Infection/incision problem post op?

Hi All, I am almost 8 weeks post-op. My left side incision (the largest one, where the Penrose drain had been...NOT the Jackson-Pratt) is not doing well. I seemed to have had a picture perfect recovery after surgery. No infections, no problems. This week the left side started to hurt again, much the way it did right after surgery. The incision started to look red and felt hard. I called Dr. Garber and saw him 3 days ago. At first the P.A. said she thought it needed to be opened. Then Dr. Garber felt it and said "NO". He said it was very unusual to get an infection this far out, especially since I didn't have an infection right away. He said he felt it was just healing and maybe a hematoma. Well today is Saturday and it's even worse. I looks like a huge bubble...yet it's not fluid-filled. It hurts when I move at all...even when I'm trying to sleep. I want to believe Dr. G's diagnosis but I don't know what to do. Did any of you get infections this far out from surgery? Help! -Karen

Hi Karen, My girlfriend is having problems right now with her left sided incision. Draining fouls smelling dark blood, with a few clots. She says it hurts as well. She is presently taking an antibiotic, and is having the wound dressed. Her surgery was October 28th. Heather

UPDATE: It's 3 hours since I posted this question and the incision "burst" open and is leaking blood and liquid. It has zero smell so I think my surgeon was right in that it's not an infection. (ICK...TMI, sorry). I called Dr. Garber's emergency service and am waiting for a return call. Will update ASAP. Hugs to all, Karen

Karen, I read your update, I don't know about your surgeon, but I was told upon release that if my incision started to weep like that, to go right to the emergency room. It sounds like an infection, and they might need to put you on antibiotics right away. Scott

Scott, Thanks for your reply. I am still awaiting my Doc's call back. I'll wait an hour before re-calling. I agree that going to the ER is the thing to do..however, Dr. Garber's hospital is close to 1.5 hours away so I want to make sure either he or Dr. Holover will be there. I'm afraid to go to a local E.R. ....do you think I should? This is when having one's surgeon close is a DEFINITE plus I'll keep you posted Scott...thanks again. Karen

2nd Update: Dr. Garber confirmed from my description that it was the Hematoma that burst. He said to keep it covered while it drained and that it should start to feel better as it drained. He felt there is no need for an antibiotic because it had seen it 3 days ago and knew it was a hematoma, not an infection, and based on the way it was oozing, there was no need. I have to call the office if anything changes but as of now it's draining blood only. I hope no infection forms. Scary that this far out things can still go wrong. This wasn't in the Training Manual LOL. -Karen

Karen: Sounds like a hematoma for sure and well this surgery must always be in our minds because complications can happen ANYTIME FOREVER in our lives!*you are not that far out a mere baby at WLS!!! Not that they will but they can (hernias, deficiencies, bowel obstructions, adhesions etc), be ever taking care of self and that is best we can do! I believe the manual did say that! LOL JK! HUGS feel better! Take Care, Jamie Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh 320/163 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery) Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=c1132518510 "Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"

call if you need anything im here feel better keep us posted please

Thanks Jamie! A question that might (now or down the road) benefit others: What exactly is a Hematoma? I also thought it was a black and blue mark...but my incision/tummy was not at all black and blue, yet Dr. Garber said the hardness was a hematoma. So.....what exactly is it? Why did it form? And why, 7.5 weeks later, did it decide to act up? Thanks! -Karen

Karen: A Hematoma is: http://www.fasthealth.com/dictionary/h/hematoma.php he·ma·to·ma a mass of clotted blood that forms in a tissue, organ, or body space as a result of a broken blood vessel . (*such as from a lap incision, plastic surgery like liposuction or any incision). Hematoma means bleeding into a closed area under the skin vs a Seroma which means a pooling or leakage of fluid (blood serum) into a closed area beneath the skin. *Seromas can be infected or not* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hematoma a bruise is a small hematoma... (*see above link for info!) I am guessing it just took time for it to build/work its way out is all nand come to the surface needing release (sometimes needle aspiration is done to remove these esp w/ Plastic surgeries)... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seroma Take Care, Jamie Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh 320/163 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery) Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=c1132518510 "Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"