Question:
how likely are you to get an infection at the site of the incision?
i am completely freaking out! It seems like their are so many people that I have met personally who after coming home from the surgery had a major infection in their incision. i'm talking about the kind that has to be opened back up (2-3 weeks AFTER their surgery) and have all the pus and junk "mopped" out. Then they walk around for who knows how long afterwards with an "open" incision". IS THIS NORMAL??? I should mention that the people that i know who have had this problem are all from a support group that i have been attending who had the same surgery center. (the name will go unmentioned at this point) Here's my problem/question...do "fat" people typically have this problem? Could it be the surgeon and or surgery center? Do I live in an area where I just happen to know too many people? What gives??? I am not scheduled yet but am hoping for a mid may surgery date and I'm beginning to feel like maybe I should head somewhere else. I have done tons of research and I realize they all say the chance for infection is pretty great but, their seems to be some exceptions to this rule....does it sound like my place may be one of those "exceptions"? I am part of 7 different ossg sites and it seems like this whole infection thing doesn't come up very often...i read them pretty faithfully. HELP...ANY ADVICE, INFO, OR INSIGHT would be greatly appreciated. I thought I had picked the best place for me and now I am having big time serious doubts about going their. Thanks for allowing me the spastic venting time. whooooo...feels like a load off already. Thanks, Heather : D soon to be pre op open roux en y ???surgeon??? bmi 47 wisconsin — Heather H. (posted on April 9, 2000)
April 9, 2000
Heather, I don't think fat people are any more susceptable
to incision infections than anyone else. I have had 2 surgeries
and one of them did get infected. These surgeries were both
at the bottom of my stomach on the under side of my apron of
fat. The only reason the first one got infected, I believe,
is that I didn't keep it clean enough. With the second one,
I made sure I washed the incision twice daily with an
anti-bacterial soap (Dial Gold Bar) and I didn't have one
minutes trouble. You might even use an antibiotic ointment
on your incision to reduce the chances of infection even
more. Good luck with your surgery.
— Tina H.
April 9, 2000
Risks can be classified as Minor and Major..Complications such as
infections from incisions is classified as a minor risk @ 1.02%
Visit the site below for list of Risks.
<p>
http://www.asbs.org/html/ration.html#RISKS
<p>
Answering your question as to why so many whom you havemet have had an
incision infection...Well, that's hard to answer.. Only that I can add
that I too have met many many patients in our local support group and
none have had incision infections. I do know that smoking can play a part
on healing and recovery. But for me to guess on why so many you have met
have had what you describe concerns me greatly on where they all had
their surgery, if there is a collation that can be drawn on that. Who
knows? I'm sorry I could not help you more..
— Victoria B.
April 9, 2000
Hi Heather - I don't think obese people are more prone to infections
because of the obesity itself, but there are some mitigating factors that
may make it more frequent, such as our higher rate of diabetes (which can
affect the way the body heals) and our difficulty with some aspects of
hygiene. Keep your incision clean, get plenty of rest, drink lots of
fluids - in other words, do what you can to help your body heal itself -
and you should be fine. Remember, the odds are in your favor!
— Kim H.
April 9, 2000
Hi, I don't understand why infection rate is so high. I am 6 weeks
post-op. Neither I nor my other friends have had any signs of infection.
I don't think being overweight has anything to do with infection. I think
that you must be careful to keep incision dry and clean. Other than that,
I don't know why you should have to worry about infection at incision cite.
Good luck
— Carrol M.
April 9, 2000
Hi Heather and everyone else: Always remember before doing anything with
an incision (such as changing your dressing, applying Neosporin if you're
using it, or whatever) WASH YOUR HANDS!!!!! It's one of the most important
elements in preventing infection. Jaye
— Jaye C.
April 10, 2000
Heather, I rarely ever here about infections. As long as you keep it
clean and covered for the duration of the time the doctor recommends you
should be just fine.
— Julie H.
April 10, 2000
Hi Heather,
Obese people ARE more prone to an incisional infection than
"normal" sized people because fat has no vascularity, meaning
that there is little or no blood going to that area. With little or no
vascularity, blood cannot get to that area to heal as well. And you need a
good blood supply to an area in order for it to heal properly. And because
morbidly obese people have a high fat content in their abdominal areas the
chance of infection is high as well. Also, in the hospital, the nurses
should teach you proper wound care. That means making sure you wash your
hands before you change any kind of dressing. Make sure you wash your
hands after you change dressing or even touching it in any manor. Washing
your hands cuts down on the number of transient bacteria, thereby reducing
your risk of transfering that bacteria to your wound. But, again, obese
people are more prone infections due to the lack of vascularity in the fat
cells. Hope this helps...Good Luck...
— Marni
April 10, 2000
Are you referring to a incision drainage? I think these might be more
common. They are not always infected. From my findings, after major
surgery there is a buildup of fluid under the incision. Some people's body
absorb the fluid and others don't. So the fluid needs to get out. It
forces its way out of the incision through a small opening. I have had an
incisional opening since day 5 and after 4 weeks it is starting to close
up. It has never been infected. It did ooze majorly about day 8 but then
I have just kept a bandaid on it. This is all considered normal in some
people. Also it causes no pain for me.
— Judith K.
April 10, 2000
I got a staff infection which caused major league swelling at the incision
site. It had to br drained and took 8 weeks to heal. I still have a small
area that isn't healed yet & I am 10 weeks post. Antibiotics helped,
but it was very unpleasant.
— marilyn P.
April 10, 2000
To add to Judith's post, I was told by my doctor that sometimes the fat
liquifies after surgery and that causes some oozing of some sort. It is
yellow in color, but it's more of a clear yellow than a milky yellow like
pus. And some incisions will be draining due to fluid build up, that is
part of our immune system taking care of our wounds. Good Luck...
— Marni
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