Question:
Help- Will my incison ever heal??

I looked through the library and didnt see anything related to my question. I had my surgery on Sept 17, 2002 and everything is going great except for the fact that there is a small part on my incision that is draining and has not healed yet, I have been back to the doctors numberous times so he could open up the hole and remove some leftover suitures that would not dissolve, but it still seems like.My surgeon said that sometimes it takes awhile to heal but its been almost 4 months and I just keep thinking that it's never going to heal.. Its really frustrated.    — Shannon S. (posted on January 7, 2003)

January 7, 2003
4 months is PLENTY of time for "just a little opening" to heal. Now, if your entire incision were open and you had to pack it, that is another story. Has he cultured the area to make sure there is not an underlyinginfection that needs to be cleared up??? Ask him to do that next time you see him.
   — Vicki L.

January 7, 2003
Shannon: I had LOTS of wound issues that took many months to clear up. See my profile. I had a small portion of my midline incision that opened up wider and drained for months before it healed from the inside out. It required packing and antibiotics. Check again with your surgeon if you are concerned, and ask him to culture the site to put your mind at ease.
   — JoanneML

January 7, 2003
The lower 1 inch of my incision opened immediately after the staples were removed. It was about 3 1/2 inches deep and required daily packing by a nurse for at least 2 weeks and then I did it for a week with nursing supervision every third day. i was completely healed within 3 1/2 weeks. My understanding is that it needs to heal from the inside out, and the only way to achieve that is with packing. I also was told to up my protein to at least 75 gms per day to promote healing. Talk to your surgeon again and ask if there may be a more aggressive approach to take, 4 months seems like a long time. Best of luck, I know its really frustrating!
   — Linda 1.

January 7, 2003
I had WLS on 9/11/02. I had my staples taken out 10 days later and two days later my incision opened up. It was 2 inches long and 5 inches deep. I too had nurses and the packing. That went on for over 3 months. That one closed up and then a couple days later, I developed and abcess at the very top of the incision and about 3" down another one. The were so sore, they filled with blood and fluid. I went to Doc today and he said that I have a senoma. He can't guarantee if when these heal that I won't have more, encouraging, right. I too am wondering if I will ever be healed. My main source of exercise is aerobic swimming. I have been able to swim 1 time since September, because of all of the problems I am having. Good news is I'm down 63lbs. I have looked and looked at Q&A for someone with the same probem. I will pray for you and think good thoughts for both of us and anyone else with our problem. Have a blessed day.........
   — Monica W.

January 7, 2003
I had my open incision open up and they used a wound vac on me. It's a machine that basically sucks the excess fluid out of the wound. It uses a material that looks like black foam rubber between the wound and the machine. I had a portable one which was fairly small and easy to carry around with me. My wound healed up very quickly, according to the nurses who changed the foam rubber stuff. I only had to have that done 3 times a week rather than every day.
   — garw