Zinc Sulfate Update

For about two months I have been foot ulcer free! With the approval of my doctor, I began taking 220mg of the supplement zinc sulfate on a daily basis. As a result--like I commented in a previous post--I noticed a marked improvement on the healing time of my wounds. I really felt the zinc helped the several wounds I had,  heal faster. It was my hope, if I continued to take the zinc sulfate on a daily basis, that it might prevent new wounds from forming. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

There have been spots--one on my right foot and one on my left foot--that I have been concerned about for nearly a week. Though I do my best to protect my feet, and keep them warm, one of those spots broke open yesterday into a new wound. Right now it's small, but they usually start out that way.

The info I read on the internet had SCD patients take 220mg of zinc sulfate three times daily. My doctor felt that was too much, and so did my body. So far, my experience has been, if I take it twice a day, I get nauseous to the point of vomiting; I only tried three times a day once; I was sick for two days. Taking it only once a day--usually at night before bed--I have not experienced any nausea.

If you are suffering from foot ulcers, ask your doctor about zinc sulfate. Maybe it will help you.

Zinc Sulfate & Sickle Cell Leg Ulcers

I recently did some research on the internet and read several studies and articles about zinc sulfate. Apparently, these studies indicate that taking 220mg of zinc sulfate three times a day can significantly improve healing time.

Like iron and other minerals, proper zinc levels are important to our body's normal function. Sickle Cell patients are often zinc deficient. This deficiency can have many negative side affects. Among other problems, this deficiency may be one of the causes of Sickle Cell leg ulcers.

Intrigued by the studies I read, I asked my doctors about taking zinc sulfate. My doctor recommended I take 220mg once a day, rather than three times a day. It's been about a week and a half since I started taking it, and I have already noticed an improvement. There really seems to be an acceleration in healing. I am cautiously optimistic that perhaps I have found one more thing that makes a subtle difference.

So my friends, if you too are struggling with Sickle Cell leg ulcers, ask your doctor about taking zinc sulfate. Even if it helps just a little, it is worth it. But here is a tip, be certain to take it with food. MedMD said it's best to take it one hour before eating or two hours after eating. I tried that. It made me nauseous. Taking it with food, however.....no nausea. So take it with food.

Best wishes.

Red Light Therapy & Sickle Cell Foot Ulcers

I know some people may be skeptical about this, but I feel like sharing anyway. Through happenstance, I became aware of, and began to research, “photonic therapy” or “red light therapy.” Clinical medical studies have proven the benefits of this light treatment to include: reduction of pain and inflammation; increases cellular regeneration and healing; improve circulation; relax muscles; and much more. I read several studies where diabetic ulcers treated with photonic therapy healed 70-90% quicker than those treated with placeboes or conventional means. Needless to say, my interest was more than piqued. Sickle Cell leg/foot ulcers are not dissimilar from Diabetic ulcers.

I have been so depressed about my foot ulcers. For the past four years, it’s been a constant battle. I no sooner get over one wound and another one breaks out. After doing my research, I became very hopeful that maybe the Lord lead me to something that will not only help my wounds heal, but help prevent them from forming in the first place. So, after doing a lot of research, I decided to give this a go, and bought the product sold by Photonic Health. There are other companies out there, but I liked this one the best.

Basically, it’s a technology utilized by NASA 40 years ago. The device is about the size of a small flashlight and shines a red light that has a wavelength that helps promote cellular growth. I received my product on Wednesday and began using it right away.

When I awake each morning and put my feet on the floor, the blood begins rushing to my feet, and my foot ulcer burns like its on fire for 15-20 minutes. Thursday morning when I awoke, instead of my pain being 8-out-of-10, it was a 2. Thursday was also a day spent at Loma Linda with doctor appointments. Typically, unless my foot is elevated, it begins burning badly. When I go to the doctors, I can’t wait to get home, elevate my feet and put some lidocaine on my wounds because they hurt something awful. This Thursday was different. I had very little pain all day, and by the time I got home, the pain was still very slight; not at all at the level I typically experience.

Though I have only been using this light for five days, I am very hopeful and encouraged by the results I’ve already seen. Over the past five days, if my foot began burning at all, I have used the red light on it for about five minutes and the pain was gone. This has been true for the arthritis pain I have in my hand, and other pains. My parents have also used the red light for various issues and likewise have seen and felt positive results.

I am very anxious to see how, if at all, this device improves the healing of these painful wounds on my feet. Even if this device does little else, even if my healing time is not improved, the device has already been worth the expense. Anything that helps remove or reduce the pain from my wounds is worth the cost.

