There are different sores that immobile people get and the management is different. Warm flowing air is one thing that seems to help any type. Soaps and detergents are increasing thought to be harmful to elderly skin. Cleansers need to be pH balanced to skin and not drying. Skin breakdown from urine, feces, and other moisture needs to be kept clean and exposed to air regularly to heal. Desitin works well to protect from repeated exposure, but the area needs to be exposed to air and warmth too, for 20 minutes at least 3 or so times a day. It doesn't matter if you put the desitin on first, if it dries to a coating that will not hurt the skin (good in fact, if really moist and weepy), just don't think that you have to scrub every bit of it off every time you clean. A hair dryer on low, or a sunny window, or a warm lamp (NOT a heating pad or lamp!) are examples that work. Generally for excoriated or macerated skin, antibiotic creams are not needed and will upset the normal balance of bacteria on the skin. Pressure sores are another animal. They also need to be kept clean, but relieving the pressure is the only true treatment. Prevention is the best treatment! All the other dressings etc are just add-ons to try to provide the best environment for healing. There are many types of cushions available; gel is generally considered the best for a chair or small area, there are also some very good air seat (Sundance Medical makes a nice one that I got for my mother) and bed cushions plus the air mattresses that can inflate with a special machine do work. Eggcrate foam is another option more budget friendly. None of these will 100% (or even 80%) prevent a pressure sore if the person stays in one position for hours. The Calcium alginate and silver dressings are quite effective, westelle, I can tell you that. But it takes time. As someone stated above, elderly skin and tissue just don't heal quickly sometimes. Ulcers that are due to nerve damage or poor circulation can be nigh impossible to heal completely. I don't like duoderm that much for pressure wounds, I think that there are better products like Mepilex (very gentle on the skin) and Tegasorb, but it is a good protecter/preventor for areas that tend to get banged up like ankle and elbows. Tegaderm (and similar products) is good for skin areas that are prone to tearing or abrasion--like arms and shins. It is like adding a layer of tough skin, but mind, once it is on, it stays on until it comes loose on its own or you risk tearing the skin further. A product like skin- prep or cavilon no-sting barrier needs to be applied to the skin before any kind of adhesive (tape or dressing). These also can work quite well as incontinence barriers. The other key to preventing sores is to prevent shearing -- like when the person tends to slide down & out of the chair. Find a chair that doesn't encourage this. Hope all that helps someone! (PS I am a critical care RN and on my unit's skin team)

I am so sorry.. The pain is still fresh for the both of us.. Your website is beautiful! He would be proud of it, I'm sure.. Remember that he will be with you during graduation. Right next to you, look for a sign, I'm sure you will see something today..I have to remind myself that Dad wouldn't want me being sad..He didn't like that..He would always try to cheer me up..Remember those moments.. I'm facing a birthday party on Sun. that I'd rather not have..But I'd have a very disappointed 6 yr old little girl if I don't do it..He loved the kids and the parties, the kids were his drive in life, one of them..He would drive 2 hrs each way to come and visit sometimes for an hour and go home..Christmas will be tough too... We had the picture perfect Night before Christmas ritual going on. He would read that story, I would put the cookies in place and hang the stockings. He would hang around while I wrapped the presents and he would help me eat cookies. Last Christmas he was sick and in the hosptial from the 14th to Jan 5th or so..Little did I know, it would be his last..I questioned it, but everyone said I was overreacting, he'll be fine..Then in April, they tried to take out the cancer and found all through out his body! I was right!!! I'm having my moments too...Good luck today.. Keep in touch. Heather

thanks, guys! considering how she looked the day after surgery (SO pitiful!!!) and after the first couple of days at home being pretty brutal for both of us, her recovery has been miraculous. i hope i never have to go through this again but if i ever do, i'll be back on dr. o'brien's doorstep. he is one awesome vet!!!

