Question:
I'm 3 wks post-op from a lap rny surgery and one of my incisions isn't healing.

Yesterday it started oozing and I gently pushed on the sides and got all the pus out. Called Doctor today and he said it will be fine, to just leave it alone. It does look alot better today but wanted to know if I should leave it air dry or cover it up with a bandage or butterfly bandage, any advice? Thanks, Janeen :)    — jlavoie (posted on June 4, 2007)

June 4, 2007
You have to let it heal from the inside out. It will be fine, just keep it cleaned out and it's up to you if you cover it or not. You can clean it out about 2 times a day or more (it's up to you, since it's such a small incision). It won't take that long to heal at all. The more air that gets to it the better. Welcome to the losing side!!!!
   — crystalsno

June 4, 2007
It happened to a friend of mine, too. She covered and didn't - depending on what she was wearing. She cleaned it several times a day and it healed pretty fast. I wouldn't butterfly - you want the stuff out - don't confine the stuff coming out, it will prolong the healing process. "Better out than in, I always say" quoted from Garfield - the fat cat! :)
   — jammerz

June 5, 2007
Hello Janeen I am a nursing student and almost finished!! But I hope your doctor has you on antibiotics pus is not noramal. When was the last time you seen the surgeon and did he see it since it looked like that?
   — danosteve

June 5, 2007
I'm an RN and am trained to recognize that pus oozing from a wound is an indication of infection; it is NOT normal. Please make an appointment with your physician to let him/her assess the wound in person rather than on the phone. There are several things one can look for in surgical wounds that may indicate infection: 1) A rise in body temperature (even so slight); 2) redness around the site; 3) oozing puss 4) warmth around the incision site; or 4) a foul odor emitted from the site. One or more of the above conditions may indicate infection. Although the initial infection can originate from a small area, it has the potential to invade the entire body causing a systemic infection called sepsis, which can be deadly. Please insist that your physician personally evaluate your oozing wound! Good luck and best of health.
   — CWinLV

June 5, 2007
I also forgot to add that failure to heal may also indicate infection. As I mentioned before, please do not hesitate to make an appointment with your physician. If you feel you are not getting resolution with him/her, make another appointment with a different physician (perhaps your PCP)!
   — CWinLV