To learn more about the product I bought and how it works, click here. There are similar products out there which are used for cosmetic purposes. This device, however, is more powerful. If you go to the above website, you will see they promote their device for use on animals. It is however, designed for us on humans and animals. I think it’s promoted for veterinary use as a way of getting around selling it as a medical device and the red tape of the FDA. After all, the pharmaceutical companies don’t want devices sold that can help patients heal faster.

I know this is a long post. Please forgive me. I just wanted to share this others. I know there are other people out there who can benefit from such a device. I will keep you appraised of how, if at all, this product continues to bless my life. So far, I feel it’s worth the investment. And it may be something other people may be interested in as well.

 

Sickle Cell Foot Ulcers: My Wound Care Process

I’m still struggling with foot ulcers. I don’t know why, but the last 5-10% of a wound always takes the longest to heal. If 90% of my wound heals in two months time, the remaining 10% will take two addional months. Don’t ask me why. Nor can the doctors explain why.

I thought in this post I would explain my process I use for cleaning my wounds.

1.  Lay out your supplies in an organized way.
2.  Have a clean work area
  a.  I have a fairly large plastic tote with a lid that holds all of my cleaning supplies. I place a clean hand-towel on top of the lid and rest my foot on top of the tote; it’s my “work area”.
3.  Have something to collect your waste
  a.  I have a small trash can that I line with plastic grocery bags.
4.  Sterilize your hands and/or use gloves.
  a.  Though I never use gloves, I always sanitize my hands before starting.
5.  Carefully remove the old bandage
  a.  Sometimes it hurts to remove the tape that is on my skin. To make it less painful, I’ll lightly spray the tape with my wound cleanser. This helps a lot.
6.  Clean the wound
  a.  Using gauze sponges, I remove the bulk of the medication. I then spray the wound with wound cleanser; I use MicroKlenz.
  b.  I then pat the wound dry with clean gauze pads. For me, using a swiping motion with gauze is agonizing. I gently place the gauze on the wound and dap it.
7.  Lidocaine
  a.  The pain from cleaning the wound is usually pretty severe. Lidocaine jelly has been a wonderful blessing. A little lidocaine goes a long way.
  b.  Using a q-tip, I apply the lidocaine to the wound. It takes only a few minutes for it to begin reducing the pain. I leave it on for about five minutes.
8.  Second cleaning
  a.  Using q-tips, I remove as much slough from the wound as I can. I also clean the area around the wound and remove as much dead tissue as I can. Keeping the wound and surrounding tissue as clean as possible is vital.
  b.  I then use gauze pads to remove remaining lidocaine.

9.  Apply prescribed and/or preferred medication.
  a.  When I go to the wound clinic, the nurses always put the medication on the Telfa (non-stick gauze bandage) and then put the bandage on the wound. I dislike this method of application for the following reasons. 1) It puts medication on the healthy skin as well as the ulcer; 2) it causes the healthy surrounding tissue to become macerated (wet), weakened, and break down; and 3) it makes a mess.
  b.  When I apply my medication, which is Silver Sulfadiazine cream most of the time, I use a q-tip to put medication on the wound and only the wound. I clean all medication off the surrounding healthy tissue.
10.  Bandage the wound
  a.  Telfa is a non-stick gauze bandage. This means it doesn’t stick to the wound and is not painful when removing it.
  b.  When I cover my wound, I cut the Telfa to fit my wound. I don’t use a massive pad to cover a small wound. By cutting the Telfa to fit the size of the wound, it helps protect the healthy skin and keep it from breaking down. So if my wound is boomerang shaped, I cut the Telfa in the same shape.
  c.   Be careful not to use too much medication, whatever it may be. It can get very messy, gooey, and cause healthy tissue to break down.
  d.  If I am using manuka honey, I have to use a larger size telfa bandage than I do when using silver cream. The honey will leak all over the place if there isn’t a big enough bandage to contain it all.
11.       Tape the bandage
  a.  Everybody’s skin is different. For my skin, the 4M paper tape is best. I use as little tape as possible because it saves on tape and protects my skin. Using a lot of tape that really adheres to the skin is painful to remove and risks damaging the fragile skin around my wounds.
12.       Wrapping the wound
  a.  Depending on the wound’s location and circumstances, I wrap the wound using a conforming gauze roll.

