incision opening up

SuebeeBC

Good Luck TonLee!

And Rennasus - I meant to say that it sounds like the arm pain that I have...where did my sentence go?  Anyway, I have this distinct arm pain when my arm is still too long.  I hate it.  PS said its nerve damage from the surgery and will get better....I plan on getting a second opinion!

TonLee

Surgery went well...used a twilight..half way through the procedure I "woke up" and wondered who the hell was talking so much...IT WAS ME!!  My voice was hoarse from talking...they said I talked the ENTIRE TIME...I don't remember what I said either...

Must of been something juicy since the nurse assured me "What is said in the OR stays in the OR."

lol

No exercise with arms for 4 days.

SuebeeBC

WOW some of the things that fly out of my mouth when I am AWAKE are bad enough!  LOL!  I came out of my first surgery talking about clam chowder.  I mustve been hungry!

Anyway, glad it went well and it heals quickly.....I would make that 4 days a week though if I were you!  No need to push it!

Rennasus

TonLee, glad to hear things went A-OK...that is *so* funny about your nonstop chattering in the OR! I can only imagine the things docs and nurses here us say in there! LOL!! And I agree with Suebee, don't push it!

Let's all jump on the "no more debridement" bandwagon! ;-)

TonLee

I am going to take it easy this time....

I want this sucker to HEAL BABY HEAL!

geocachelinda

My hole has closed up from a huge opening to one just about the size of the tip of my pinkie!  I am really pleased with the progress and hope it is closed soon!

SuebeeBC

That's GREAT!!!  Keep up the good healing!

TonLee

Geo,

That's great.

Well, here I am 8 days after revision.  I have internal stitches and dermabond over that. 

Guess what?

My stitches are bleeding and the blood is seeping out from under the dermabond.  About the size of a quarter by the end of the day.   Grrrrrr. 

 When I left the OR they weren't bleeding at all.  Just moving around makes them bleed.  I'm still officially in my chemo cycle (week 3) so I know I won't start healing well for a few more weeks....

Saw my PS Thursday, and he didn't look concerned, but they're bleeding more now than they were then.

I'm on antibiotics...which is good because I am also pretty bruised....my RBC is way low from chemo.....I see him again on Tues....

I didn't bleed this much with the original MX!

Oh well.

Rennasus

TonLee, sorry to hear you are having trouble again with your stitches... how are things today? Are you eating lots of protein? Give us an update when you can. Sending healing thoughts your way!

mrsnjband

I think after all this time if anyone is still having problems, you need to go to a wound specialist.  Closing it back up if it is still infected isn't going to help at all!  I had to go to a wound spcialist because of a radiation burn that wounded heal.  I am still having issues after 2 1/2 years since radiation.  I am going to have to have hyperbaric treatments first before I can get a scar revision. 

Sending all my love & support. NJ

kira1234

mrsnjband, I'm so sorry it has come to hyperbaric treatments for you. I was so close myself, but my BS finally was able to find some tissue that wasn't so scared from the radiation. It's not pritty, but at least it is holding. If I'm not careful and it opens agian, i will be right there with you.

What is a scar revision? I'm sort of thinking about seeing a PS to see if it can be fixed up some how.

TonLee

Renn,

I placed a rolled up sock over the bandage, then put on a tight sports bra yesterday.  Today when I removed the bandage there was a quarter size spot of blood.  However, it "appears" to have stopped bleeding.  I'm going one more day with direct pressure on it in hopes it will help.

The dermabond peeled away from the top so now when I take a shower water can just sit in there...I pressed it out, and despite the handout from the hospital went ahead and put an antibiotic gel the PS gave me before on the bandage...so it will work in there a little and if it bleeds the bandage won't stick.

MrsN, I was almost completely healed up (even with chemo) but he wanted to revise the scar tissue for expansion.  So now I'm starting all over.

We have a hyperbaric chamber at my facility.  What does it do?

