Not for the squeamish!

Today one of my scabs came off. I've lost others over the last week and they looked fine. This one looked... eh.

NOTE: This wound is NOT hot. The skin around it is not redder than the skin around the pink healing ones. It does not smell bad. It does not look like this issue is deep. It is not painful.

However... it looked whitish and seeping instead of like pink clean healing skin.

I'm at work, so I went to the first aid cabinet. Grabbed hand sanitizer, alcohol pads, antibacterial pads, antibiotic ointment, and a big sterile bandaid. Sanitized the heck out of my hands, used alcohol pads on it, used the antibacterial pads on it, put the antibacterial ointment on it, and covered it with a bandaid.

We have liquid skin in the cabinet as well, but I did NOT use that because if it is infected, I don't want to seal the bacteria in.

Anything else I should be doing before I call the doc tomorrow?

I had the same issue on one of mine even had some puss type stuff coming out. I put some antibacterial on it and a band aid for the day and the next day it was fine.

one of my scabs came off. - Anything else I should be doing before I call the doc tomorrow?

devichan

sounds like you have done well "cleaning" yourself up

but........i might call the docs answering machine

might make you feel better talking to a doc or nurse sooner than later

take care

kathy

If it was hot or had red, you bet I'd have been on the phone faster than fast. I think that what happened was some Water got underneath and my body was reacting. If there's any stuff on the bandaid, I'll call tonight - I have their pager number.

Thanks for the feedback, both of you!!

Mine did the same thing. My dr gave me his personal cell. Oh what a sad choice on his part lol. So texted him this pic and he said it was fine just to keep it covered with gauze and to not put anything on it except soapy Water when I shower. Hope this helps.

Mine did the same thing. My dr gave me his personal cell. Oh what a sad choice on his part lol. So texted him this pic and he said it was fine just to keep it covered with gauze and to not put anything on it except soapy Water when I shower. Hope this helps.

Mine did the same plus it"exploded" a bunch of liquid..enough to soak a large gauze. It looked worse than it was. I called my doctor immediately and he said as long as it didn't smell bad or continue to leak profusely it was normal. He checked me out a week later and now it's fine. It's not pretty but it's healed.

I had the same issue. It was a little piece of absorbable thread that wasn't absorbed that kept preventing the spot from healing. Use warm compresses to draw any infection out. You can also use a piece of raw onion, warmed up a bit, and put that over the wound to draw out any infection. Antibacterial ointment tends to kill both the good and bad bacteria so it doesn't help as much as one would hope. Good luck!

Onion? Very interesting! I will have to try that! I love home made remedies!

Yeah, I know it sounds weird but it was helpful. If anything it stays warm longer then a wash cloth! Lol just be careful and don't over heat it or you will burn yourself. AND don't touch the onion once you Remove it. YUCK! If you see any little thread sticking out, give it a tug. Once that is out, if that is the problem, you will heal right up. Good luck!

Very cool idea!

Don't put any goop on your incision. Gauze is fine, but don't keep it moist.

I do have thread sticking it off two of my incisions. I thought that was the weirdest thing. I'm afraid to pull them

I would call and ask your doctor first before you pull them. I was 4 weeks out when my doctor told me I could pull it out. Typically they are dissolvable stitches and a piece just pushes its way out. It's probably being held on by a thread and a little tug will separate it. The incision won't fully healed til it's dissolved or removed. Call your doc first tho!

Thanks so much, all! Called the doc office this morning and they said keep it covered and nothing but soapy Water on it, just like Catiebug up there. The incision itself looks smaller this morning, so who knows! It's not hot or painful at all, which makes me feel better about it.

I really appreciate all of you!

Further update, with thanks to all again: It's visibly smaller and less icky-looking today. The white is turning brown like it's re-scabbing. No heat, no pain, no leakage. Whew!