This is an odd question and not sure if this is the right place to put it on the forums but here goes!

I was banded March 4th, and have had post surgical complications. The biggest incision over my port opened when they took the staples out and is now a very slowly healing open would. It IS healing, which is good, because if it wasn't they would have to take out my port.

In any case my entire family (i.e. my husband and kids, but also my sisters and THEIR kids and my parents!) are scheduled to travel to Disney in the Orlando area and then to Sarasota in Florida in early April. I need to find nursing care there who can do the bandage changes on my incision, and of course I want to have it planned in advance. I may be a self-pay or my travel insurance may cover it, I don't know, but either way I need to have the care organized. Can anyone help??? If I don't have this organized before the vacation I can't go, and that is just not an option!!!

Thanks so much!

You might try visiting nurse service- they could set up a time to check in at your hotel. Your doctor would need to give them orders but it shouldn't be a problem.

I don't understand why a family member cannot replace the bandage?

You should be able to do this your self or a family member. What kind of dressing is it???

You might try visiting nurse service- they could set up a time to check in at your hotel. Your doctor would need to give them orders but it shouldn't be a problem.

Can you tell me what you mean by "nurse service"? That sounds like it would be great, but whom do I contact? My surgeon would certainly write a prescription - he has already for the care I receive here.

I don't understand why a family member cannot replace the bandage?

It's because it's a big gaping incision wound. The incision opened when they removed the staples. It is nothing like changing a regular bandage. It has to be irrigated, necrotic (i.e. dead) tissue flushed out, packed with mesh, and then bandaged. Imagine if your incision had never closed and you had no stitches - the big hole has to slowly fill with new tissue. That's what I have. While it is healing the nurse fills the hole with this special mesh that is antibiotic and aids in healing. It's not simply changing a bandaid, which anyone could do .

I googled "visiting nurse orlando" and this is one of the sites that popped up: http://www.vnaflorida.org/

There are probably multiple visiting other agencies if that one doesn't work out. It's most likely a matter of finding one that will visit you where you're staying and having your doctor fax them orders for wound care.