tt 3 1/2 weeks ago - questions

Hello all.  I am almost 4 weeks out from a tt and things are going pretty well.  I have been back to work for a week and a 1/2 and besides the slight swelling at the end of the day, I am doing well.

I have some questions though.  I called today as I did not have an appts scheduled with my surgeon, and they do not want to see me until August 1st, and only if I really want to.  They seemed ambivalent. 

I am a little concerned with my belly button, there is a large scab that has yet to fall off and is still quite black.  Where it has fallen off is quite red, and some of the scab is turning yellow, almost like infection.  It does not smell or weep, and of course it does not hurt as that area is still numb from surgery.  I also have the same sort of spot where the last drain came out, a yellowing scab like spot with redness around it.  I have put some neosporin on it sparingly as my instruction say to not put anything on the incision lines and only clean with soap and water.  I do have an appt with my primary care doctor on Thursday - so I can ask her to look at them.  Should I be concerned though, I would hate to have the belly button heal weird because of this.

My instruction also say that I should wear the binder 24/7 for 4 - 6 weeks.  I am coming up on 4 weeks now but I do not know how to tell when I can switch to spanx?  Do I try it and see if the swelling is really bad or just stop wearing it at night for a while?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 Hi, I'm 4 weeks out tomorrow. If it were me, I would call my surgeon ASAP and speak to one of his nurses. If for some reason, they weren't helpful and/or didn't put my mind at ease, I would see my PCP asap rather than wait a couple more days. It's the yellow scab and bright red that has me concerned.

Also I find it bizarre that your surgeon's office doesn't care if they see you until August. Up until now, how often have you gone in post-op? I've gone in every week, more in the beginning to have pain pump & drains removed, etc. Tomorrow will be my 4-week check-up so I think after that (b/c everything looks fine & we're going out of town for awhile) they might not want to see me until August. But it seems strange that you're not having a 4-week check-up.

ETA: I'd also get more specific instructions about the binder because their instructions are too vague for me ;). My instructions were 4 weeks 24/7 and then 3 days where you wean yourself off (weird!) and only wear for 12 hours. I'd have no idea when to stop if they said wear it for 4-6 weeks so hopefully they'll be able to offer some good advice. If they can't be more specific, I'd ask if it's ok to just wear for the full 6 weeks & do that, assuming your yellow scabs would still heal well wearing it.

I had surgery on 5/17, a Thursday and had a follow up on the following Tuesday - where they took one drain out. I went in again on Friday, but they did not take the other drain out, so I returned the following Tuesday for the final drain removal. I have not been back since. So a total of 3 follow up appointments in a two week period.

I seem to get better response from email at the hospital I go to rather than trying to get a doctor or nurse on the phone, so I will try that first regarding the binder and see if I can get any clarification. Thanks.

I would really call about the belly button concerns. If something doesn't seem right, you have to go with your instinct. You will feel better once they look at it and tell you one way or another whether it is something to be concerned about. If they respond better to email, do you think you could take a picture and send it to them?

Photo pic and email with a followup phone call and sooner rather than later!
Mikimi in Israel

 Since everyone else addressed the scabs - I'll address the binder.

I loved wearing my binder, but understand how that can be hard to wear to work.  I was told by my surgeon at about 4 weeks I could start wearing my binder during the day and spanx at night.  In actuality, it worked better for me to wear my binder at night (because I wasn't swollen in the morning then) and the spanx during the day.  

Try wearing both - just alternating for a few weeks and see how you do.  If the swelling is bad, go back to just your binder for another week.  I believe by 8 weeks I was wearing just spanx.  Just listen to your body - everyone heals differently - do what feels right for you.  

 I just had my first followup visit, and even though the instruction sheet said not to use any ointment on the belly button or drains, the nurse acutally put some on during my visit and told me to do so every day.

HOWEVER...She did say not to use Neosporin because it's too oily and causes the scabs to be too soft and wet. She said to use Bacitracin Ointment, and to apply it with a Qtip. She said to make sure to put just a small amount on, and said that it should not have a sheen or buildup on it, but rather, just a VERY light layer. She said Bactracin does not keep the incision to moist and will help, rather than hinder, my healing. Good luck!!

Thanks, I did stop putting the neosporin on it. I also slept for the first time last night without a binder, so it was able to dry out.

It seems much better this morning, and the scab actually looks smaller. I think most of the redness is just from the actual scarring, not infection or anything. I think is was the neosporin that was making the scab soft, and that is what I was seeing as "yellow".