Who knew? I was trying to figure out how to duplicate a recipe from a Toronto restaurant that smokes mussels over pine needles. Are they edible? Absolutely! A whole world opened up and we have two pine groves. I found this amazing blog that opened my eyes: The Powerful Properties of Pine Trees (and other Extraordinary Evergreens) March 2, 2012admin 14 Comments 16 The Powerful Properties of Pine Trees (and other Extraordinary Evergreens) – by Heather Gardener If you go down to the woods today you’re in for a big surprise; for every where a pine tree’s there, a needle nibbler gathers her fare…feasting and foraging in the forest! A revolution is taking place in response to our ever burgening economic crisis. This revolution will not be televised, sanitised or franchised… its a downsized Wild Revolution! People are swopping the supermarkets for the forest, and realising that the contents of their teapot or blender need not come from a plastic package of dubious origin and unknown length of storage, but from natures cornicopia. Most of us are by now familar with the possibility, if not the practice, of picking greens from our backyard or park to add to our diet. Did you realise that trees also come bearing gifts of nutritious bounty? Most trees have edible parts such as leaves, bark, blossom and fruit; but even in the depths of winter, it is still possible to gather nutritious nibbles in the forest from the Evergreen family. Edible Evergreens Most Evergreen trees are edible, but for safety and simplicity, stick to the Pine, Fir and Spruce family. It was discovered back in the days of scurvy that these trees are extremely high in Vitamin C, as well as vitamin A, quercetin, flavonoids, anthocyanins and volitile oils that are beneficial for respiratory conditions,coughs, colds and flus as well as being anti inflamatory. Pine Power The pine has been revered and used all over the world. It was used as a traditional remedy by the Native American Indians, and there is a Taoist practice of surviving only on pine needles to gain supernatural powers that has its roots in the pine tree’s symbolism of integrity and honour. The Scandinavians used pine branches in saunas, and many cultures stuffed mattresses with pine needles to repel lice, fleas, and other insects. In fact, pine-needle mattresses are still used today in the Swiss Alps, as a remedy for rheumatism. According to Ben Charles Harris’s book ‘Eat the Weeds’, a cup of pine needle tea may supply five times as much vitamin C as in a lemon. Studies in both China and Russia have also found it to be Anti-Fungal, Anti-Bacterial & Anti-Viral, AntiOxidant & Anti-Aging, Helpful for Weight, Cholesterol & High blood pressure, Relieves Sore, Aching Muscles, Stimulating to the Liver, Astringent for the Bladder, Relaxing to the Mind and Stress Relieving, AND Helpful in Restoring Overall Balance to The Body! (Wow! Now wasn’t that a mouthful!) Identification Pine trees usually have quite long needles, sometimes up to 8 inches. Spruce and fir have much shorter needles, with the fir being more sparse. A tree identification book and some rambles in your area will reveal what varieties you have for your tasty Pine Potion adventures. Caution Start out slowly to avoid any ill effects. These trees contain concentrated chemical compounds! Do NOT consume evergreen tree parts if pregnant or breastfeeding. Pine Needle Tea ½ cup of pine needles (or other needles from fir or spruce trees) Crush the needles slighly & add to a pot of boiling water (3-4 cups). Simmer for 15-20 mins, or simply steep the needles in not yet boiling water. You can add a spoon of honey or other liquid sweetener (maple syrup, agave, etc), as well as herbs such as rosemary or green tea, to this wonderfully aromatic brew. Left over tea can be added to a bath, poured over the stones in a sauna, or used as a rinse for the hair to combat dandruff! According to Wikipedia, Vitamin C may not be desroyed by high temperatures but will instead leach into the water; if this is the case, we will not be loosing the Vitamin C by drinking this infusion. Sergei Boutenko’s Douglas Fir Green Smoothie Recipe 10 Tips of Douglas Fir (gather the fresh young tips in spring) 2 cups of spinach or your favourite green 2 bananas 2 cups of water Simply blend and Enjoy! Swap recipes around with different young green tips of either Spruce or Pine. Use some foraged Wild Edibles instead of Spinach, and add in some berries to boost the Vitamin C content for Winter Wellness. For example, add in freshly foraged rosehips! The fresh green spring tips are also great to add to salads. You can also run a few needles through your juicer to add extra oompf to your juices. Alternatively, take 10-15 fresh pine needles and chew them thoroughly. Swallow the juice, but spit what is left of the needles! Pine Needle Vinegar or Oil 500ml Glass Jar 500ml of either Cyder Vinegar or Organic Cold Pressed Oil Several handfuls of Pine Needles Make sure the jar is very clean and dry. Slightly crush the pine needles with a rolling pin and pack them into the jar. Pour on as much vinegar or oil to fill and cover the jar. Allow to infuse for up to 6 weeks. Strain and use or if you wanted a stronger infusion, or pack in more fresh crushed needles. For a more balsamic tasting vinegar, add a tablespoon of coconut sugar. Both are wonderful aditions to salad dressings. The vinegar is also great to take in a cup of warm lemon and honey to ward of colds and flus, while the oil is great to massage tired aching limbs. Pine is also reputed to relieve skin conditions, such as psoriasis. You can use the oil or make an ointment to rub on irritated skin or fungal infections. Spruce Butter Melt a pound of coconut oil gently over a bain marie, then add ¼ cup of young fresh spruce tips. Allow to infuse for a couple of hours or overnight. Melt the oil again and strain out the needles. Use as a flavoursome butter or to add an interesting twist to your recipes. Good as a tonic for the hair and skin as well! Pine Needle Sugar or Honey Place crushed pine needles into a jar of honey or coconut sugar and leave for several weeks or months. Use in teas, desserts or other creative concoctions. For variety, add peices of lemon or orange peel to flavour. Sergei’s Pine Needle Toothbrush Pine resin is great for removing sugars from the teeth. Simply chew up some pine needles until it makes a ball and scrub your teeth with it! Pine Bouquet Garnish Make a little bunch out of sprigs of pine, rosemary, thyme, bay leaves and tie together with a little hemp or organic cotton string. Drop it into the pot if you’re making a stew, soup or grain based cooked dish and allow the flavours to permeate the dish before removing. Pine Cones & Needles Potpourri Bring the outdoors in with the refreshing fragrance of pine. 6 cups dried pine needles (not brown) 2 cups small pine cones 2 cup dried orange peel 1 cup dried rosehips 1 cup dried rose & marigold petals 1 cup broken cinnamon sticks 4 tablespoons of orris root (optional) 15 to 20 drops of oil of pine (more or less as desired) In a bowl, place the oil on the orris root if using. Orris root is traditionally used to fix scent. Otherwise, sprinkle the oil on the pine cones, and gently mix all the ingredients together. To use, place into open containers throughout the house. Add more essential oil as needed. Keep out of reach from children and animals. Preserving your Needles To freeze, just snip the needles into smaller pieces and place in a zip lock bag in the freezer until ready to use. You can also dehydrate them, or dry out over a stove or in an airing cupboard. When dry, you can store in a jar, or more interestingly you can process them to a powder in your blender and use to add an aromatic flavour to various recipes. Wild Pine Pollen Wild pine pollen is reputed to be very high in natural testosterone. It can be gathered in the spring when the buds are blooming! Cover the tip of a branch with a plastic bag and shake the branch vigourously to collect the pollen in the bag.