Question:
what should my incisions look like 2-1/2 weeks postop?

Had lap RNY 03/05/03 and my incisions are red and itchy. One in the middle of my stomach is open and draining a little blood and yellow drainage. Is this normal, or should I call my doc?    — WY T. (posted on May 22, 2003)

May 22, 2003
I am about 2 1/2 weeks post op as well, but from Lap Adj. Band. I have 2 incisions that are also a little red, and itchy, but just saw my Dr. and he said it was just the scabbing/healing process. As long as they are not hot they should be fine. I also had one incision that was leaking a yellow/clear fluid, and my dr. called me in that day to take a look at it to make sure it was not the early stages of an infection. It wasn't, but I was put on an antibiotic anyways so that the open part of the incision that was leaking would not get infected by anything on the outside while it was healing. So, you may want to call your Dr. and let him know that it is oozing a little in case he wants to take a look. Congratulations on your surgery! Jessica Pickard Lap-Banded 05/06/03 -21 lbs.
   — Jessica P.

May 22, 2003
I had a lap rny 5/9/2003 I had one that seemed oozy and rather swollen.. a nice hot compress and then antiobiotic oinment covered w/ a bandaid and with in two days it shrunk and began to close nicely. My smalles incision that is completely flat and looks like a scrath just began to turn quite red... Dr. says its ok but I put antiobiotic ointment on just in case. It doesn't hurt, but I do think some of this is just the healing part. The oozing I would keep an eye on... just to keep safe. Take your temperatures daily so you know if you have anything creeping up on you. Good luck and holler if you wanna talk ok? [email protected]
   — Dawn R.

May 23, 2003
When its that early post-op its hard to tell the difference between normal healing and an infection. If it's still bleeding and oozing in a day or more, I'd call your doc just to make sure. Especially if there looks like little blisters or such, that can be a sign of infection. Feel better :-)
   — Lezlie Y.

May 23, 2003
I'm two weeks post-op and was prompted by some concern over some drainage to call my surgeon a few days ago. His office told me that as long as the area around it is not red, swollen, tender to the touch, or feverish, and the drainage does not have a foul smell, then it's normal drainage and actually a sign of healing because the body heals from the inside out and the fluid is being pushed out as a result of getting trapped between re-bonding tissue. So, I've just been changing my dressing regularly and monitoring it closely. But other than that, I haven't given it another thought.
   — Amanda S.

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