Anyone had probs with their incision after a laparotomy?

[Kelly22]

I had a Laparotomy 2 1/2 wks ago and had my staples removed on Monday. All went fine and I would just like to say try not to worry to much about this surgery! Only problem is that I have a small hole at the bottom of my incision which just keeps leaking fluid. It does not get any bigger but will not close on its own. A nurse told me on Monday that they wouldn't stitch it up and she just put a dressing on it. Problem is it leaks right through the dressing. It does not hurt but I am a bit concerned this will not go, after all it has been 2 weeks now. I know it sounds a bit disgusting but has anyone else had this problem and has it healed ok?

[Mcmasehere]

Yes I had to have the same exact problem and I am I at 2 1/2 weeks myself right now. I am wondering what happened with you did it heal on its own? Did you have to have treatment? Please inform me

[Amberdougall]

Hi,

I had a laparotomy for the second time, 3 weeks ago.

How should I treat the scar?

I want to minimise the adhesions,how?

I have a bit of a bungle above the incision, will this go?

[lhamilton]

can anyone help me i had lap removal ovary 6 days ago, and i have not been feeling well and noticed a red area around my belly button they said cellulitis and got put on a antibotic, the redness is going away but there is a hard lump under my incision and I am still sore is this normal the other two incisions have healed and are not sore at all I will be returning to work on Monday. The doctor put me on another antibiotic because my uterus was sore and said it could be infected but I am nervous to take this one, i get bad side affects and if it is not a bacterial like the cellulitis was i would prefer not to take another dose of antibiotics. anyone have lump under the belly button incision and how long was that incision sore.
lhamilton

[mom2maddie32503]

Yes- the depth of my hole was less then the tip of a q-tip so my ob wasn't concerned.
Good luck!

[turtledovemom]

The determining factor of whether or not a dehissed incision is packed or not is the depth of the opening...not the length.  Sounds like you ladies were lucky with yours!
peace,
Anne

[sippy]

Hi,
I had an actual drainage hole after my TAH(4 wks ago) They didn't stitch it and it was a good size.  I kept it covered and even though it drained nearly 2 1/2 weeks it did finally heal.
In previous c-sections I've had drainage from the wounds for 2-3 weeks while it healed and they just tell you to keep it covered and it will heal up and it always has. :) The best to you.

sippy

[mom2maddie325]

I am back to work in a little less then 4 weeks from my laparotomy and I am also 5 months pregnant. I feel great, so it can be done.
Also I had a small hole around 2 weeks post op. I was told to let it air out as much as possible during the day. It has to have air hit it so it can start to dry out. Mine also leaked for about a day or so. I would let it air out unless you are going to be out of the house, then put on a bandage.
Good luck.

[bigred2]

hey kelly, i had lap done about a month ago. besides my belly button getting infected it all went very well. even a month post op i still have some drainage from my belly button. i went today for my follow up and they just told me to keep up with my half and half peroxide and water. i was on antibiotics for ten days and she gave a script for another antibiotic if it gets worse. i would just keep communicating with your doc about this and keep an eye on things. if it gets worse definately stay ontop of it. i hope this helps good luck and God Bless

[turtledovemom]

Funny and true story...
When they did my partial hysterectomy, I didn't get to see the face of the general surgeon who was in the room...was masked when they wheeled me in.  No biggee...until he came in to check the incision the next day.  He made Doogie Howser look like he should have an AARP membership.  We began referring to him as the "young pup".  As it would be, he had the honor of removing the staples when it was time.  He proceeded to do his work and, lo and behold, a literal fountain began spurting into the air from my poor bod.  While I was ready to scream...he just looked down and said (in his best valley boy voice) "Woah!!!"  What a guy!
peace,
Anne

[Apricot100]

I don't know if this is the same thing with no other escape...but I had vaginal draining of this clear yellow fluid.  I had to wear pads & depends because it was a lot. It may be ascites or just fluid from healing.  Is that what yours is?  My incision healed well so maybe this was the only escape for the fluid.  Mine lasted a few weeks after surgery, then stopped for 2 weeks then started again.