Though it is often painful to do so, we have to take care of our wounds. Some days I just dont feel like messing with my feet. But I suck it up and clean them anyway. Normally I clean my wounds twice a day. Sometimes, due to the pain, I have to do it three or four times a day. I just have to clean the wounds and apply lidocaine to reduce the pain they cause. 

These wounds suck. They are awefully painful. They are frustrating to deal with. It plays with your emotions when you get wound after wound and it seems unending. But, it is what it is and we have to deal with them. Keep your wounds clean. Keep your skin healthy. Avoid dry skin. Be strong and have faith.

Lidocaine Relieves Sickle Cell Foot Ulcer Pain

I have to admit that sometimes, the pain from foot ulcers is quite severe. For me, the pain is usually the worst in the morning. Sleeping all night with my legs level, it’s when I get out of bed, put my feet on the floor, and all the blood begins rushing to my feet...that’s when it’s most uncomfortable. Often, the process of cleaning the cause also causes increased pain.

I recently went to my doctor and asked if there was anything I could apply to the wound to help with the pain. That’s when he prescribed Lidocaine jelly. The first time I used it, I couldn’t believe the amount of relief it gave me. I wish I had asked for that two and a half years ago when my first ulcer formed. At times, the pain was so severe from the cleaning process that it would take an hour or more before the agony subsided. With Lidocaine, however, relief comes within a minute or two of applying it. I’m now able to clean and dress my wounds with relatively little pain. Lidocaine is something I’d highly recommend anyone suffering from leg or foot ulcers to have in their medicine cabinet.

Buying Manuka Honey

Until recently, I thought the name brand, MEDIHONEY, was some kind of medical grade honey infused with some pharmaceuticals. It’s not. It’s 100% Manuka Honey. As I stated in the post entitled, “Honey and Sickle Cell Foot Ulcers,” MEDIHONEY costs around $18 for a 1.5oz tube, plus shipping. Since I have to clean my wounds twice daily, a tube that size will only last two weeks; three if I’m lucky. In order to save some of my precious dollars, I looked for a way to buy it in bulk. Doing some research, and being careful to buy genuine Manuka Honey, which is what MEDIHONEY is, I found another source.

Though there are other sellers on the Internet of quality tested Manuka Honey, the one I felt most comfortable trying was “Manuka Honey USA.” For the price of $43, I purchased 500g—which equals 1.1 pounds or 17.6oz—of UMF 16+ Manuka Honey. That’s the equivalent to almost twelve 1.5oz tubes of MEDIHONEY; and it has a slightly higher UMF rating than MEDIHONEY has.

For nearly three weeks I’ve been using this brand of Manuka Honey. While MEDIHONEY is a good product, and the use of it benefited my wounds, I have not noticed any negative differences since I changed to this other brand. My wounds seem to be healing at the same rate with this honey as with the other brand.

Ultrasonic Mist Therapy & Sickle Cell Foot Ulcers

Having a set of wounds for nearly a year that refuse to heal is quite frustrating. However, I've read that some Sickle Cell patients struggle with these wounds for many many years. Though my frustration level is pretty high, I do count myself blessed that I haven't struggled with these wounds for a longer period of time.

For the past six months or more, the two wounds I have on my ankle have literally gone nowhere very fast. There has been no improvement on them. Thankfully, however, they haven't gotten any worse; so that is something.

About two months ago my wound care doctor prescribed "Ultrasonic Mist Therapy." From what I've learned, this is a method of treatment in wound care that is only a few years old, but seems to be very beneficial for most patients. So what is Ultrasonic Mist Therapy?

Three times a week I went to hospital to receive the treatment. The nurse used a handheld device that kind of resembled a wand. Atop of the device was a bottle of saline solution. The nurse held the "wand" directly above the wound. The wand sprayed a steady mist of the saline solution while also shooting out ultrasound waves.

The treatment itself is painless and takes only a few minutes, depending on the size of the wounds. For me, the combined time of treatment for my two wounds was seven minutes. The combination of the saline solution and ultrasounds help to promote blood flow. Since a lack of proper blood flow to the feet and lower legs is the main cause of ulcers, obviously increased blood flow is highly desired.

I received the treatment three times a week for two months. After about two weeks of treatment, I really began to notice: 1) a HUGE reduction in the amount of pain I felt from the wounds; 2) the wounds were no longer deep enough to put a time or a nickle in; 3) the amount of slough on the ulcers was drastically reduced; 4) the wounds began to show slight signs of closing; and 5) "granulation" was greatly increased. "Granulation" is where flecks of fresh skin appear through the slough.

