Open Incision anyone?

Hello all - hope everyone is doing well. I h ve finally reached what i hope is a milestone - MY FIRST GOOD DAY. But, i have an open wound, and would like some advise! I had trouble two weeks ago, horrific pains, and eww - gushing from the center of my incision! well, two dr visits and an ER visit later, it has finally stopped! i can finally walk upright, and no Rx today! however, the whole is still there, and some "hard spots" remain. The DR went into the hole, and "rummaged around", making it larger, and freeing any other pockets. has anyone had this, and how long is the healing process? I read all the wonderful stories of healing fast, getting back in to life....but has anyone gone through this? i finally slept in bed last night - woohoo!!! and today was much better, but i am ANXIOUS to get on with it!!Oh, the DR said the "hard spots' could be adhesions - which i know well, but can they grow that fast - two weeks?

ANY advise would be appreciated - thanks again for all the help - would have put my head in the oven if not for all of you!!

Myself and my mother have had the "open wounds."
It takes quite a while to heal. It has to heal from the inside out, not the other way around. It is very important to keep the open area open and "cleaned out."
The opening actually has to "fill in" with new tissue growth, eventually getting more filled-in and smaller.
Remember, this takes much longer than healing from the outside inward. Patience and lots of TLC are required.
Best of Luck to you and Happy Easter!

I had a vertical incision with a TAH/BSO, and after they removed the staples, the surgical tape would not stick at the bottom of my incision. A spot stayed open and was rather red at first. My doctor prescribed nystatin powder which I used for about 2 weeks. After that it wasn't red, but still oozing a bit. I put some bacitracin ointment on it every other day after my shower with a Q tip. It is gradually getting smaller and no longer oozing. Saw my DD at the end of 5 weeks and she said it was healing but would take some time before tissue closed off the opening.

Thank you both for your input - i get alittle icky, wanting to GET BETTER, i have stopped oozing also (thank goodness!) but still have the hole, and hard spots under the skin by the incision - i spoke to the DR office today, they don't even want to see me until the hole is healed, no work or driving (I AM SO BORED) i did over do it this weekend, and am paying for it today! do you have a timeline, knowing everyone is different??
Thanks

I am also very curious to know how long this type of wound has taken for others to heal. The bottom of my incision opened up the day after they removed the staples. I'm told this is not uncomon for obese women. I have a wonderful wound care nurse specialist helping me take care of the open wound and I'm wearing a BINDER (wearing this feels so much better) but I can't get any kind of estimate for how long this will take to heal. Months? Years? Ever?

Doing better but....

Karen

Hi karen - it is funny that i just got your post - as my wound OPENED again today, after 10 days of no leaking! I am not obese (but overweight certainly), spke to the DR's office, and said that the pockets of infection may not have all gone. i had my operation over 5 weeks ago. I also have auto-immune disease, so i am heading to the endo today, will ask him also. it gets awfully depressing, as today it came through my pants (no undies yet, unable to get comfortable in them). Please let me know how you are, I am curious as to how long this goes on, feel better!! :big hug:

Good news - I am now at 7 weeks post TAH/BSO and the hole at the bottom of my incision is almost completely closed. Am trying the Mederma thing for the rest of my scar.

I got three infections in my incision and it took 19 weeks to heal completely......

Still quite sore on the inside but nearly back to normal....

Oh, my, you poor thing! this is my second time of hte incision opening! when did you go back to work? when where you able to function? I would love to know how you got along....... feel better!!

Hi Jane, if your reply was meant for me....
Luckily I don`t work, but not sure when would have been safe to return....and it`s only been the last four weeks really that I have finally 'turned a corner'.

My op was 2nd November 2004 and it`s been a real struggle I can tell you.....

My sympathies to everyone that has problems out there, but at least the worse is over and it`s uphill from now on.....