TonLee

Kira,

In my case, scar revision meant the PS went in and debrided the wound, cleaned it, and stitched it back together in a more pleasing line (though right now it looks bad).

bennetts1

Hi ladies!  so sorry to hear anyone who has problems with incisions opening up.  I had DIEP surgery last May and my donor site incision opened up the first of May and I had to go to a wound clinic to have it debrided twice a week.  They would put a packing that in the wound that contained silver and I would leave it in there for 2-3 days.  It would turn to a gel.  The clinic told me the wet-dry gauze packing could damage the new tissue formation and this type of packing was better, and it also killed any type of germs, bacteria in the wound.  I cannot remember the actual name of the silver packing, but any wound specialist would be familiar with it, or you might google it.  I missed the entire summer of swimming, and also, I missed my relaxing bathtub soaks in my large tub!  My incision did have to heal from the inside out, and I had trouble with the tunneling in the beginning.  In September, my surgeon was able to finish closing the opening up.  In June, she is going to do a scar revision so the scar does not look so bad!  I hope everyone heals soon!

Blindsided

well, it took 7 months, but my sentinel node wound has finally healed!!  Whoopeee!  Once that rogue metal clip worked its way out of the wound the sucker healed up in less than 2 weeks!  I am so thrilled to be done with the packing and the discomfort of a dressing in my armpit.  I can't wait to go swimming again!

geocachelinda

I got my chemo Power port put in today and my surgeon was pleased with how well my hole has closed up.  I am now just dressing it with a band-aid!  Rest and protein did its job!

TonLee

Great news Geo!!  WOO HOO!

Rennasus

Blindsided & Geocachelinda: Congrats on your healing!

I have a pinhead-sized green/yellow spot on my revised incision that I am watching like a hawk. I noticed it 2 days ago; so far it has been holding its own. Fingers crossed!

bennetts1

Excited for you ladies!!!!  That is wonderful news to hear!!!

AnewBeginning

I thought I was the only one with this problem. I had my lumpectomy and Radio Frequency Ablation on 2/17/11 seemed to be healing well until around 10 days later when I noticed seapage and a FOUL odor.  Went back to BS and he cleaned it out good and packed it.  Been having a VN each day to clean and repack the wound.  Hard to tell but it seems like it is improving a bit each day as it was over an inch deep.  Its too bad the doctors or nurses dont mention eating high protein for wound healing.

Geo, I see your on your way too! Lets just count the days.

hugs to ya!

AJ

TonLee

I finally healed and started radiation.

I'm half way through and today two small holes opened up on the incision.....gah!  And my plastic surgeon is moving, so I have to meet a new one during all this.....

Rennasus

TonLee, OH NO!! I'm so sorry to hear this and completely relate. How long were you healed up for before this happened? Did your PS give you any advice? OY!!!!!!

SuebeeBC

TonLee NO!  And I totally relate to the PS moving!  OMG I hope it all works out...I am sure it will.  I truely believe everything happens for a reason.  Maybe the new PS will have a new plan that will help you out?  Bugga - that stinks!!!  Good Luck Girl!!

TonLee

Thanks ladies...I see my PS on Tuesday ... I was healed up for about 2-3 weeks before Rads.

Ya know what?  Call me crazy but I wonder if I'm getting enough calories.  Yesterday we went to a festival and I ate over 3000 calories  in strawberries, kettle korn, and 1/2 an elephant ear...on top of 1000 normal food calories...this morning the two holes are still there, but they look better??  Almost as if they're trying to heal.....

Of course this weeks Rads will destroy that....

