a wound question

Hi
I am 3 weeks out of TAH, and was wondering about other's experiences with their incisions. Mine is generally fine, no redness and healed except for one small bit about 1 centimetre, which is still raw, although starting to make a scab, but still weeping a tiny bit of clear fluid.Sorry if this is TMI!!
Seasons Greetings to you all from Aussie
Caffie

I'm not a doctor mind you, but I had what sounds like exactly the same thing. My incision goes up to and then around my belly button like a question mark. The top of the question mark just wasn't healing like the rest. I pulled a little on the scab and clear fluid gushed out. Completely clear, no color, no odor.

I checked with the doctor on call and he confirmed that it was a seroma. You can probably find some other posts if you search that word.

In reality, it's just a build up of serous fluid that didn't absorb back in and needs to be released. Serous fluid is what makes your ankle swell when you sprain it. The serous fluid is sterile, so if they don't have to go in to drain it, that's better, because they can introduce bacteria at that point. I was able to push on mine with 4 inch gauze squares and squeeze out the fluid until it was gone and the incision started to heal like the rest of it. That part of my incision seemed to be a few days behind the curve of healing comparing it with the rest of the incision. But I'm 10 weeks out and the whole incision is fine.

If you run a temp or something other than clear fluid comes out, or something that has an odor (serous fluid doesn't have an odor), call your doctor immediately. You might want to just call and confirm what he wants you to do to take care of it. Once the serous fluid dried on the gauze it was a straw color. FYI.

You could also put Neosporin on it. I have seen a lot of Princesses using that on the boards.

Thanks, what is neosporin, I am from Australia, not sure if we have it here or not, Is it an antibiotic cream
Caffie

Hi caffie ;

I had a small spot of my incision that was "open" when my doctor took out my staples. He showed my husband and told him what to do "if" needed. I just left it be and wore a panty liner (pad side down of course)on it to keep it from weeping onto my clothes.

Please do not put anything on the open area as you could cause an infection. Give your doctor a call and if s/he wants you to put something on it s/he will tell you what.

If the incision is not open anywhere the antibiotic cream would most likely be okay.

's!
Sybie

I had the same problem with my incision up until around 3 weeks post op. The fluid was clear and a very small amount. Saw Dr. he said it was normal. It stopped at about week 3.

It is always best to have your doctor take a look at it, just to make sure. He may want to give you an antibiotic (just to be sure!).

Good Luck to you!

Yup, mine healed left to right with the right side taking about 4-5 weeks to completely heal over. But it never got read or puffy. Doc saw it for the first 4 weeks to check, but it did finally heal over. Do keep an eye on it, but it sounds fairly normal.

Katy

I also had a very tiny spot on the left side that was stubborn to heal. I had the horizontal incision. It seemed to always be wet. My friend is a nurse and she told me to put some gause on it for a week to keep it dry. It worked like a charm. I'm 5 weeks out and my ugly cut is healed.
Good luck and stay healthy!

I had a spot that wouldn't heal and I tried neosporin on it for about a week. It did ooze pus and little bit of blood. I finally went to the doctors and she put me on a penicillin drug and the wound closed up and stopped oozing the next day. Don't wait too long to call your doctor.