sbjim5755

Hey everyone,

I have a question thats needs an answer...hopefully one of you guys can help. I had my belt lipectomy 3 weeks ago and during the first week I tore a couple of stitches on my back. There has been tape over the incision so I haven't really seen the actual area where my surgeon said I had a tear. When I went to the surgeon yesterday he tore off the tape and my back started bleeding. He said that the spot was still open and to pack gauze into the "hole" or whatever you call it. He said it will slowly fill in and shrink in size. It is really un-nerving to have a 2 inch wide X 1 inch thick hole in my back. Can anyone tell me if this is a normal complication...my surgeon doesnt seem too worried about it but I really am. I asked if he could stitch it up and he said no becasue the new pocket might get infected. He said the best thingto do is to just keep it clean and dry and let it heal. Anyone know what is going on here?? Sorry if this post was a little confusing....its alot of he said she said type info. Let me know. Thanks

__________________
Jim
Post Op Lap Gastric Bypass on 10/27/05
Weight - 371/336/169/170
pre-op/surgery/current/goal
202 Pounds Gone Forever!!!!!!
Plastics Surgery (Belt Lipectomy) - on April 2nd

MiladyB

Yep, Jim it does happen. LisaB had an open wound for quite some time. Your doctor is right, the best thing to do is pack it. That helps to keep the wound bed clean and it will slowly heal from the inside out. If you would close it now you do run the risk of infection since the wound is already open. Basically the wound needs to be considered a 'dirty' wound at this point.

When I had an open breast biopsy I popped some stitches. A pocket of fluid built up under the incision, in the hole that was left when the lump was removed. It wasn't as open as yours but I did the same thing. I just packed the wound with a little gauze and over time it got smaller and smaller and eventually healed.

You may find that your scar will be a little wider in that area but it really should heal just fine.

Sorry to hear about the 'complication' but it isn't all that unusual.

__________________
~Beth~

Little Victories; Grand Rapids, MI
Bariatric Support Group

Diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, high cholesterol,
peripheral vein disease, joint pain and 210 lbs GONE!!


Century Club: July 3, 2006
ONE-derland: Dec. 22, 2006
Double Century: May 29, 2007
Goal: June 15, 2008

Lap RNY: 1/30/06-Dr Randal Baker
TT/BL: 09/21/07-Dr Ronald Ford
PS Revisions: 04/29/08-Dr Ronald Ford
Gallbladder: 05/14/08-Dr Randal Baker
Emergency surgery (Intussusception): 02/29/09-Dr James Foote

SueRN

I had a small "hole" right where my inverted T came together. I packed it with saline soaked gauze and it did go down in size. There was a small hematoma in that area and that's what caused the delayed healing. I had this area cleaned up in a revision and it looks great. Just keep an eye on it and watch for any S&S of infection like foul smelling drainage (all drainage has a weird odor but I mean really bad smell), greenish drainage, bright reddness, heat...etc. I also had some drainage from areas where the "fishing line" was poking out. The dissolving sutures looking like fishing line and sometimes that needs to be trimmed for the site can close over it. I hope you are doing better otherwise. Sue