I was lapbanded about 2 1/2 weeks ago. Saw doc a week ago and everything seemed to be going well. A little red and feeling like an egg was under the single incision. Somehow, the incision became infected. I shower twice a day, never use the same towel twice and put on neosporin. All of a sudden, i got more redness at the site and showed it to a nurse at the support gp meeting...so thankful I went. She said to go see the doc the next day. My doc is out of town, so the doc filling in for him saw me and said it was infected and that I caught it just in time and put me on topical antibiotic and a oral antibiotic cephlexin 500 3x a day. That was friday. And then see my doc the beginning of the next week and I can't see him until Tuesday. Two days on the meds and I see little difference. Of course, this all happens right as my insurance ends. The meds were about $100. The doc filling in for my doc said that infection can cause me to have to have my band removed! I have been terrified! i'm an uber clean person, but I did go swimming in the complex's pool two weeks after my surgery. The paperwork said not to get into standing water (pool or tub) until after you see your surgeon...which I did. But the nurse said I should have waited three weeks. I'm scared, I don't want to lose my band, tired of being uncomfortable and having all the swelling and redness. I'm not running any fever, but have been sweating a lot since having the surgery. I know most of you aren't nurses or docs, but shouldn't I have seen an improvement after a couple of days of antibiotics?

tough one, you may need more than cephlex. I am resistant to this type of antibiotic so it would do squat for me...

thank you so much for your quick reply. Perhaps I will call the doc on call and see if something stronger would help me. I'm just terrified at this point. He told me to put saranwrap over the antibacterial cream and it is uncomfortable as heck. Please keep a good thought for me.

any updates?

Saw the doc today. He thought that I may have had a reaction to the seri-strips, ( I have been having reactions to the glue on the bandages) but that it may have been the pool. five days on antibiotics and just a tad better, but he seems to think that the infection is superficial and not deep. He wants me to take another round of antibiotics for 12 days and then come see him and I should be ready for my first fill. Had to wait for hours to see him and then when I finally went into the office, I forgot everything i wanted to ask...next time I'll write them down. The swelling is down too, but the site is bright red. My hunger is back and I was worried that I might put on the weight that I had lost...about 20 pounds in three weeks...and he told me not to worry about it, just focus on healing for right now. Thanks for thinking about me! Between the pain and the worrying, I can't sleep...it is now 4 am and I haven't been to sleep yet.

Take care and keep me posted on you!

God bless!