Re: incision infection?

[Guest guest]

Hi Joyce,

I think you're right. I had the same thing with a previous surgery.

The stiff " hair " sticking out is from a deeper suture and worked its

way out somehow after a few weeks. Then it gets rubbed and caught in

clothing etc and starts to make a tiny open wound causing the

infection. Use pinchers to stretch it a bit and then cut it as short

as you can with a nailclipper. Disinfect the spot with peroxide or

iodine. That should do it. You could even put a small band-aid over

it for a day or so. It is biodegradable and will disappear in time.

If you want to wait till next week, then just do the disinfection and

the band-aid to protect it from further irritation.

Ed

Mont RC+ 11/03

> Hi, Folks. I'm just now 6 weeks post-op and all has been very well

> with recovery. Except the last couple of days, it seems that there

> might be an infection getting started on the incision site. At

> the " lower " end there has been a suture (I guess) sticking out of

the

> skin. Just a bit of the suture. Anyway, the last day it seems red

and

> itchy at that site. Not " oozy " or anything. But a bit hot to the

> touch and red looking. Otherwise my incision has been fine and

> healing very well. Has this happened to anyone else? Is this

> something I need to tend to NOW, as opposed to on Tuesday when I

have

> my 6 week follow up with a local surgeon? I had the surgery with

Dr.

> Gross and am seeing a surgeon in my home town on Tuesday.

>

> Joyce

> Dr Gross, LHR, 2/2/04

[Guest guest]

--Hi Joyce, I also had the same as you at about the same time. I

went to my GP who gave me some antibiotics just in case. When I

went to see my surgeon for my 6 week check, his nurse tidied it up

for me. It soon heeled and you wouldn't know now. Sheila.

- In surfacehippy , " retriever518 "

wrote:

> Hi, Folks. I'm just now 6 weeks post-op and all has been very well

> with recovery. Except the last couple of days, it seems that there

> might be an infection getting started on the incision site. At

> the " lower " end there has been a suture (I guess) sticking out of

the

> skin. Just a bit of the suture. Anyway, the last day it seems red

and

> itchy at that site. Not " oozy " or anything. But a bit hot to the

> touch and red looking. Otherwise my incision has been fine and

> healing very well. Has this happened to anyone else? Is this

> something I need to tend to NOW, as opposed to on Tuesday when I

have

> my 6 week follow up with a local surgeon? I had the surgery with

Dr.

> Gross and am seeing a surgeon in my home town on Tuesday.

>

> Joyce

> Dr Gross, LHR, 2/2/04

[Guest guest]

" retriever518 " wrote:

> Hi, Folks. I'm just now 6 weeks post-op and all has been very well

> with recovery. Except the last couple of days, it seems that there

> might be an infection getting started on the incision site.

I had the same thing at 6 weeks (I am now at 9 weeks). My GP contacted

the surgeon who reckoned it was most likely a slight allergic reaction

to the internal sutures used, but should take a course of antibiotics

to be on the safe side. The reddening/itching stopped after a couple

of days. I think it may be significant that this happened just after

my 6 week checkup, when for the first time I was trying to move past

the 90 degree restriction, and this put pressure on the site of the

wound and the sutures.

[Guest guest]

-Joyce, not sure about the scaple line looking red, mine was just at

the top of the line, it did itch and look red there though.

Maybe you ought to take a course of antibiotics just in case, good

luck, Sheila.--

In surfacehippy , " Joyce Graves "

wrote:

> Dear Sheila and Ed. Thanks very much for your response to my

question about incision infection. You relieved my mind BIG TIME.

I've taken your suggestions and am using peroxide and triple

antibiotic ointment. I've notice that when I first wake up, the

incision is not at all red, but once I'm up and moving, it starts to

itch and the thin scalpel line gets red. What's up with that, do

you reckon? Joyce (Dr Gross, LHR, 2/2/04)

>

>