Post-LSH - bulge near incision

Hello All!
I hope someone on this wonderful site can help me... I had a lSH about 4 1/2 months ago... The doctor made a small incision due to the size of my uterus and fibroid... 4 days later i developed a pretty bad wound infection. The infection tunneled left of the incision and deep down.. It finally closed about the third week in June... so far so good... no problems, went back to work and carried on with my life... about 3 weeks ago I noticed it looked slightly swollen to the left of the incision... I thought ahhh just another roll of fat! well just the other day while taking a shower I noticed that slightly swollen fat area is now the size of an orange and when I push on it I hear a gushing sound and there is something "floating" inside too!! AHHH... what the heck is that!!! I dont know what to do??? do I go back to my doctor that did the LSH or go right to a surgeon? I can't bear the thought of having surgery again especially after going through the trama of having an open incision for 6 weeks, plus I dont know how im going to ask my boss for time off for another surgery!! my gut feeling is that this buldge is a hernia cause from the wound infection weakining my stomach wall. Im starting to freak out about this and havent slept in 2 days since I found this thing. Im worried to death of having to have to go thru this again!! Please help...

I would definately go to the PCP and not the surgeon first. If it's an infection, he/she might be able to treat it without further surgery. Either way, I think I would certainly get to a doctor and have it checked out.

You poor lady.... I would definitely NOT put off seeking medical help, just as JMchicks has said. Delay could make matters worse. Especially when you're not sure what is going on.

Let us know what it is..... and keep us posted!!!

i'd see your dr as soon as possible. it could be an infection and if its a hernia and has gotten that big, you really need it checked out.

Hmmm.... I wonder if it could be a seroma???



Seroma

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


A seroma is a pocket of clear serous fluid that sometimes develops in the body after surgery. When small blood vessels are ruptured, blood plasma can seep out; inflammation caused by dying injured cells also contributes to the fluid.
Seromas are different from hematomas which contain red blood cells and from abscesses which contain pus and result from an infection.

Seromas can also sometimes be caused by injury such as when the initial swelling from a blow or fall does not fully subside. The remaining serous fluid causes a seroma that the body usually gradually absorbs over time (often taking many weeks); however, a knot of calcified tissue sometimes remains.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by jzebro Hello All! I hope someone on this wonderful site can help me... I had a lSH about 4 1/2 months ago... The doctor made a small incision due to the size of my uterus and fibroid... 4 days later i developed a pretty bad wound infection. The infection tunneled left of the incision and deep down.. It finally closed about the third week in June... so far so good... no problems, went back to work and carried on with my life... about 3 weeks ago I noticed it looked slightly swollen to the left of the incision... I thought ahhh just another roll of fat! well just the other day while taking a shower I noticed that slightly swollen fat area is now the size of an orange and when I push on it I hear a gushing sound and there is something "floating" inside too!! AHHH... what the heck is that!!! I dont know what to do??? do I go back to my doctor that did the LSH or go right to a surgeon? I can't bear the thought of having surgery again especially after going through the trama of having an open incision for 6 weeks, plus I dont know how im going to ask my boss for time off for another surgery!! my gut feeling is that this buldge is a hernia cause from the wound infection weakining my stomach wall. Im starting to freak out about this and havent slept in 2 days since I found this thing. Im worried to death of having to have to go thru this again!! Please help...

Thank you all for your quick responses! Im going to call my doctor who did the surgery. I want her to check it out first and make sure that its not my bladder floating around. I really dont need this right now... or anytime for that matter. I havent even told my
DH because hes very busy with his Dad who is terminally ill... I dont think he could handle this right now. ill keep you posted... Thanks again

Hello All!
Good news, well sort of... my doctor did an ultra sound and it looks like i do have a hernia... she said the fascia didnt close as tightly as it should have most likely due to the wound infection... The good thing is, is there is no fluid in the bulge. she said that I have a few choices.... I can go for a second opinon, have surgery to tighten things up or do stomach strenghting excersises. I'm going to do the excersizes, I want to stay far far away from surgery!! she did say that it can be done laproscopically if I did decide to do the surgery. im just so glad I dont have to have surgery!!!
thanks for all of your support