Surgical wound finally healed after 3 months

I haven't been posting here much, because I've been pretty depressed. But I thought my experience might offer a little hope to someone who's been stuck with a slow-healing surgical wound.

I developed an infection a few days after surgery and ended up with a wound that wouldn't heal, even though it was being tended by visiting nurses. I wasn't in a lot of pain from it, just discomfort sometimes, but spending 3 months with a hole in my belly was discouraging. The nurses were great but rearranging my life around them also got tiresome, especially after I went back to work.

But a few weeks ago the doctor ordered a new treatment for the wound. Last Wednesday a nurse was poking a tube into the wound (part of the cleaning process), and realized she couldn't push through. The wound was solidly healed over. Another nurse tried again a couple of days later with the same result. So they've discharged me with orders to call the doctor if I have any problems. So far, I've been fine.

I still can't believe it, but what a relief!

Hi!

I am so glad to hear that your incision has finally closed! I know you are relieved. It sounds like you had great after care for it.

I hope you are beginning to feel better! s

Deb

Was beginning to think I was the only one with an incision that wouldn't heal, I am 4 weeks p.o. today and have a ulcer like spot the size of a half dollar at bottom of vertical incision and starting to look like abcess on top of incision, have been on so may antibiotics now have yeast infection as well. Have to go back to DR Wednesday again. Dr removed old scar from 2 c-sections and said tension on new scar has caused pulling apart and start infection, lots of fun

Thanks for the kind words, Crossfire.

ROE1959, I think you're having a tougher time than I did. I only had one course of antibiotics and (thankfully) no yeast infection to add to the misery. My opening was a little smaller than yours. Not that I ever saw it myself because of where it was.

I hated the smell of the strong antibiotics and the wound while it was infected. It got much easier to live with once the infection was over. I got quite casual about the nurses and my husband inserting a tube to clean the wound and then packing it (didn't hurt). Not that everybody would have to have that - they had to pack the wound to let a cavity heal from the inside.

The OB/GYN and the nurses said that these things always heal in the end, even if once in awhile it takes a long time. You WILL get better. Soon, I hope.

I know of myself and one other "sister" who have had extreme long healing time for our wounds, which were infected from the hospital.

For myself, I had my incision reopened 17 days after my hyst to remove an abcess. The reopened wound was extremely deep and required home care nursing and 2 months with a device known as a Wound Vac. After the Wound Vac was removed in the middle of November, I thought complete healing of the wound would take place quickly. It finally completely closed just before New Year's Eve, just about 4 months from the day I had the abcess surgery. It felt great to pack away my dressing supplies. I hope I never have to see them again.

I rejoice with you in having a wound finally close after such a long time!

Karen