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Incision Opened Up!

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Posted 1/12/2017 4:05 AM (GMT 0)
Please Help!! I recently has a ruptured bowel and it nearly killed me. I now have a colostomy and an incision from my chest to privates. I have no idea what i'm doing and need answers to a few questions. My incision has opened up (the same day the staples were removed). I called the doc and he said it was fine, but it's not fine. it is opened in 3 spots, one is a inch and half wide, and has greenish gunk in it. I was wondering if i could use the glue for wounds to seal it? another question is about my stoma, it burn really bad and is sinking into my stomach. Is that normal? I would really love any info you all could give me. Thank you

Edited to add Subject Line... Shaz

Post Edited By Moderator (Shaz032) : 1/12/2017 5:31:06 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/12/2017 5:07 PM (GMT 0)
I would probably go to the hospital if your doctor isn't being much help. Is there any kind of foul odor from the "greenish" gunk? Any fever? How long where your staples in before they removed them? I had two open surgeries on my abdomen, both times closed with staples but never even remotely came close to opening up after staple removal. For the burning on your stoma, do you have any raw or irritated skin around it? Generally that is what could cause the burning. The stoma will move in and out, mine was almost flat.
Posted 1/12/2017 7:35 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with blksteeda about going to the hospital.

I'd actually take a photo of the opening and send it to the surgeon.

I never had an issue with my wounds opening but if I did than I wouldn't wait too long to get someone to at least look at it or go to the hospital.

Do you have a home health care nurse? Who took out the staples? I would contact them too.
Posted 1/12/2017 11:19 PM (GMT 0)
I have had two incisions open up on me. The first one was very tiny and happened as they took the first couple of stitches ( it was stitches back then lol) out. They had me hold each side together and the nurse went and got tape and taped it up for two more weeks. The second time was with staples and opened up similar to what you are describing. When it's that big they pack it and have you change the packing everyday. It has to heal from the inside out. If they just close it up it will get infected. Really need to go to the ER and get them to address it. The surgeon sounds like he was just brushing you off.
Posted 1/12/2017 11:44 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all. I really don't want to go to this local ER again. When by bowel ruptured a month ago, they left me laying in my own puke, in horrible pain for 5 hours before they did anything.The Dr said I was on the verge of becoming septic. The staples were removed on the 10th day. I did send the Dr a pic and that's when he said to just keep it clean and covered,he didn't think it needed anything done to at this time. I wish I could post a pic here so you all could look at it. No, I don't have a home health nurse. No insurance.

Post Edited (Kerry Brewer) : 1/12/2017 4:48:22 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/14/2017 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
Kerry:
I had a huge open incision, from my sternum to pubis, for an extensive intestinal perforation due to fragile intestinal tissue from years of corticosteroids.

My incision was left open to heal (no sutures). Incisions are often left open to heal in the case of seepage of fecal material in the pristine abdominal cavity. The incisions are left open so that infected material does not become trapped internally.

That your incision is opening is concerning but not need for panic.

You would be well advised to see your surgeon or to go to the ER (I understand that you do not have insurance). Likely you will need to have the incision cared for with wet-to-dry dressings OR alginate dressings (seaweed impregnated gauze that is used to pack the wound). You may also need to be on a wide-specrtum antibiotic.

Your incision will heal, but it will likely now do so through granulation tissue that forms from the inside toward the outside. The wound bed will heal from within. You body will gradually fill the tissue deficit with new granulation tissue.

But you will need to see an MD to clean the wound bed (irrigate the incision with an antibiotic solution) and then define an appropriate alginate/seaweed or wet-to-dry dressing routine.

Sending you a hug, because you need a deserve one,
- karen -
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