Is this a problem?
Surgery 7/27/17 went very smoothly, no issues at all and I was released in two days with a G-tube. My G-tube (and one of my primary incisions) was placed smack in the center of my stomach right above my belly button. My surgeon explained that my ribs are very low, and my stomach is tucked up under them, so the "traditional" placement of the incisions wouldn't work. Okay, no worries.
At my follow up visit this last Friday she pulled the G-tube. Thank goodness! I was very thrilled to have it pulled, it was painful and limiting my activity.
But now, in the two days since, it's gotten a lot more painful in any body position. It's very tender to the touch and feels like it's hard under the surface for about an inch all around the incision. The incision is not red or oozing, it itself looks fine. It's just underneath, under the skin, that it seems to be hardening and hurting.
Do I need to call my surgeon, or is this normal recovery for a G-tube removal?
"...gotten a lot more painful," are key words that signal a phone call and more are warranted. A friendly suggestion to request the incision to be looked no matter how the conversation goes--- for peace of mind if nothing else. No doubt, you have a scheduled WLS follow-up appointment to help access proper healing, as well. Edited to add: glad to read you got checked-out and are getting treatment. Suggestion to those reading this pre-op: it was recommended to monitor body temperature the first few days post-op as a way to catch a possible infection brewing.
Thank you, ladies. When it started to swell I called my surgeon. She said it sounds like fluid buildup under the skin. She wants me to call the office first thing tomorrow morning and she'll squeeze me in. Until then, take my pain meds and use hot compresses to try to draw it out.
But other than this, recovery so far has been great!
So I just turned in bed and felt a sharp pain, and the next second realized I was wet across my belly. Got up and went to the bathroom. The scab on my incision had torn open and I was leaking white-yellowish fluid with the occasional stripe of red. Hmm. Okay.
So, because I am not squeamish, I sat there and effectively milked my poor sore belly. I'd estimate I got about 100 ccs out. My belly feels much better! I can tell there's still fluid collected in there and it's still tender to the touch, but it's not as tender and not as hard. Ah, relief!
i will, of course, see my doctor in the morning.
