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Original poster

Need help getting dressing off. DD is sobbing.

30 replies

mishymashy · 14/03/2012 20:51

DD has got quite bad burns all over her body after an accident on a treadmill which resulted in a long evening spent at the hosp on Monday night.

They had to put iodine soaked gauze on the deeper burns and covered with dressings. We could see the burns were oozing today so took the top dressings off but the gauze bit is well and truly stuck to her skin and we have no idea how to get it off.

DD is in a fair bit of pain and sobbing. Dramatic 12 year old syndrome i'm afraidHmm

How do we get it off without tearing the burns. She wont get in the bath because she is so sore all over and they did tell her to wait until Thurs/Fri before having a shower.

Any advice. I'm desperate and she's a mess and i want to watch OBEM in 10 minsGrin

thankyou

OP posts:
moonmother · 14/03/2012 21:02

My ds (8) complains having a plaster taken off - very dramatic little boy, lol.

I use oil - baby oil/olive oil etc as it takes away the 'stickiness'. I just soak some tissue/cotton wool with it, and lift a tiny bit of the plaster and then 'wipe' the oil onto the rest and gently ease it away slowly, bit by bit.

I do sympathise with your DD, I had a major kidney op when I was her age and I can still feel the nurse pulling the sticking plaster off my side even now ( that too was stuck, and had a very sore side) .

ladywithnomanors · 14/03/2012 21:06

If she has burns shouldn't she be going back to hospital for dressing changes? If not leave the dressing where they are until she's up to having a shower or bath.

Chopstheduck · 14/03/2012 21:10

Soak it in lukewarm water. Do NOT put oil on it.

Chopstheduck · 14/03/2012 21:11

And it will need treating with something antiseptic after

Original poster
mishymashy · 14/03/2012 21:12

Thankyou,

DD is now sat dabbing with oilGrin

Anything is worth a try. The hospital didnt offer any aftercare other than if infected go to G.P!

Thanks again, lets hope it works.

OP posts:
Original poster
mishymashy · 14/03/2012 21:14

Oops cross posted with everyone. No oil then! Bugger!!

Oil already applied will add a bit of water now.

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 14/03/2012 21:14

Leave them where they are and put clean dressing over the top. Then tomorrow, dose her up on paracetamol and ibuprofen an hour before a bath

KateShmate · 14/03/2012 21:14

Poor thing, that does sound really painful. They must be quite deep if the gauze is 'stuck' in the skin.

I would maybe put some cool/tepid boiled water over it - maybe using a sponge to try and 'loosen' the gauze. If its too painful, I doubt shes being 'dramatic' as burns are extremely painful, even if it is a minor one, so I would take her to your local Surgery and ask the nurse to see to her.
You don't want to rip the gauze off and cause more pain, and maybe even scarring.
If you end up seeing the nurse, ask for the gauze that is designed for burns. Its like gauze, but really sticky and doesn't stick to the skin - its absolutely brilliant, but very expensive so they tend not to use it. Bless her, bet its really sore - I only had quite a minor burn and I was virtually in tears myself, is horrible - hope shes got lots of sympathy and cuddles (if she'll have them!) tonight :)

KateShmate · 14/03/2012 21:17

Oh, and have you got any Germolene for when its a bit better? When you're able to get a look in, try and slap some of it on as it has local anaesthetic in it which will numb the pain.
If she's worried that it will sting, put loads on the gauze, and then put it on - she'll never know!

ggirl · 14/03/2012 21:17

Iodine dressings dry out quickly hence need changing often to prevent this

I would soak off with water , or go to practice nurse tomorrow

Chopstheduck · 14/03/2012 21:17

Ideally you want to submerge it in water to soak it off. If you add a liberal layer of antiseptic cream before redressing it should help stop it sticking again.

Original poster
mishymashy · 14/03/2012 21:19

Think we are going to have to re cover and visit the Drs. Its lifting her skin and i dont dare touch her. She's still dabbing away gently but is looking rather peaky.

She's too stroppy for cuddles!

