Hi all. One week postop TT/Fleur de lis and I am worried.

Good evening everyone. I need some words of wisdom from those who have been there.
One week out today. Pretty tired but okay over all.
Not using pain meds any more.
JP drainage is scant.
Wearing this binder that is slowly wearing the life out of me!!! But I digress.

Here is my issue.
I am wearing gauze pads on my incisions just to protect them from the binder.
All have been clean, dry and crunchy from the glue.

Tonight, as I was changing them all in preparation for bed, it appears my new belly button has kind of opened up. It is wet and mushy.
No signs of infection but I was startled to see it.

Called my surgeon- my appt is Thurs but he can see me in clinic tomorrow if I want to drop in. Till then a moist dressing.

Anyone else experience this? I have been so worried about the umbilicus. The stalk was very stretched and it is a good place for poor healing...alon with that area where my vert incision meets the horiz.

But now I am skeered!

Please share your belly button stories!!

Thanks!

I've read other bellybutton posts here -try putting bellybutton in the search bar.  Hopefully it's an easy fix - Good luck!!!

How are you doing this morning?

its normal for it to seem mushy and a little wet. this is part of the heeling process and mostly everyone has it.  your doc will probably tell you to put a LITTLE (key word little) neosporin or other antibiotic.  the best thing to do is to use little alcohol pads (or a small cotton swab) to clean AROUND the navel area (dont dig inside of it) and then keep it clean and dry.  DO NOT DIG INTO THE BELLY BUTTON. The discharge inside will come out, and then will stop altogether.  I would clean mine in the mornings with alcohol swab, dry COMPLETELY around the area, then apply a DROP of antibiotic cream to the navel area.  Then, Id let it air for a little bit and cover it with the binder.  TOO much gauze and smothering it with stuff will make it worse, so it has to breathe.  It will heal soon, but talk to your doc about it.

cheers!