What Would You Do?

[Mimismom 49]

Hi All,

So I had my surgery on July 11th and my incision (the one that they pulled the stomach out of) still hurts! Not as much as it used to but it still hurts and it hasn't scabbed over or closed.

It hurts when I sit mostly and the problem is I told my boss I would be back on Monday August 6th but I'm worried about sitting for 8 hours now! The doctor gave me 4-6 weeks and if I go back on Monday it would be 4 weeks. It's covered under FMLA so I'm fine if I take the extra two weeks but I'm just nervous about how I'm going to break the news to my boss that I need another 2 weeks.

I was supposed to be back to work after 2 weeks!

What would you do or say?

[KS Fort Worth 86]

If you have an open wound, it's a no-brainer. Tell your boss you still have an open wound, take some extra time, AND talk to your doctor to find out why it hasn't closed. After almost three weeks, that does not sound right.

[Mimismom 49]

Thanks for responding. I'm not sure why it hasn't closed I just took off the gauze last week and I've been showering then putting neosporin on it. I'm wondering if the fact that it's getting wet has anything to do with it. But I always dry it completely then put neosporin on it

[KS Fort Worth 86]

Definitely call your doctor. I do find it interesting that my doctor's instructions also said neosporin, but the discharge nurse emphasized leave it open to air. My surgeon used staples to close mine, what did yours use?

[Livinglifeout 217]

I had surgery on the 18th and still have a little drainage from that incision too. I've gone to work two times for about 4 hrs each time to catch up on things, but sitting straight up all the time in my chair was hard. If I sat bent over my desk looking at documents it hurt. So take your time returning, once they have you back it may be hard to take off.

[Mimismom 49]

Yes I'm not sure if the neosporin is making it wetter. My doctor uses regular stitching. The kind that dissolve. I'm going to email him a picture of it tomorrow. He is in a different state. I just don't think I'm ready to go back to work to be honest. When I walk or lay down it doesn't bother me but then sitting down really hurts. Maybe because my belly is folding over the incision?

[O.T.R. sleever 3,386]

4 weeks & it hasn't closed... That defiantly sounds like reason for concern. All of my incisions were sutured inside & taped outside. I'm wondering why your surgeon would have left it open.

[Mimismom 49]

@livinglifeout YES!!!! Sitting down kills me. I feel so uncomfortable and in pain. I think I will take the extra two weeks

[Izuri 428]

My surgeon used dissolving suture and covered them with steri-strips. I can't 100% see because of the steri-strips, but it's only been about 5-6 days and they look pretty closed. I think it'd be a good idea to contact their office and let them know it's not seeming to heal. As for telling your work, I would let them know ASAP so that if they need to keep a temp longer or rearrange work flow they have adequate time to.

[Mimismom 49]

Guys I think it was stitched inside then glued shut. It is not wide open but it's raw and still hurting

[Mimismom 49]

Thanks everyone!!!

[KS Fort Worth 86]

If your surgeon is out of state but agrees it needs attention, any competent local doctor should be able to apply new sutures. Yes, it's surgery-related, but at this point it's just a belly wound. I would imagine even an urgent-care clinic could take care of that.

[murfsgirl 22]

I had surgery on the 17th, today was my first day back, I also have a desk Job. I had to leave an hour and a half early as I could. not take it any longer! Just due to the fact that all my incisions bothered me due to my pants just being on them, they are all healed and no problems till after about 4 hrs. I had my pants unzipped whenever siting but the getting up and down all day, really got to me, my boss said if I need to shorten my day or this week or next week, it's fine, hopefully your boss is as understanding , good luck and feel better !

[NuStartInTx 31]

I had the same problem after gallbladder surgery, my pants kept rubbing on my belly button and I ended up with a skin infection and a round of antibiotics. Definitely call your Dr and be careful! I had surgery on the 15th and am back to the office tomorrow. I'm more worried about my back hurting than anything

[Butterthebean 8,146]

My doc told me under no circumstances was I to use neosporin or anything like it on my incisions. Just wash the area with anti-bacterial soap. I was glued shut, no stitches.

Did your doctor tell you to use neosporin?