Lots of soothing words instead.

OP posts:
ggirl · 14/03/2012 21:21

I wouldn't recommend any cream, if it's raw skin under the dressing she'll need a moist paraffin gauze , have you get anything that won't stick? Don't put gauze on again .

ggirl · 14/03/2012 21:22

yes leave it and get practice nurse to do tomorrow

sneezecakesmum · 14/03/2012 22:02

When I worked in A&E we stopped using iodine dressings for precisely the reason you are writing about. Instead at least 4 layers of vaseline gauze (sterile gauze impregnated with vaseline) because a) the wound stayed moist (research proven better method for wound healing) and b) didnt stick causing the newly healing skin to be ripped off! c) occluded the air/germs and was comfortable.

Please dont expect the practice nurse to have a magic wand and the dressing lifts painlessly off. However if you have no suitable dressings to replace them with you cant remove it. Soaking is the best, but it is a bit rubbish not to bring DD back for dressings changing, we used to check all burns rigorously as they are notorious for infection and scarring!

Original poster
mishymashy · 14/03/2012 22:16

Thankyou everyone for all the suggestions.

DD ended up having to soak her leg in warm water in the bath. She was determined she wasnt going to bed tonight without it being off!

Have to admit the one she put oil on did lift much easier, so thanks Moon but the soaking did the majority of the work on her other ones.

Her legs look a real mess so might have to take her to G.Ps tomorrow. 2 of them burns are deep purple so not sure if that is just the healing process.

I wont put anything on them tonight and see how she goes.

Thanks again

OP posts:
Original poster
mishymashy · 14/03/2012 22:18

the not them!

Makes me sound like a farmerGrin

OP posts:
Sidge · 14/03/2012 22:21

You should have left the dressings on.

The 'oozing' that came through may have just been the iodine staining the dressings.

And don't leave them bare overnight - generally burns need to be covered with a suitable dressing to keep them moist, reduce the risk of infection and promote healing to reduce scarring.

Original poster
mishymashy · 14/03/2012 22:29

They were supposed to come off tomorrow morning but had already starting peeling away and were uncomfortable and oozy.

I've got some looser dressing that i can cover the 2 worst ones with but should she have anything put on before i cover them. Got a cupboard full of stuff. Want to reduce scarring.

thanks again

OP posts:
Sidge · 14/03/2012 22:36

What have you got in your cupboard?

I wouldn't put anything such as cream on them before tomorrow, but maybe if you have a suitable dressing you could apply that?

Original poster
mishymashy · 14/03/2012 22:38

I've got large lint dressings that i can tape on and every antiseptic cream you can imagine.

DD wants them covered as she's worried the bedding will stick to them. 3 of them still look very moist.

OP posts:
Sidge · 14/03/2012 22:42

Hmm, lint dressings could stick, especially if they're the unwoven fluffy ones.

Don't put any creams on, if you're really stuck tape some panty liners to the burns (they are woven so less likely to stick and also absorbent).

Otherwise if you can get to an all night pharmacy ask for some Mepitel, and Mepore dressings, and put those on overnight.

Original poster
mishymashy · 14/03/2012 22:44

Thankyou, will give it a go.

Cant thank you enough. DD is definitely happier now.

OP posts:
IsLovingAndGiving · 14/03/2012 22:46

My Dd scalded whole chest area after knocking my tea off the table. We had an incident like this after having the dressings changed at a walk in clinic (as advised by A & E). They used dressings not right for burns and we started to smell things were not right. I took dd straight back to A & E where they gave her paracetamol and then had to carefully remove the dressing, which also removed top layer of skin... They redressed in a better dressing and the burn did make complete recovery. I would take her to doc or hospital where they know how to deal with it properly.

Lougle · 14/03/2012 22:48

Tbh, I would wrap a layer of cling-film around them tonight, then go to the GP in the morning. You really don't want to mess around with burns. I did a placement in a burns unit during nurse training, and they are incredibly easily infected.

If you put the kid gloves on now, your DD will have less scarring and complications later.