Question:
My incision has opened up. Please Read!!!

I am 16 days post op from an Abdominoplasty/ Panniculectomy and my incision (where the T meets) has been opening slowly. Yesterday it began draining, and now is about the size of a 50cent piece, and about 2" deep. Yesterday my JP drain was filling itself with air. We would let it out, and less than 5 seconds later it was full again. We filled the opening with Neosporin and it stopped. When I got up this morning my JP drain was full of Neosporin, so I have entirely opened up where air is circulating through my body. I had an appointment with my Dr. Friday, but am leaving in the morning hoping that he will be opened on Veterans day (it's a 4 hour drive to my Dr) Has anyone else had anything like this happen? I don't have any sign of infection yet, but spoke to a Dr., and an RN, and was told air in places it should not be could set up Gangrene. I'm pretty sure my skin is so tight in that area that they could not pull it back together to re staple it. Anyone know whats going on? My JP drain is not collecting hardly any fluid, now it's all comming out of my incision. Brandy    — BigB (posted on November 11, 2004)

November 10, 2004
I am sorry to hear that you are going through this problem. I am not familiar with the procedure you had done so I do not have any answers for you however I think you are making the right choice by going to the Doctor...If I were you I would make sure they are open before traveling 4 hours though...Is there an emergency room you could go to instead? I will be thinking about you through-out the day I hope you are okay...Christine
   — Christine W.

November 10, 2004
Brandy, At about 2 weeks post op plastics, I had my thigh incision open up just a bit and had clear fluid coming from it. I was told by several women who had been through plastics that this was normal but after several days I began to get worried. I went to the doctor and sure enough, it was infected, down deep. The doctor had to push and push and push on it to get the infection out. That was actually therapeutic and kept me from having more problems. Go to your doctor or go to an emergency room. You need to have that looked at. I don't want it to turn into something more serious.
   — [Deactivated Member]

November 10, 2004
Hi Brandy, I had a triple hernia and an abdominal plasty on Sept 23, 04. I went home with 3 JP drains. Two of them started coming out on there own. The doc took one out, a few weeks later the second one started filling with air, It wouldnt keep the suction. It was because it was coming out of me,, so we called the doc, (the part that is supposed to be inside of you, was hanging about 3 inches out of me) he said to pull it out ourselves. Didnt hurt or nothing coming out. The 2 drains that started coming out on there own, after they came completely out, I still had lots of drainage from them for a couple of weeks,, just kept gauge on them. They are all healed now. Good luck to you.
   — Amy Hoffman

November 11, 2004
Hello. Brandy's wife here. He just saw the Dr. and he said it looked worse than it was. He pulled out the rest of his staples & stitches & JP drain and is sending home health out beginning tomorrow to keep check on it and to change the dressings. He said as it stood, there was nothing to be seriously concerned with as long as it was kept clean. He said the skin is re directing itself, and shifting and that it should not open any larger, if any. Thanks for your answers.
   — BigB

November 11, 2004
Hi. These are really alarming to look at but not uncommon when so much tissue is moved. It will heal from the inside out and the doc may even stitch it a bit after a few weeks. Be patient...closure can take time !
   — DrL

November 11, 2004
Definitely see your doctor to make sure anytime you have any problems. It is best to get the doctor's expert opinion. I had a revision of a revision done in April 04, when I went to have the staples removed, my incision opened. It was about 3 inches long and spread to about an inch wide and deep. Scared me to death and it was not easy to look at either. He sent me home to care for it myself. About a week later I was so sick that I could not stand up, get up, or move without excruciating pain. I had to go see him and was admitted immediately. I had a leak and an infection and required pain & wound care. I was in two and half weeks and finally released to go home. This time I had Home Health come by to check on me and make sure things were going well. It took almost 6 months for the wound to completely close up. So, don't overlook anything even if it does not seem like that big of a deal. YOU need to make sure and take care. I hope that things are going well for you now.
   — Norma R.

November 12, 2004
Hi Brandy, I hope things are better for you. Just a suggestion here... if you are draining, and the doc says to put gauze on it, instead, use a mini-pad or a maxi-pad depending how bad the draining is. Use a piece of tape to hold it on. It absorbs much better than the gauze, and is much cheaper!
   — SpyderS

November 12, 2004
Brandy, You probably already have this under control after seeing the doc but I'm guessing you may have to pack that area to get it to heal from the inside out. The T joint is the one they are always the most concerned about as if it's too tight the skin can die. So your's said I'm too tight and opened up. Much better to do that, than die. I had a similar thing at the top of my butt crack after the LBL. I had some skin die and he cut it out. However, after a week it ripped open some and I spent the next 3 months packing it. It's an inconvenience but not the end of the world. Hang in there and if you want to commisserate with anyone feel free to write me directly. I also spent 4-1/2 months pack my WLS incision, so I'm an old pro at packing.
   — zoedogcbr