After a month of treatment, my doctor was very excited to see the vast improvement my wounds had made. With another month of treatment under my belt, I saw more improvement and signs toward total healing. Though I think it may take another month or two of treatments before my ulcers are completely healed, I'm encouraged to see them moving in a positive direction rather than staying unchanged.

For anybody who has leg or foot ulcer that won't heal, I highly recommend Ultrasonic Mist Therapy.

Aloe Vera on Sickle Cell Foot Ulcers

Another natural remedy comes from the Aloe Vera cactus plant. There are numerous species of Aloe plants, but it's the Aloe Vera plant that is best known for its medicinal properties. The gel from an Aloe plant can be taken internally and used externally. But the main purpose I'm focusing on here is its healing effects on wounds, burns, and damaged skin.

Growing up, my household always kept an Aloe Vera plant in the house. Whenever I got a scrape or skin injury, I'd apply it to the wound and it would help it heal quicker and with less scaring.

Recently I've tried using fresh Aloe Vera from a plant on my foot ulcers. As I mentioned before, there have been two especially stubborn wounds, and a third that finally healed. Until recently, the amount slough that existed on these wounds prevented the Aloe from reaching the actually damaged skin. However, on this third wound, the slough finally diminished enough that I could start applying Aloe to the ulcer. I was amazed at how quickly this particular wound healed once I started using the Aloe on it.

As of date, I still have two wounds that are taking their time to heal. Thanks to "Ultrasonic Mist Therapy," the slough on these two wounds is diminishing enough to allow me to use Aloe Vera on them. I'm hoping that by using the Aloe, I will see the same improvement on these ulcers as I did on the that recently healed.

If you struggle with ulcers, I would suggest you try using fresh Aloe vera from a plant, if possible. It certainly can't hurt, and it is a pain free method of treatment.

Honey and Sickle Cell Foot Ulcers

Sometimes, the best remedy can be found in nature. Many people have found organic honey to be highly beneficial in the treatment of leg/foot ulcers, infections, and a list of other ailments. While many medical professions are open to the benefits of honey, others are not. So far, my doctors have been.

“RAW HONEY”
This kind of honey has not been heat treated or pasteurized like much of the honey that's sold at most grocery stores. As a result, many of the healing properties found in raw honey, aren't cooked out of it.

ABOUT “MANUKA” or “ACTIVE LEPTOSPERMUM” HONEY
The pollen in the Manuka flower (or Leptospermum scoparium) is what bees in New Zealand use to make their honey. "Manuka Honey” has different enzymes and antibacterial properties that honey cultivated from other regions of the world don't have, making it more effective in healing wounds.

As a way of informing consumers about the quality of the Manuka Honey they are purchasing, two different rating systems are used; the UMF or MGO system. The following web page has good information about the difference between the two systems: http://www.aliveplushoney.com/amh-umf-and-mgo-rating-explained.php. Simply put, “both systems seek to measure the antibacterial strength of Manuka Honey.” When buying Manuka Honey, the higher the rating the better. In either the MGO or UMF system, a rating of +10 or more is most desirable; from what I can tell, the rating system stops at +20.

So, if the honey you are thinking about purchasing states its Mankua Honey is rated: MGO+16, UMF+16, or Activity Level +16, then it’s of good quality. Do your research, there are counterfeits out there who mix in true Manuka Honey with standard honey, thus reducing the quality of the product and the amount of healing potential. If a product says it “contains” Manuak Honey, but fails to provide a rating, that might be a red flag.

“WOUND HONEY”
A tube of "Wound Honey" costs anywhere between $15.99 to $19.99 for 80g (or approximately 2.8oz). The product Wound Honey contains Manuka Honey, Aloe Vera, and Pantheno (a common ingredient in skin care). Wound Honey states that it has a +12 activity level.

Wound Honey differs from MEDIHONEY in that it is very thin and runny. It can be a challenge to apply it to my vertical wounds without it running out of my wound and down my leg before I can apply the gauze. Though similar in price to MEDIHONEY, Wound Honey comes in a slightly larger tube; so it lasts a bit longer.

"MEDIHONEY"
This can also be purchased online, costing anywhere from $15.20 to $20.00 for a 1.5oz tube. A 0.5oz tube can also be purchased. It's also available in dressing form. The dressing is like a medicated patch that you can lay on the wound without worrying about the honey melting on your leg before you get the bandage on it. MEDIHONEY contains, "100% active leptospermum honey;" meaning, it has nothing in it but the Manuka Honey and is rated +15. It contains no Aloe Vera or Pantheno like Wound Honey does.