PhotoGirlOH

I am having a problem with my incision healing, but luckily, so far it does seem to be as bad as most of your stories. I did chemo first, finished that and then had surgery. I had a UNI on 5/5, sealed with "superglue" and filled to..600. I have a goal of 800. After completly miserable pain for 2 full weeks, the wound started to continue to seperate, he deflated me to 500. After a week of silver suplhadine creme. I ended up with a spot of necrosis a little smaller than a dime in the middle, everything else healed mostly. PS was convinced it was just the top, a little clean up, no big deal. Took out another 50, now to 450, more like where I thought I would have started at. When he touched the incision to repair it, about a cup of clear fluid came rushing out. He ended up taking it back down to the TE, and redoing all 4 layers of stiches. Seroma with no symptoms. So now, almost 2 weeks later, all was looking good, no superglue this time, good old fashion black stiches. I have been doing warm compresses 3 times a day to keep it soft. Almost all of it it healed, except in almost the same spot I had some scabs come off and now, yellowy ick has appeared that has a weepy quality. Almost like a brush burn. Granted it's small, and just on the incision line. But I am starting to wonder if it will ever heal. And now I'm dreading that they will have to reopen it to the exchange later! Sorry to be so long, but I'm really starting to wonder if  I was overfilled or if it was the superglue. Or just bad luck. Any one else have these factors?

SuebeeBC

TonLee not sure about calories....but I had to up my protein intake significantly...ask your doctor about it.

Photogirl - sorry youre having issues....I had some of the same things but I never had fluid taken from my TE...and it did heal, with lots of taking it easy, eating iron and protein, and keeping it clean and moist.  Mine took about 8 weeks to finally stop...some take longer. 

TonLee

Sue I was eating 125-150 grams of protein a day...but my caloric intake was too low...since I've upped it, I'm healing DURING radiation!!

SuebeeBC

Thanks GREAT!!! Keep it up!!!

Rennasus

TonLee, glad to hear this. Can't say that not getting enough calories is my problem! ;-)

Photogirl, I have had similar issues as you. Had BMX Feb 3, right incision developed necrosis two weeks after surgery, had it surgically revised; then developed yellow/green spots along the incision line that ended up becoming the size of a nickel. Back into surgery to re-suture again. Same thing happened, but not as bad (spots opening up along incision). This time he sutured me in his office. That was 5 weeks ago. It is slowly healing. No yellow/green spots at all this go-round. BUT the incision seeps fluid still. Some days, when I get plenty of rest and a nap, it doesn't leak at all. But if I overdo it, boom...the incision seeps. It's not the TE, it's fluid built up in the tissue (that's what you have as well, yes?). I have been dealing with this for 4 months! I am frustrated but also am seeing progress. I was filled to 350cc during BMX and PS removed 50cc's from the right side each time he re-sutured me to help the healing. I also was using Xeroform to keep the incision moist.

Personally, I too think I was over-filled and my skin couldn''t handle the pressure. My right side was also my cancer side, and they did a radical on that side so there was more tissue trauma...plus, 8 nodes removed so that has to affect circulation, right? Anyway, sorry you are going through this too. Get lots of rest and eat lots of protein and keep us posted!

PS This last time he used good old-fashioned plastic stitches and I think that made a difference!

Rennasus

Just wanted to give an update here for anyone having trouble with their incisions...

I am having my right TE removed on July 6. 

I thought my delayed incision healing was because I was overfilled on the table (and maybe that contributed? I'll never know), but after I had the blue plastic stitches, my incision healed all the way EXCEPT for a tiny hole, half the size of a pinhead, in which fluid would seep. I have a gap between my skin and the tissue healing below it, and my body keeps filling the area with fluid. So the hole never heals. What's actually going on is TE rejection. 

For anyone struggling with incision healing:

1) eat plenty of protein (Greek yogurt and cottage cheese are great hi-protein snacks)

2) Sleep and nap as often as you can (that's when your body heals)

3) Drink a lot of water

4) Stay within whatever physical restrictions (no lifting, no reaching, etc.) that your PS has given you. Don't try to do more than you are supposed to, even if you feel good.

5) I tried to heal my incision over a period of 5 months. That is too long! I was trying to save myself from another surgery (even tho my PS told me a couple months ago it probably will need to come out). My advice: Listen to your PS. If he thinks the TE needs to come out, he is probably right!