Wound infection

Anyone else have issues with infection following RNY surgery?

I'm nearly 2-weeks post op and have done a round of antibiotics, but I am still in tremendous pain where the tube was located.  I have another follow up appointment tomorrow, but just curious if anyone else has experienced an infection, and if so how long did it take before the pain goes away!!!  My fever finally broke, so I know I'm on the upswing.

Also, even though I have no problem eating, the pain meds that I take at night, are making me extremely constipated which is making my stomach hurt even more under my belly button and I notice it hurts even more when I eat now.  I've been taking Dulcolax with no results.  I can go all day without the pain medicine, but it seems as soon as I stop moving and sit down is when the pain becomes overwhelming.  I haven't started taking my iron pills because it'll probably only exasperate my constipation.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get the bowels moving?  Should I take the maximium dose of Dulcolax (3 pills per day)?  My doctor's nurse told me to take Dulcolax, but maybe there is something else that'll be more effective???

I would try an enema to quickly clear up the constipation or maybe a dulcolax suppository. Sorry you are having problems. Praying things improve!

 i had inferctions after a removal of an eroded lapband.please be very careful; with this. make sure you have a seperate infectious disease doctor to check that the infection has truly gone as i took antibotics for a week, the 6 weeks later ended up having major surgery into the muscle to remove the infection and had to be on iv for 8 weeks. i am not trying to scare you, i am hoping to prevent a problem.. good luck and get better 

Thanks for the information.  I didn't have any problems with my lapband eroding, fortunately.  The infection I have is at the wound site, I think.  I will need to clarify tomorrow at my doctor's visit though. Seems like the pain is coming from deeper inside than from the actual wound site.

Do you know what tests your infectious disease doctor ran to determine if you still had an infection?  I'm wondering if that's something my PCP can order without me having to see a specialist. 

A suppository may be the best thing for you as your constipation may be due to all the surgeries, which tends to upset our systems by stopping the movement of the intestines. 

After you do the suppository to get the blockage removed, try using Miralax.  I mix it into a Snapple, or some flavored cool drink, and it's totally tasteless and undetectable, and it really helps.  I find I may need to use it at least once a week if I'm not eating enough romaine lettuce.  (For some reason, romaine is a great way to keep me regular.  Go figger!!)

But definitely talk to your surgeon about the constipation.

Best wishes,

Miralax works wonders.

Thanks everyone for all the great advice.  I tried miralax and it worked wonders.  The pain under my belly button has subsided somewhat since I've had a bowel movement.  I'm hoping it gets better as I get more regular.

My doctor told me that the infection is gone and the wound looks good.  He told me the tremendous pain I'm experiencing is because they had to do alot more cutting to get the lapband out from that side.  I had the lapband for 10-years, so there was quite alot of scar tissue in that area.  He gave me lidocaine injections all around that side of my stomach which helped the pain a little bit.  I only had to take pain medicine once last night, so I feel I'm getting better a little each day.