I recently discovered that MEDIHONEY can be bought in gel or paste form. Unaware of having an option, I've only used the gel. The gel is quite thick. This gives you several seconds to apply it to the wound and cover it with a bandage before the heat of your body starts melting it. The "paste"--though I haven't yet used it and from what I've read--gives you more time to dress the wound because it remains thick for a longer period of time. For vertical wounds, this would seem like the better of the two options.

WHAT I'VE EXPERIENCED
When I first learned that honey can help leg/foot ulcers heal, I read that organic honey was best. So that’s is what I first purchased. The first time I used it, I could only keep it on my wound for a few minutes before the burning I experienced was too much. However, when I removed the bandage, in that short time, I was amazed to see how much slough had been removed.

A mild burning sensation for a few minutes is not uncommon in the use of honey on wounds. But what I experienced was...I liken it to pouring lighter-fluid on my foot and setting it on fire; and that intense burning sensation remained present an hour after I removed the honey. What was most likely happening was the honey was doing what it was suppose to, it was removing the bacteria from the wound. Though I tried, I couldn’t endure it.

Next I tried “Wound Honey.” A person suffering from diabetic ulcers told me about it, so I purchased some. I hoped because it contained Aloe Vera, and claimed to have “a soothing effect” on wounds, it wouldn’t burn as bad as the organic honey. Unfortunately, it did burn just as badly. I spoke to a sales representative of "Wound Honey"; she was very surprised at the reaction I had to it. Most customers apparently don't experience the pain reaction I did.

When I told the doctor at my wound clinic that I tried "Wound Honey," he advised me to instead use "MEDIHONEY." Again, I wasn’t able to tolerate the pain. However, since my wounds have improved from the Ultrasonic Mist Therapy, I have been able to use honey on my wounds with little or no burning. At times there will be a mild stinging sensation for a few minutes, but it soon passes; it’s nothing like what I experienced before.

Medications for Sickle Cell Foot Ulcers

There are a variety of medications used to put on top of and treat foot and leg ulcers. The following is a list of medications my doctors have prescribed me.

 SILVER SULFADIAZINE CREAM
This is a thick white cream that is generally used for severe burns and leg/foot ulcers. It's an antibacterial cream that helps prevent infections. In my case, I have used this cream each time I cleaned and dressed the wounds, which was usually twice a day.
This has been a very effective medication for my wounds. It causes no pain when applied and is usually very soothing to the wound. It wasn't until I struggled with the two wounds that have refused to heal that other medications were used on my ulcers.

 SANTYL COLLAGNS
This is also a thick cream and is almost transparent. My doctor has advised me, when using Santyl, to clean and dress the wound only once a day.

The human body is an amazing and interesting machine. In an effort to protect the wound, the body will cause a mucus like film to form over the ulcer called slough; it's often yellow or white in color. Instead of protecting the wound, it actually prevents it from healing. So, to help the wound heal, the slough needs to be removed; also called debridement.

Santyl helps remove the slough from the wound so it has a chance to heal properly. If the slough and other dead tissue isn't removed, infection can set it. I have been amazed at how quickly an ulcer can turn from bad to worse.

 MUPIROCIN
This is another debridement ointment like Santyl. As with any illness, there are a number of medications available for a doctor to use. Due to the sensitivity of my wounds, Santyl and Mupirocin have both been hard to tolerate at times. But has my ulcers improved, I've been able to tolerate them better as of late.

 POLYSPORIN
This is a white powder that looks like flour. It's an antibiotic powder that is often used in first aid. My doctor has instructed me to sprinkle the Polysporin in with the Santyl. I put a small amount of Santyl in a tablespoon, sprinkle a little Ploysporin on it and mix the two together. This gives my wound the debridement benefit of the Santyl and antibiotic benefits of the Polysporin to help further reduce the chance of infection. The use of Polysporin with Santyl greatly reduced the amount of discomfort I felt when I used Santly alone.


 LIDOCAINE
The process of cleaning and dressing the wound can often be quite painful. The medication--such as the Santyl or Mupirocin--applied to the wound can sometimes cause pain. The kind of Lidocain I use is thin jelly that comes in a tube. I apply it to my wound if the pain gets too severe.

When I clean my wounds, sometimes the pain is at a level where I need to use the Lidocaine. If my wound is especially sensitive on any given day, I will use the Lidocaine before applying the Santyl. This has worked really well to help me tolerate the various medications my doctor has prescribed.