incisional drainage

Well my friday wasn't so good! I ended up going to the docs on Friday because my temp was slightly elevated and I had a warm red strip just below my belly button incision. It was starting to drain and I was having pain at the site. I felt a lump above the belly button. I was told to come in within the hour. Of course, got there a WAITED!!! Saw the nurse practitioner in the office. She cultured the drainage and pushed on the area. She left and came back 15 mins. later. She gave me a prescription for antibiotics and never really said what she thought. I asked her if she thought it was an abscess and she said maybe. She told me to get the script filled ASAP so as I could get 3 doses in that day. Also told me to drink plenty of water and take Tylenol/Motrin for the fever. I'm on 2000mg of Keflex a day. Later that day I started to feel terrible. I was in bed pretty much all day. I woke up in the middle of the night soaking wet. My incision was draining more. Sat. morning I felt much better. No temp., incision draining a little, and the nodule above my belly button was not as hard. I put a gauze pad over my belly button today to see how much drainage...not much. I was sitting here and I checked my drainage and it's picked up again. It's clear to light brown/pink. I still have a red strip below the belly button, but it's not as red.

Anyone have this experience? What did your doc do? When did the drainage stop?

When I had my first c/s I had a gap in one of my stitches and it drainage for a few weeks also. Doc said better out than in. I am hoping this saying applies here as well.

Michelle -

I don't have any experience with incisional drainage but I agree with the better out than in. Just because of something I've noticed here. I had a vaginal cuff infection but no drainage through the vagina. Other ladies had theirs diagnosed through drainage. Mine ended up becoming a huge abscess, well two that I had major surgery to fix. It seems like we all started with the same treatment for the orignal infection - heavy duty antibiotics, but those ladies with drainage seemed like they cleared up and got better while mine did not. I have my own theory which counts for nothing since I'm a coffee girl and not a Dr

Hugs and I hope someone with more experience comes along soon. The fact that your fever is better and you feel ok are positives!

Starbgirl

At about 3 weeks post op my incision started to bleed lightly. I called the dr. They said to watch for signs of infection. None so far. I took it really easy for the next two days. After I showered yesterday I noticed that it was draining/bleeding again. (not sure if it was all blood). Anyway today it seems to be doing better. the pain is better and it looks like it is healing. I am going to continue to take it easy till I feel it is fully healed. I will still walk but no more bending or stretching for me.