Question:
I'm 3 wks post-op from a lap rny surgery and one of my incisions isn't healing.
Yesterday it started oozing and I gently pushed on the sides and got all the pus out. Called Doctor today and he said it will be fine, to just leave it alone. It does look alot better today but wanted to know if I should leave it air dry or cover it up with a bandage or butterfly bandage, any advice? Thanks, Janeen :) — jlavoie (posted on June 4, 2007)
June 4, 2007
You have to let it heal from the inside out. It will be fine, just keep it
cleaned out and it's up to you if you cover it or not. You can clean it
out about 2 times a day or more (it's up to you, since it's such a small
incision). It won't take that long to heal at all. The more air that gets
to it the better. Welcome to the losing side!!!!
— crystalsno
June 4, 2007
It happened to a friend of mine, too. She covered and didn't - depending on
what she was wearing. She cleaned it several times a day and it healed
pretty fast. I wouldn't butterfly - you want the stuff out - don't confine
the stuff coming out, it will prolong the healing process. "Better out
than in, I always say" quoted from Garfield - the fat cat! :)
— jammerz
June 5, 2007
Hello Janeen I am a nursing student and almost finished!! But I hope your
doctor has you on antibiotics pus is not noramal. When was the last time
you seen the surgeon and did he see it since it looked like that?
— danosteve
June 5, 2007
I'm an RN and am trained to recognize that pus oozing from a wound is an
indication of infection; it is NOT normal. Please make an appointment with
your physician to let him/her assess the wound in person rather than on the
phone.
There are several things one can look for in surgical wounds that may
indicate infection: 1) A rise in body temperature (even so slight); 2)
redness around the site; 3) oozing puss 4) warmth around the incision site;
or 4) a foul odor emitted from the site.
One or more of the above conditions may indicate infection. Although the
initial infection can originate from a small area, it has the potential to
invade the entire body causing a systemic infection called sepsis, which
can be deadly.
Please insist that your physician personally evaluate your oozing wound!
Good luck and best of health.
— CWinLV
June 5, 2007
I also forgot to add that failure to heal may also indicate infection. As
I mentioned before, please do not hesitate to make an appointment with your
physician. If you feel you are not getting resolution with him/her, make
another appointment with a different physician (perhaps your PCP)!
— CWinLV
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