? On open stitch line
I just got my last stitches out last week and I saw my doc on Saturday for an EDG to make sure my pouch was doing ok. The nurse noticed an area which came open that is a little larger than a quarter. He didnt stitch it up just suggested sodium chloride and gauze and tape it up and it should close. Anyone else have this problem? Just when I thought I could put the gauze and tape away. Thanks! Sharon
I'm a master at the open incision thing. Not the type of thing one wants to learn but....
First check the area to see if there is a protruding stitch. These can be really tricky to see because they often are clear. If you find one, you need to remove it or the wound won't heal up and bacteria will colonize the exposed stitch.
Regardless of if there is a stitch. Grab your trusty packing gauze or a folded up piece of gauze and wet it with Saline solution (sodium chloride). Press this wet area against the open section and then cover with a small square of gauze or cotton combined dressing (a long pad of cotton that you can cut to the right size) and hold in place with a couple of pieces of tape. This piece is really just to keep your clothes dry and protect the wet gauze from being moved off the wound.
The wet gauze will collect the white blood cells and slough that the wound makes as it is trying to heal. You'll find some green or yellowish colored gunk collected when you remove the gauze. This allows the tissue to granulate and make nice healthy replacement tissue to close up that wound.
Replace every 12 hours.
First check the area to see if there is a protruding stitch. These can be really tricky to see because they often are clear. If you find one, you need to remove it or the wound won't heal up and bacteria will colonize the exposed stitch.
Regardless of if there is a stitch. Grab your trusty packing gauze or a folded up piece of gauze and wet it with Saline solution (sodium chloride). Press this wet area against the open section and then cover with a small square of gauze or cotton combined dressing (a long pad of cotton that you can cut to the right size) and hold in place with a couple of pieces of tape. This piece is really just to keep your clothes dry and protect the wet gauze from being moved off the wound.
The wet gauze will collect the white blood cells and slough that the wound makes as it is trying to heal. You'll find some green or yellowish colored gunk collected when you remove the gauze. This allows the tissue to granulate and make nice healthy replacement tissue to close up that wound.
Replace every 12 hours.