Appendectomy Complication

[Judy111]

I had an appendectomy at the end of October 2008.  1 1/2 weeks after I was sent home from the hospital, I ended up back at the surgeons office where he had to cut the incision all the way open.  Two days later I ended up in the hospital with a terrible infection.  I was released with a new type of drainage machine that had never been used before and was only suppose to wear it about five days per the surgeon.  The home health care facility sent nurses out but were not trained properly for the machine.  To make a long story short...the nurses were packing the incision too tight with gauze sponges and it defeated the purpose of the machine to close by incision.  I went back for my check-up a couple weeks later...this was around the middle of Novemeber 2008....and the surgeon told me it may be best to take care of the wound myself.  He showed me how to pack it and by the end of December I finally did not have to wear any dressings at all---due to drainage.  I visited the surgeon at the end of December and he released me.  I have a huge problem that is starting to cause me to worry.....I have been dieting to lose weight for the past three weeks, I noticed before and during my diet there is a hard knot bigger than my fist that is on the right side of my belly.  It is in the same region as the incision.  It is very painful and is absolutely hoorible to look at.  When I stand up and take the palm of my hand to push in on the knot, I hear and feel squishing sounds.  I also hear and feel this when I bend over.  I am wondering if there could be some gauze left in the incision or could it possibly be an air pocket????  I need some help with this,  I am absolutely miserable with the pain and can't bear to look at my stomach.  I don't want to go back to the surgeon because of trust issues.  Should I go to a gastro specialist or another surgeon?  Please please help!!!

[may2390]

you must have to choose those surgeon specialists in GI problems to determine the main reasons behind your condition.

[Judy111]

Thank you for responding.  It's nice to know people care.

[CalGal]

You need to get this re-evaluated by a competent surgeon or a good GI person, but a surgeon would probably be a better choice. It's possible the problem could be a hernia which can unfortunately easily happen after any form of surgery.