Lumpectomy site not closed

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Fortysomething
Fortysomething Member Posts: 15
edited September 2017 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

I had a lumpectomy back on June 5, then had to have another for clear margins on June 17. It closed up, then about a week later it busted open with fluid and a little blood. Reclosed again, and burst yet again. Called surgeon, nurse says this is normal. Ok, so fast forward to this week, I've been trying to use a bandage to get skin together (the incision is at the 3 o'clock mark) to help promote healing. Tuesday I take off bandage and it's dumping out pus and flecks of red. Call and leave a message for surgeon. Nurse calls back and says probably not an infection, clean it good and pat dry daily. I have one hole the size of a pea and it's deep. At what point do you say somebody needs to look at this. I don't want MRSA or wound tunneling, and it seems like it's really taking a long time to heal. Can anyone relate? You ladies are so wonderful, when no one else gets it, I love being able to come on here and feel normal 😘

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  • Barbmak
    Barbmak Member Posts: 60
    edited August 2017

    Fortysomething, our stats seem very similar. I am going through a really bad time with my surgical wound which was closed/ then opened. I'm seeing a wound specialist recommended by my surgeon. He is right next door and when I go to him she (BS) checks on me too. If I were you I wouldn't call I would insist on an appointment. Your BS needs to see it. Good luck.

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  • Outfield
    Outfield Member Posts: 1,109
    edited August 2017

    Fortysomething - I'm surprised you haven't gotten more guidance on wound care. Once a surgical incision has opened and drained (the medical term is "dehisced"), it's not closed again by bringing the edges of the skin together. It has to heal from the deepest part upward, like a zipper zipping closed from down deep. Pulling the edges of the skin together is going to trap drainage and bacteria that need to get out. I see now that your post was August 4th! Have you gotten guidance and help? I'm really surprised a nurse tried to diagnose this over the phone. Honestly, for wound complications, most places would want you to come in so they could have a look at what's going on. You really can't tell over the phone.

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  • scaligirl
    scaligirl Member Posts: 74
    edited September 2017

    hey fortysomething, did you ever get this resolved? I had my lumpectomy last friday am and had a similar issue with that surgical film not holding up to gravity on one of my incisions. I have big hoobs so i chalked it to up that crap being no match for the weight of my boob. I ended up self-repairing over the weekend with some steri-strips I had me left over from a biopsy last month.

    I was a bit surprised myself how non-chalant the on call doc I spoke to late Friday night was, but apparently this is pretty common. I just ordered some more of those plus some tegaderm film off amazon so i can sleep and shower in peace for the next couple weeks while my skin heals.

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