Gross Wound - Need Advice!

Hi.  I had Lap DS on June 1, but due to complications and three surgeries, the Opened me up on my third surgery.  I was stapled closed until last Monday when they removed the staples.  A one inch section opened up and i was told to pack it with saline gauze.  Well... at my Doc appt this past Monday, he checked to see how deep it was.  He stuck a qtip about 3 inches down into the wound!  He told me to make sure I packed it with gauze all they way down in there, but didn't even show me how.  When my home health nurse packed it, she didn't even go a quarter of an inch down in there.  I am concerned!   I have practiced and tried to get the gauze down in there, but there is a tight spot near the outside that limits what you can get down in there.  I have called, but don't feel like I am getting much assistance. 

I have a friend that works in a local wound center and she thinks I really need to step outside and come to their office for treatment.  I have made an appointment for next week with them.    I am thinking about calling my surgeon's nurse to let her know. 

One reason I am so concerned is that when I remove the gauze to change it, this gross liquid(supposedly some sort of fat substance) is in there and it seems to explode to get out as I remove the gauze.  Like all I am doing is putting a cork in the wound.  That can't be good! 

Has anyone else experienced anything like this?  What did you do?  How long did it take to heal?  T

How far are you from Dr. Sudan?  I would call his office and tell them that you do not feel comfortable heading into the weekend with the wound in the situation you  are and could you come in and see them RIGHT AWAY!  Explain what you have here and go from there.  If you have problems getting through to his nurses ask for HIM specifically!  I know he will listen.  And by all means any time you don't understand how to do something ASK QUESTIONS before you leave.  I hope it all works out, almost sounds more like they should re-stitch that part, but I don't know how logical that is. 

Good luck and keep us posted!

Thanks Laurie, 
I called his office and left a message with the nurse.  As far as stitching it up, they can't as it has to heal from the inside out.  T

Terry this sounds exactly like what happened when I had my thigh lift. I had to keep it packed just like you are saying. I went for wound care every day. It took me about 8-10 weeks AFTER the original surgery for it to heal..It will be worth it.. before long it will be all healed up and it will be a thing of the past.

Good luck and I hope you heal quickly

Everyday?  OOh.  I won't like that, but it is better than crying and stressing everyday about packing it myself.  Not to mention that the bathroom got COVERED in ooze today when I did it.  It really exploded!  I called the nurse and left a message.  T

I hope she called you back.  Every time I've left a message for Barbara it's been the next day before they got back to me.

No advice, just thought I'd say god bless you, I'd be such a ***** if I had to do that

Yeah, it really stinks!  I really hate the thought of someone else putting it down in there even more than me doing it myself since I know how hard I had to push to get it through the opening.  T

One of my incisions (the large one through my belly button) started to develop problems a couple of weeks out.  It was weeping fluid constantly.  My PCP admitted that he couldn't help me and he put me in touch with a wound care facility.  They were awesome and I highly suggest using such a facility.  They measured each hole that wasn't closing up and gave me much better materials to use to treat it than I was able to find on my own and told me how to use them.  They did that qtip thing too and I just about barfed watching.  Certainly let your surgeon know but don't put it off since you may have developed an infection like I did.  I was also given an injection of antibiotics as well as several weeks worth of oral antibiotics.  They will send cultures out for testing.  

Thanks Linda.  I am a little excited about seeing someone, just wi**** was this week so I wouldn't have to stuff it myself over the weekend.  At least I can keep it semi open myself.  T