Calling all sisters with vertical incisions

Hey JudeD. Vertical here too. Mine was pretty large, almost 12 inches from about 4 inches above my belly button to my pubic area. I had 50 staples, and they were removed after only 4 days, before I left the castle for home. When you are in the throws of this it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and yes you are still in the early stages of healing. But, if you take care of yourself soon you will start to see an improvement in the way it feels. You cannot really measure it day to day because some days will be better than others, but you will soon look back and realize that you are feeling better than you did the week before. It was recommended that I had the vertical operation done too because of the cancer in the uterus.

In answer to some of your questions, I think my turning point, when my scar went from on and off hurting to just being uncomfortable happened after about two months. I am going on 8 months now and I don't have actual pain, but some occasional reminder discomforts. I mean sometimes it still itches, and sometimes the zipper on the pants (the ones that still fit ), or the elastic, still irritate the scar area. But with that said, it is now something that has become second nature and I do not think about it all the time ....other pains, like wisdom teeth, can now take over and/or take your mind off of your hyst for a while! My scar is still quite visible, but it is getting better in some spots, but I don't care about no stinkin' scar ...I am alive!

I had my operation when it was a little warmer outside. I found a light rectangle cotton body wrap, (with a cool batik pattern) was very comfortable to wear around the house. I wore granny undies, the kind that go high up the waste, to be comfortable under sweatpants or jersey/pj bottoms. I bought some slight support undies ...sometimes they were comfortable, especially if I had to do some walking, other times the loose grannies felt better. I got lazy about rubbing on anti-scar creams and lotions, so I can not say whether that helped or not. Sometimes a moisturizer can help when the scar feels dry and itchy. (Vitamin E and other natural oils can be a good idea, after the skin is healed.)

I still have numbness on top of my pubic area, and to the groin. It will probably always be this way, but at least it does not hurt! The feeling in most of the skin area around the incision has come back except a little patch left of my belly button, but again, this doesn't hurt either.

I hope this helps to answer some of your questions. We are all different, and it will take a different amount of time for each of us to feel better. Here's wishing you are healed and feeling better real soon!

-Terri

Judy I had that burning pain on my right side. If I touched that side at all it was awful. When I took a shower it felt like acid or something it felt like a burn would feel. Mine lasted two weeks. The neosporin worked on that too. Beacause my pain medicine didn't even touch it. I just remember waking up one day realizing it didn't burn anymore. Your day will be soon!!

I too have a VerticaL. Had staples taken out after 1 week and a serious infection of some kind. I still don't know WHAT was infected. Major pain!!! even tho I'm finished with the antibiotic I still have the burning tenderness you speak about...especially bad in the evening. Hope yours diminishes soon.

I had a vertical incision with staples also about 2 & 1/2 weeks ago for the same general reasons - doc afraid of large tumors and wanted everything gone in one piece. As I have lost 10 lbs since the surgery - I can wear warm up suits over the incision if i use the neosporin with pain 2x to 3x a day.