Question:
Just wondering how many people had an infection in their incision?
I had the lap GB done on the 12th of July and then had a small bowel obstruction which was corrected by surgery on the 24th. Now the incision is infected and I need to have a nurse come twice a day to pack it. I am just wondering how many others have had an infection in the incision and how long it took to clear it up. I am feeling alone here and would really love feedback on this. Thanks! — terri S. (posted on August 7, 1999)
August 7, 1999
Well dear you are not alone...I had my VBG done on 7/14/99 and 24 hours
after my staple and g-tube removal on 31st I ran a temp of 102 and was
admitted thru the ER on the 1st and spent 4 days fighting an
infection...when they started removing the terry strips that help hold the
incision together the incision broke apart and started oozinglike a
faucet...needless to say I freeked out...the docs explaned to me that this
is not the worst case scenario bt just a temporary setback and they talked
me thru the wholw thing...and after 4 days in they did also send me home
with a visiting nuse 2 times a day for the next 2 weeks...the doc asked if
I was sure that I couldn't pack the wound myself....yeah right...I almost
passed out in the shower when they told me to get some water into the wound
for it to heal faster...I got sick to my stomach and hung onto the nurses
cord for help...by the time they came I was on the floor gasping and
wanting to throwup....I survived...but now they know how much of a week
stomach I do have ...hahaha...take care and email me if you would like to
know more....just remember...the worst is behind us now and there is only
good things to come......take care...Mona
— Mona S.
August 7, 1999
hi, Terri--I had an open RNY on July 12 and haven't had any problem except
a little bit of oozing the first few days home. I hope things get better
soon!
— charlene M.
August 7, 1999
I had an infection in my incision about three weeks post-op.
The doctor prescribed horse pill sized antibiotics and it
cleared up in about 4 days time.
— dboat
August 8, 1999
My husband opened up abotu Day 10 after surgery. "Pink
lemonade", they call it, yellowy stuff with just a bit of blood.
Opened up in his sleep. What a mess. No pain, but gave us both the
heebie-jeebies to clean it. In our groups, abotu 30% of us have this
nastiness. Gross & inconvenient, but not "unto death". And
NONE of 'em have any worse scar, either.
— vitalady
August 8, 1999
Hi Terri, I had a wound infection also... (2 actually) that made my
recovery long and unpleasant, but this is not typical. I was in the
hospital for 2 weeks following surgery. I knew something was wrong, and the
dr. did run all kinds of tests But kept telling me how good I looked..my
color was
good etc. Meanwhile I was in tears everytime I had to sit or stand...they
actually had me convinced I just couldn't handle the pain of surgery (and I
have a pretty high pain threshold)...then a staple popped and they
discovered the infection 4" under the incision, opened it up and sent
me
home leaving the incision to heal from the inside out. I had nurses coming
in 2x a day also to pack it.. A few weeks later I became very nauseated,
couldn't eat or drink for 2 weeks..again kept telling the dr. something was
wrong. He did see me 2x a week, returned my calls etc. but kept saying this
wasn't related too surgery. Now I knew it HAD
too be related but he wouldn't listen. Finally discovered another
infection..I had to be readmitted, had another surgery and they opened the
whole thing up again. I had nurses coming to my house 2-3 times a day for
months before it healed. I was opened up 9" long, by 4" wide by
4" deep and it looked like raw meat. I cried every time I looked at it
and tried hard not to look.
I've heard since that this is pretty unusual. I have a staple line
disruption now and am going back for a revision to RNY and hope This
doesn't happen again.
So...no you're not alone, it will heal with time, just hang in there!
Ellen Ryan, Homer, NY
— ellen R.
August 22, 1999
i had an infection that lasted 9 weeks, i had to have it cut open five
times, the good thing is it does goaway and i have no more of a scare than
anyone else.
— dee S.
April 28, 2001
I am presently dealing with an infection. It oozes and I must change the
bandage several times a day. Moist heat on it helps get it out faster and
taking antibioticos... good luck email me if you want...
— Surgery 2001
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