leaking incision gets a good packing

Just when I thought I was home free 5 weeks out, my larger incision decided to drain....big time. I was freaked out. Went to surgeon asap today and he opened incision a little more and packed it with gauze. Said it would probably take a month to heal from inside out. He said it was NOT infected and the drainage sometimes happens. I am trying to make lemonade from my lemons.....and the fun begins.

Sorry to hear of your complication. Did you have a drain in right after surgery until your 2week post op visit? Hope all heals well!

No, I did not have a drain at all. He says he doesnt always do one. I have been OK but all of a sudden that wound started acting up. Thanks for support. It will heal with time.

Im so sorry! I know exactly how you feel!

I am 4 wks out tomorrow and just spent this weekend in the hospital. In addition to RNY, I also had a hernia repair. Well I got an abscess where the incison for the hernia was. I was on IV antibiotics for 2 days. He opened and drained it, then packed it. I now have a hole that's between 4-5" deep, that my husband has to clean and repack 3-4x day.

The hernia surgery was by far the most painful thing I have been thru. It was a 5 hr surgery. I couldn't get out of bed or a chair without help for about 5 days. I was just starting to feel normal and starting to exercise before this ordeal this weekend! Now I feel like I'm back to square one....😩

Wow, sorry you are having trouble too. I hate the packing thing. I am going to have to do that to myself.  Ive done it before to an infected sweat gland in my armpit. It is going to be OK for the both of us. Just a little bit longer, thats all.

Sorry to hear about yours...I'm in the hospital right now with a big ol' drain in my back because my incisions kept everything nice and clean and dry, so I got an abscess instead. I'be been in since weds night, had four cat scans already, and am going home tomorrow with the drain still in place. I come back on Friday for another cat and possible removal or relocation of the drain. And that's good news. Over the weekend they were saying they'd probably end up doing open surgery to wash out all the pus, yuck.

That sucks for sure. Good luck and we will all get through it. One drain at a time...

It sound like we'll be getting better about the same time. I came in so sick I didn't realize how bad it was, but they smashed it with antibiotics for a few days and now it's just a matter of getting out the juice. I'm glad you're not feeling too icky. I've heard it's really important to pack wounds like that tightly. Is it a strange feeling having all that gauze on/in you?

Oh I remember that drain and pack stuff.  When I had my first c section the baby's head touched my incision and I later developed an infection.  Had to move back home so my mom could clean it out and repack it for me. I'm surprised I had more babies or even more surgeries after that.  Although I did get a nice daughter out of the deal.

Lol I felt like my body was so beat up when I got home I felt like they'd forgotten to include the baby I'd surely just had with my discharge paperwork.