[dairelle]

I tought by tellin you my old surgery story that it might ease your mind a little.  I had ER Surgery almost two years ago, leaving an incision about 3.5 inches.  Before the staples came out, I noticed infections and doctors removed the staples early to relieve the infection by removing a cyst that formed(gross, but no other way to share).  This now left a huge 1.5 inch hole that they said would heal in due time.  It took well over a month.  Maybe 6 weeks if I recall.  Your incision has to now heal from the inside out.  It will ooze all the time and I had to change the bandages often. In the beinning I had four gauge pads folded over to collect all the fluid.  Doctor said all was normal.  This eventually became smaller and less secretion, therefore allowing me smaller and smaller bandages.  The only thing I was cautioned to do was to keep a large bandage on while showering to keep any soaps that may irritate out.  After showering just change again.  All this advise and care was reiterated by my fam. doctor, general surgeon and my urologist.  Now, the scar is a line with a small circle at the end where the hole was.  I think it looks fine though.  Very liveable considering the circumstances for which all happened.

As for working too soon.  I went back to work less than two weeks after surgery with a cathader still attached to me.  My job is physical and looking back was the silliest thing I did.  Doctors asked that I do nothing for 4 months.  It took me almost a year to get back my full strength from over doing things.  This also created my incision to become soar and a little red, even after the incision was closed due to irritation from the bandages.  Please take it easy.  When you finish your day at work call it quits and rest up at night.  Don't even do house cleaning.  The internal problems (soarness and stuff) when checked by specialists was all chaulked up as over exurting the area.  Don't forget that you are trying to heal inside yet.  It will cause unnecessary scarring inside.

Take care! I hope this helps a little.

[turtledovemom]

Kelly...
One final word about going back to work on Monday...driving, walking up and down stairs, lifting (anything heavier than a gallon of milk), and pushing and pulling things will have an effect on your abdominal muscle s.  Even the things that we see as the easiest in our daily routines have a tendency to effect our incisions.
peace,
Anne

[Kelly22]

OK, thankyou very much for explaining that to me Anne. Yes I will have a chat with my doctor tomorrow, I am planning to work on Monday as I only do office work so sit down all day really. Depending on the healing tho the doctor may advise me otherwise so we shall see.

Thanks for the advise tho and I shall keep posted.
Kelly

[turtledovemom]

Wow...back to work after 3 weeks?  Your choice, but that's really soon.  I hope you mention that your doc...remind him/her of what it is that you'll be doing during the course of the day.  

Wet-packed just means that they take either a 4x4 or a 2x2 gauze...sometimes another curly type of material, wet it down with sterile saline solution, squeeze it so that it's not dripping wet...but still wet (I know that's confusing), and they pack the dampened material into the open wound.  Sterile gauze is put over that followed by a bandage.  My doctor insisted that the visiting nurses use a bandage called Primapore (his choice) and the healing took place pretty quickly.  The point of the process is that the incision be allowed to close from the bottom up...not the outside first leaving  a big gap in your outer abdomen.  It's not a difficult process.  Some of the women here have actually done it for themselves.  My husband learned how to do it the first time I had an incision open up and he helped with the process this time, as well.  

When you see the doc tomorrow, just do your best to let them know the number of gauzes you go through as well as the approximate size of the drainage.  It will help their decision as to how your incision should be handled.  Keep us posted!
peace,
Anne

[Kelly22]

Hello Anne, yes I am going to see my doctor tomorrow. Its not leaking majorly but it does go through the dressings and like i say this has been going on 2 wks now. What do you mean by it being wet packed from the inside out?  I do have to admit I am feeling much better after my op and am finding it difficult too not do too much, I also plan to go back to work on Monday which will nearly be 3 wks after my op.

[turtledovemom]

Hi, Kelly...
Sorry to hear that your incision isn't cooperating with you.  If you can tell your doctor exactly how many gauze pads you're using (in a time frame) and approximate the size of the leakage (size of a quarter etc), that will help them determine whether or not they need to see you.  If its big enough, it needs to be wet packed from the inside out...because it needs to heal that way.  I've had my incision open up two separate times, most recently this past April.  It will be very helpful if you give the doc/nurse more specific info.  

Also, do your best not to overdo your activities.  Even if you're feeling better or stronger, try your best to adhere to the restrictions your doc has given you.  That will help your healing process tremendously.  Please keep us posted...let us know if you need any other info or help.
peace,
Anne