Really worried about my incisions, please respond experienced bandsters

[NukeChik 1]

I'm really starting to worry about my incisions. My port incision is okay, but all the others that are small are really weird. I literally have 4 holes in my stomach. I don't know if the glue didn't hold them shut like it should have or what. My take home instructions said I could start flaking off the glue on Monday. The first one that I did left a hole, probably only about an eighth of an inch deep but a hole nonetheless. This really worries me that the glue should have held them shut and didn't. I wasn't supposed to put anything on them for 2 weeks, but I started tonight. I peroxided them and tried to get as much of the glue off as possible then filled them in with antibiotic ointment. They look REALLY GROSS! They have been red ringed since the surgery, but now they are tender and one even has a little discharge that comes out (very little).

I went to the doc on tuesday for my follow-up and they told me not to be concerned, but I still am!!!

I'm afraid my doc might have screwed up the underlying stitches or something?!

Years ago I had an appendectomy and had an infection. They split me back open and made me heal with an open wound. I just treated it the same as I did that wound.

Has anyone else had this problem?

[kimpossible 0]

Sorry, I can't be of more help, but I wanted to respond anyway. I was banded on 1-3-08, but I don't think they used glue...I am not really sure...but all four of my little incisions look awesome. They are almost completely healed. I don't know if that is normal or if I am lucky. One thing that I have heard repeatedly is that you are not supposed to use neosporin on surgical wounds.....I just left mine with regular bandaids. Hope yours start healing fast!

[Alfie 58]

Hi Nikki,

I had gall bladder surgery 6 weeks ago and one of the four incisions became infected. I also had a hole there and sounds like it was similar to yours. My doctor said not to worry; that it would heal. I couldn't picture how it would heal without leaving a more severe scar (a hole or indent). The doctor was right, the hole closed up and now looks almost like the other scars except that it is a bit darker in color. I am amazed!

[NukeChik 1]

Thanks for your reply Alfie. I know that one of them is infected. I think I will still call the doc on Monday and see what they say. I really think its just a superficial infection, I don't feel bad or have a fever.

[Wheetsin 714]

My band incisions were stapled, but a few montsh ago I had to have my GB removed and they were just steristripped (on the outside), internal sutures. Except for the bellybutton incision. They left this one open. I have a lot of loose skin and had to pull my skin up to see it, so it would look like a little agape mouth. It had some discharge, and if I touched it, felt like a bee was stinging me. And felt that way sometimes when nothing was touching it. Wasn't comfortable. I kept it clean and covered it with non-stick gauze and antibiotic ointment. It took about 7 weeks, but it eventually closed up completely.

[NukeChik 1]

I had been cleaning them with Peroxide and putting some triple antibiotic on them. Seems I was wrong in doing that. From what I read on the incredible internet, peroxide is now thought to be worse than nothing at all. Seems it kills all the cells, even the healthy ones. Who knew?? Anyways, I guess I will just keep washing it with soap and Water and putting some ointment on them. Still freaks me out though!

[cookienay 0]

Correct with the peroxide.sometimes half strength is okay IF ok with your doc- but nothing beats soap and Water. We tell our patients at the facility where I work (for surgical or sutured wounds) not to keep ointment on it. Keeps it too soft and it won't close. Open to air is usually best, but check with your doctor. Mild wound infections can clear up on their own as well. Good Luck!! BTW... fever, increasing redness, increasing drainage, increasing pain, or foul odor should be reported too.

[NukeChik 1]

I think that the main problem is the surgical glue. Its all down in the holes, I think it really needs to come out and it would be okay. The holes that I got all the glue out of are healing well. There are still 2 that have a bunch of the glue down in them though.

[Lin12/20/07 0]

Hi, I didn't have problems either but wanted to respond. I had the glue & my dr told me not to touch them for 2 weeks or bathe (showers ok) for 3 weeks (ex. no soaking). When I did pick a little glue off that was falling off it was right at 2 weeks, just before my follow up. He said they looked good & more would be falling off. But, I noticed on one that I felt it was "opening" a bit- I did a butterfly style bandaid over it to hold it together since the glue was gone on that one. My instructions also said NO neosporin or other ointments on the scars. Glad you're checking with dr- that's best or get another opinion! Good luck!

[NukeChik 1]

Hi Nikki,

I had gall bladder surgery 6 weeks ago and one of the four incisions became infected.

Alfie,

Did the your infection go away on its own or did you have to take meds?

[Joanna240 0]

I was banded 1/16/08 and have a bunch of staples in me. Dr said I had an unusally shaped stomach. I asked, "that it was XXL?" He laughed and said, "no, just some blood vessels we had to think about." My surgery lasted quite a bit longer than most. Was in the hospital one night.

I'm having two post-op problems. Pounding headache and I feel like I have a cement block in the upper part of my stomach. Was a loooong journey to get insurance to pay for banding and now I'm having mixed feelings. Just haven't had any quality of life yet.

Also, in the evenings, I'm running a low-grade fever.