another ulcer popped up! She had dozens of tiny ulcers on her legs, filled with fluid and painful. Her legs were bandaged and taped from knee to ankle! I thought perhaps that is how this works; the compression pushes all of the fluid out, and after a while, she'll stop getting the ulcers and will be able to maintain ulcer-free legs as long as she uses the sleeves. Now, remember how I said I didn't go into health care for a reason? Well, because I didn't, there's also a reason not to listen to my ideas about how to treat health problems.

Mom on My Wedding Day

Yep, Mom returned to the wound specialist and he ordered her to stop the compression treatment for a week's time to give the new ulcers time to heal. After a week, she was to use the sleeves for only a half hour daily. Apparently, there was just too much pressure, too soon, for too long.

Mom has been using the sleeves for only a few days again, and there seem to be no new ulcers, at least none that she's shown me. For now, we're all keep our fingers crossed and hoping for the best. I know it's terrible for her to have to go through this, but if it can offer the hope of a healthier Mom, it's worth it. She hasn't complained about using the sleeves now; in fact, she's been a real trooper! I think Mom has some hope now, too.