What you said about lips sticking together was spot on. I forgot to mention that my wounds have always been in that difficult area to heal. I've had sticky lips in the morning since I've had the wounds. Recently I would gently pry my lips open with my finger to keep the wounds/scabs from tearing.
And the DIY devices is a great idea! I'll definitely look into those and find a good one.
Also are your lips fully healed yet?
Thanks so much for your input it's really helpful.