Wound care treatment

I have been having horrible ulcers on my skin. Way more than what is typical for me. I had about 35 between both arms, and then about 5 or 6 huge ones on my legs. My left leg in particular has a sore that takes up my entire bottom portion of my calf. I have never seen anything like it, and neither has my doctors and others suffering with BD. I have been seeing a well known wound care specialist at UIC for the past two months. He has given me multiple different medications and wraps to promote healing and prevent infection. So far,  it has been helping immensely. Also, they performed a technique called a debridement. This is where they numb up the area and use a scalpel to scrape off any dead tissue/skin that may be preventing it from healing. It wasn't bad. Tomorrow they are going to take cadaver skin and place it on the area using steri strips. It's similar to a skin graft but it's not a surgical procedure. Since I am on high dose steroids and am therefore immunosuppressed, the hope is that my body will not reject this skin as foreign and will accept it as my own and use it to promote healing and reduce scarring. I am afraid, not for the pain because I don't think it will hurt. But instead it really, really grosses me out. I am very thankful for whomever decided they wanted to become an organ donor because this allows me to even get this procedure. But the thought of it makes me sick. I hope that I am able to stomach it.

I will update as things progress. Next week I also have two appointments, one with my rheumatologist and pain management doctor. And then I have oral surgery on Wednesday. I really want to get that over with. It's not going to be fun healing from that while having horrible mouth ulcers. Oh well, such is life with BD.

I have to say that I am so excited that I have found various "secret" groups on facebook that have members who are all suffering from Behcet's. I don't know why it took me this long to find it, but I am just lucky that I finally have. I have been connecting with SO many people who understand exactly what living with this disease is like. There are so many people with similar situations and it is nice to know I am not alone. I am creating some really great friendships throughout this process. Although this is not the means I wish us to connect, I feel blessed to have found the people I have. I hope to continue to meet others so that we can support one another and fight this lifelong battle. We will NOT let BD win.