Question:
Is there anything I can do to assure my incision does not separate?

I am concerned about my incision separating? Does anyone know how long it takes to heal? I am suddenly realizingn the amount of pressure on your stomach in getting up from lying down, or even sitting, and with a vertical incision, I am concerned that it will open? Any suggestions or advice?    — Audrey M. (posted on July 2, 2000)

July 2, 2000
What do you mean "separate"? As in open up and guts fall out? Or as in getting a little infection right under the surface and having ooze? Or as in the scar going keloid-becoming wide, ropey and red? Unfortunately, there's not much you can do in any of those cases. You can be careful, of course, not to hurt yourself. But if there is a little pocket of infection, it will open up anyway. My husband had this. Woke up the morning of Day 10 with a shirt soaked with yellow/pink ooze. GROSSSSSSS! It was nothing but inconvenient and his scar hardly shows the area that was affected. ALL of my scars go keloid (lucky me), whether from surgery or from a "booboo", and those can be helped by a dermatologist who can inject them to make 'em lay down flat and I use Scargo to make them eventually fade. Relax, rest during your recuperation and drink lots of water. It'll keep from answering those urges to vacuum or clean closets!
   — vitalady

July 2, 2000
The hospital gave me a binder and that made me feel more comfortable while moving. It supported my abdomen and especially helped while moving around in bed. Try to roll in and out of bed instead of using your stomach muscles. Try not to sit straight up for any length of time (I didn't sit at my computer until two weeks after surgery, that was when I went back to work). Try not to bend over to get things (I kept a pair of long-handled tongs with me to pick up things). I'm not sure how long it takes the incision to heal but I was careful for at least the first couple of weeks.
   — Kellie L.

July 2, 2000
Don't lift more than you are supposed to and move around slowly.
   — Paula G.

July 2, 2000
Hi! My incision opened. It's been 11 weeks, and still not completely healed. A Home Health nurse comes daily and packs it. I don't do anything, still. I wish my surgeon would have left the drain in longer. I ended up with a fluid build up under my incision. I also have an unattached muscle (hernia). I would advise to ask your Dr. for a binder. Wear it right after surgery. I also used my abdominal muscles to get out of bed. No one told me not to. I got up the night of surgery, and was going strong. It took 5 days to damage myself. I have been paying for it since. I still have no quality of life, and MAJOR depression. On the up side - I no long have a terminal illness of pancreatitis, and I no longer take the 22 bottles on insulin each month. My diabetes is also cured!! And I weigh 152#.
   — CohenHeart