Infection

How many of you that had the RNY developed an infection in the main incision site? 
I found out last Friday I had infection in the site when a dam of liquid came rushing out of me.  I called my dr at 5am and she saw me that morning early.  She packed the site and told me to remove the packing the next day.  Well yesterday I got a call from Home Health Care that my dr. ordered home care for the site daily.  They come in and pack it one day and then the next day unpack it and repack. They seem to think this may take 2 or 3 weeks to get rid of this mess.  
I was wondering if I am the only odd ball out here that has had this problem.
I can't eat, nothing appeals to me.  I am not running fever, I'm not nauseated.  I just have this gunk oozing out of me.   

Sorry to hear you are having issues... just follow Dr instructions to a TEE (not like Liz) and this too shall pass.


Love ya Liz... not throwin ya under the bus... just to the side of the train hehehe

hey, sorry you are havin these issues, but it does happen a lot.  I had an infection why my drain was. Im sure you will get several responses to your question, It sounds like several others who hvae come before you. Nothin appealed to me for a lon time either, and i still have days like that sometime.  But you still  need to eat, or at least drink protein drinks.  That will help you heal. 
Liz

Honey, it happens unfortunately.  I did for my RNY but developed a small issue with my plastics.  It isn't to the degree you are experiencing mine was a tiny area that opened up (about the size of a pencil eraser).  It did take WEEKS to closed up but the infection was minor and gone within a week, the healing after does take time.

A friend of mine had a pretty bad infection after her plastics and it did take her a long time to heal and lots and lots of IV strong infection meds.

Thanks to everyone that replied to my post.  I tried to eat breakfast and it felt like it if I took one more bite I was going to vomit.  So far, knock on wood, that is one thing that I have not done yet, and I hope I don't. 
I scrambled an egg and had small fruit cup.  The egg didn't agree with me at all.  The fruit cup, well I ate about 5 tiny bites.  I can't stand the protein shakes right now for some reason.  At first, they were OH so good, but now, they are thick and yucky. 
I know I need to eat, but I can't. 
I continue to take my vitamins, and drink as much water and other liquid as possible.  I think I am getting about 4 to 5 cups a day right now.  Plus I eat 1 or 2 popsicles each day. 
I hope this gets better soon. 

Thanks,
DeborahL.

hey,
just my 2 cents here, i couldnt eat scrambled eggs until i was about 8 months out, and that was ONLY if i scrambled them at home so i could make them soft scrambled.  You dont have to eat breakfast food at breakfast. Youre soooo new post op, what about some rfried beans with cheese, or mashed potatoes with cheese? or cream soup? SF puddin, egg custard, SF yoghurt, (mix some protein powder in here) cottae cheese - also with protein powder mixed in, SF applesauce? tread slowly.  I puked and puked for the first 3-4 months. It took me FOREVER to find things i could eat. I swear i barfed in every single parkin lot where i lived :)
Youre doin fabulous! Please dont think im fussin, IM NOT!!!!! just want to offer suggestions from someone who's been there ;)
Liz

Thanks,
I have to watch some of the things I eat right now, as I have been battling Constipation real bad for over a week.  But, as of this morning I may be over one hurdle. 
I just want to be able to eat and get the nutrition in that I need to lose weight and stay healthy. 

Thanks,
DeborahL.

only one small spot from my rny but other surgerys have done that - it does take a long time to heal - if it is not healthing ask about a wound vac - get lots of water in and as much protien as you can to help you heal - shakes are fine this early out
ask your doc if she is ok with you skipping foods for now if you get the shakes in and just consintrate on healing

it is all worth it in the end - I say as I hold a baby in my lap and still have room for the laptop - used to not really have room for either

Sorry that you are dealing with this.. I did not have any infections after my surgery, but I would not say that you are not normal.  Infections with surgery like this and plastics is very common, make sure to follow the instructions and it will heal.

ME!  I had a large infection as well...yuck!  It was on my left side, and it was not pretty.  I didn't pack mine.  But I wore a kotex pad taped to my body to catch all the stuff.  Did they remove your stitches?  They told me at one week out that I had an infection.  It wasn't pretty.  I hadnt been sleeping good or anything.  I didn't "feel" good either.  They took my stitches out and told me it was probably going to open and that I needed it to now heal from the inside out.  That night I went to be with shorts and a t-shirt (thank goodness!).  I woke up the next morning, best sleep I had gotten since surgery.  I felt wet.  I had hugged a pillow (another thankful moment), and had kept all the gunk in my t-shirt.  My husband helped me and I got it all cleaned up.  At first it was really a pain.  Now I am all healed up. 

I still have some "pain" on that side, and I can't sleep on that side.  I am going to have a Plastic Surgeon look at it.  I need to see what I can have done...maybe cut it out and have it re-heal the proper way.  Who knows.

Stay strong!  It DOES get better, and you will feel better.  You need all the gunk to come out of your body, so that you dont get toxic.  The packing will help though it is a pain.  It keeps the infection down. 

Goodluck!