Hello all,

I had surgery Sept 10 and everything has been fine no complaints or complications. Today I started bleeding at my belly button induction area. I called the doctors office and talked with the nurse. She asked if the blood was dark and if I had a fever. I told her the blood is dark and no fever. I was advised to keep it covered and if the blood increases or changes color call them back...

Has anyone else experienced this? What did you do?

HELP

Haven't experienced anything like that. Have you kept the incisions covered? Could you have bumped it or bruised it somehow? I kept my bandages on way longer than the doc suggested.

I didn't have that problem. After I removed the bandages I had to keep neosporen on the incisions. Mine were a few inches above the belly button. Good luck.

Dark blood means older blood and drainage. Light or bright colored blood means new bleeding. As long as you are not ill or having pus or new blood drainage, you are just getting rid of some of your original drainage. In general that's what I would expect to be happening.

I had six slices....all were glued shut, except for the drain hole one--which had a slight T shape. Even the ones that were glued had some blood come out for a few days. Seems like some of that is normal...has to go somewhere.

I wouldn't worry too much...just keep the wound clean and free from rubbing on things like cotton shirts--which seem to irritate my incisions still. You can use gauze and some tape, or a large bandaid to cover it up while it's still leaking. That helps me even now.

Also, capillary/venous bleeding will be dark, while arterial bleeding will be bright....bright blood indicates arterial bleeding and can be far more serious.

Thanks everyone for your responses. I didn't have a bandage on it and now that I think about I probably should have had one but right out of surgery I had no bandage. I don't recall bumping or doing anything to it. I will cover and continue to monitor the bleeding. You guys are awesome