Incision Bleeding AND Belly Button - 2.5 weeks out

It seems like nothing ever goes smoothly for me! 

History/ Recap:  7/27/2010 abdominoplasty, medial thigh lift, outer thigh lipo.  Leg drains and belly button stitches removed w/in 1 week.  (legs and belly button seems to be healing fine), 1 abdomen drain removed 2 weeks post op, abdomin scar shows some necrosis and hemotoma. 

Yesterday (Sunday) afternoon I spiked a fever to 100.3 - called PS started antibiotic (I have a history of developing infections and spike a fever for an hour and never again, so I called her to be proactive) Incisions and Drainage no different than any other day.

Woke up this morning - WET...my belly button was bleeding (had bled thru 2 abdsorb pads, my garment, and shirt), and the left side of my incision (where the necrosis is) had bled through a couple absorb pads.  I cleaned it up and the incision seemed to have stopped, but the belly button was still bleeding.  Put new dressings on and went to work for a few hours.

4 hours later - the same bleeding had happened.  Belly Button had bled a lot and the left incision same thing, but this time when I went to change the dressing all of the bleeding had stopped.  The fluid in my drainage bulb and tubing was a lighter color and thicker than it had been.    Changed the dressing and took a nap. 

This evening I went to Wal-mart and had my nails done.  Came home to another bleed out.  It was the same area again, but both areas are bled thru overnight maxi pads.  I cleaned it up and redressed things.  The drainage in my bulb was less than it had been.    

**  My PS is out of town, but I have already talked to her partner about the fever and will be calling first things tomorrow morning to see her to make sure all is okay with this change.***

Here are my questions for those who have been here:
1.  Did you belly button randomly start to bleed after it looked like all was heeled?
2.  What did you use to protect your clothes, etc. from the blood (if this happened to you)?
3.  When you drain bleeding slowed down, did your incisions start to bleed more?
4.  When your incisions drained did you ever drain what looked like a clot, but skin colored?  (Sorry, I don't know how to describe this, but I keep finding what looks like a clot, but the wrong color in the pads from my belly button.)
5.  Did you return to taking all your regular meds after surgery?  I am wondering if I have taken a vitamin that thins my blood or something. 

I am grasping for straws and it is just really weird that all was well unti last night.  I rarely had any bleeding from my incisisons even 1 day post op.  I understand the bleeding from the necrosis area, but not the belly button and I really think this is excessive.  I would feel better to know that you have been here too.

Thank you all for your support.  Iknow you are not doctors, but it helps me to know what others have gone through.

Sorry- no bleeding here. Nothing more than spotting in a few spots and even that stopped after a few days. I hope your doctor figures out the problem and you feel better soon. I started taking my vitamins and supplements a few days after surgery with no problems.

I am confused as to why some doctors remove stitches and others do not. For my arms, my surgeon had his nurse remove my stitches on day 10 and BAM my scar widened immediately (will get a revision on my arm scars someday). For my lbl/bl (differenct surgeon), no stitches were removed, unless they poked through the surface. Wow. My scars are so thin and look fabulous.

Laura

The only stiches I had to remove are from the belly button.  Everything else has been internal and wonderful.  My arms are great (5 weeks out) and all of my incisions look great, except the necrosis spot and now this random bleeding.

Thanks for replying!

Laura, what surgeons did you use for your surgerys?

I'm in Houston and used Wainwright for my arms and LoMonaco for my lbl/bl.

I haven't had surgery yet, so the only advice I have to offer is how to remove blood that may have gotten on your clothes.  I used to work for a blood bank and from time to time, blood would get on a donor's clothing.  The phlebotomist would use peroxide to remove it.  You might try that if you have bled through any of your clothing.

Good luck with the doctor this morning!  I hope all goes well!

I never had anything like that.  The only drains I had were in the upper pubic area & the were removed @ day 10.  I never had any stitches, not even in the belly button.  My scars look great.  I would definately get in to see the doctor!  Better safe than sorry.

Amy, can you post a picture of your Bellybutton?

Madame Suzanne

I posted a current picture of my belly button,  I am not sure it shows anything.  It is in my plast surgery folder and the password is newme.

Thanks

HI SWEETIE...

SORRY YOU ARE GOING THROUGH THIS...

I did not have the BB bleeding, but I did/do have the incission draining...I had a hard lump to come up and went to the surgeon to get it all checked out...he poked a needle into it several times to see if he could withdraw anything...(nothing) I went home on antibiotics and a warning it could be STAPH...well, about two days later the thing erupted with this yellois/brownish goop...it is still draining, but looking waaaay better and not draining nearly as much...My surgeon did open it up a little last week  to make sure it drained all out...no more infection...YEA..!!

I'm not sure about the bleeding part, on your part...is it dark red or is i****ery with a tint of red...?
In My opinion, the draining is a very good thing...as nasty as it is, at least it's not stayinf inside causing more problems...My surgeon told me that draining was what it needed to do, that is why he opened mine up even more...I had to change my pad several times a day..but now, I change my pad morning, noon and night...or if I'm about to go out for a few hours, I will change it again, just to keep it clean and to feel better about it...

Keep us posted on what is said and done for you...Sending you healing prayers, Dear One..!!

cyndy
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