Question:
CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHEN THIS SWELLING GOES AWAY..

I AM 13 DAYS POST OP AND WHEN I LOOK AT MY STOMACH ON THE OUTSIDE AT THE TP OF MY INCISON IT LOOKS SO TIGHT LIKE IT COULD BUST. I ALSO HAVE SUTURES IN STILL.    — Gale G. (posted on September 17, 2002)

September 17, 2002
Hi there. I haven't had the surgery yet this time, but I did has my stomach stapled back in 1985 and it was an open procedure. I found that there was some swelling, but it went away pretty quickly. The thing that made it more comfortable for me was keeping some pressure on the incision. I walked around the house with a pillow pushed against my stomach and also slept that way. I too had the top of my incision feel really tight. That was one of the last things to go away. Good luck and hang in there. It does get better.
   — Sue F.

September 17, 2002
I am 14 days post-op and I have had a lot of problems with abdominal swelling around my incision. I'm also a nurse and when I had problems, I called my surgeon and he put me on some antibiotics. At one end of my incision, I had an area that was tight, slightly red, and becoming increasingly warm but no fever. I started the antibiotics and was instructed to apply warm compresses often. About 3 days later (I was 10 days post-op) I took a hot shower and let the hot water beat down on that area. When I got out of the shower, a small area of my incision opened up and I drained about 2 cups of bloody drainage. It was kindy scary but I felt so much better. I went to see the doctor the next morning and he said to continue letting it drain...for as long as it took until it would heal on it's own. It is draining a little bit now but hardly anything. Then...two days ago, after I thought I was fine...the other side of my incision began to form a "pocket" that looked like it needed to bust open. It was getting red and very warm. I tried the compresses and the hot shower but the problem was that the incision was healed and there was no escape for the fluid to get out of my body. I saw my surgeon yesterday and he did an ultrasound of my abdomen to see if there was any built-up fluid. He did not see any. He removed my G-tube. (thank god! I'd been begging him to since I don't use it...I drink my protein supplements just fine) He also stuck a needle into my healed incision to see if he could reach any fluid but he was unable to find any. So, he thinks that area might be a hematoma or maybe some scar tissue...but it does seem odd that it started swelling up. They bandaged me up and I went home. This happened yesterday and ever since he removed my G-tube, my swelling has gone down and I feel pretty good. The tubing that was inside of me looked to be around 7-8 inches long and then there was a 20 cc bulb inflated inside me. All I know is that I feel a lot better. I don't mean to scare you...I'm just sharing my story. I have heard that a lot of people do have abdominal swelling that takes a long time to go down. But, if your area starts to get red and/or hot, or you have any degree of a fever, call your doctor. Also, I had a lot of tenderness around my incision when I would lean forward...sometimes it was painful. Ever since my area drained, I haven't had that. You must be getting your staples removed tomorrow? It will be good to have that looked at. Good luck to you!
   — CARMEN M.