Lap Band Surgery date: 7/12/07 at New York University Hospital

Office visit to discuss healing: 8/06/07

The area around the port was brown- one stitch protruding from site. The nurse practitioner tapped the area (10 cc's old blood removed) and prescribed Augmentin. I was told the site might ooze for up to 2 weeks.

After one week the site is now red, hot an oozing. I don't have a fever, but am very concerned.

Did anyone have a similar problem?

1. I'm not even sure what "Keep it clean" means. I am using peroxide on the oozing parts and neosporin on the red part which pinches. I put gauze on it, but can't today because the tape is hurting the area.
   
2. Is the if the medicine is too stong?
   
3. Should I keep the area wet or dry?
   
4. I am now waiting for a callback, but am very frightened.

Please help.

Thanks,

Jane

Ask your Dr. if he/she is opposed to you seeing a wound specialist. Please be careful and seek a 2nd opinion if necessary.

JP

I talked to my fill lady on Monday and she called the Dr. and they put me on 1000mg Augmentin. Today is Day 3 1/2 of the Augmentin and it seems to be doing much better already. I have been washing it and making sure it is still open in case of drainage but there is only a tiny amount of clear coming out now. I talked to fill lady again on Wednesday and told her about my progress and she said wonderful! Yay! I am scheduled for a fill on Sept 12 so hopefully all goes as planned.

Jane - yours is looking much better and I am so happy for you! Just hang in there and keep praying! It will get better and everything will be alright.

have you thought about getting a wound specialist involved, good luck sweetie

I had a stitch come out early on and had a sore on my port incision. I seemed to heal up alright after lots of effort to keep it dry. A week and a half ago when I went to get a fill it busted open again and started draining, a lot. She said it wasn't anything to worry about, that the incision just didn't heal from the inside out like it is supposed to. After a week, it seemed to heal up and it quit draining for about a day and a half, then on Friday it started draining again a lot and it was really sore. The soreness eased some after it started draining but I am really worried about infection. I am going to call the fill lady tomorrow and see what she thinks. She also put me on antibiotics but I take the last of them today and it is still draining. Has anyone had any experience like this? I am so worried.

what was the outcome of your infection. I am having the same problem now after 2 months after my surgery. its really hurts bad. its not red but swollen. my dr took a cat scan on Friday i will be calling him tomorrow.

In my opinion, you need to let the doctor look at it. I was on antibiotis for 2.5 months and am fine now. They wouldn't even give me a fill until the infection cleared.

I'm the person who started this thread, so you can see from my pictures what it looked like. Let us know what happens...

jane

My large incision Started opening up 5 weeks after surgery while I was on vacation in Branson MO. I went to the hospital there . THey had no clue about lapband surgery but a bandage on it and gave me some bandage so I could change it because of being on vacation.and gave me some antibotic. The next day we flyed home and went straight to the hospital. Within a hour they admited me. I stayed for 3 day on antibotic. When I was sent home I had to change the dressing 3 times a day with a wet dressing and then a dry one for 3 week until it almost healed. I'm doing very well now but it is still not healed all the way and the doctor told me I had to heal before I can have my first fill. Hopeful I get it in 2 weeks.

Banded 09/07/07

Dr Triveti Hackensack University Hospital

Highest weight 304

thanks i went this morning saw the pa the dr was not available. she said it was seroma which is a pocket of clear fluid that sometimes develops in the body after surgery.

Although your site looks infected and I agree with everyone else - I just want to add one thing. Your redness around the site looks like adhesive allergy. I have it, and that's what mine looks like and it hurts like the dickens. I was never allergic to adhesive before I had my C-sections- then voila. It happened during lapband too - and once I removed the tape, it was alot better. There is paper tape they can give you, but at this point, I'd try to put a gauze on it, and somehow tuck it into your panties/pants to keep it in place, as anything will irritate it. You might want to make a note of an adhesive allergy for future surgeries...

Jane-

I'm So Sorry To Hear About This. I'm Also A Nurse And Wandering If Ther's Been Any Improvement With The Antibiotics They Have You On? If Not You Should Have Them Test The Drng For Mrsa. Mrsa Is A Form Of A Staph Infection That Is Resistant To Most Antibiotics. The Reddend Area Appears To Be Celluitis. Oh, I Feel So Bad For You. The Area Doesn't Look Good At All. Keep Us Updated. I Really Want To Know How It's Doing. And I Would Agree With Not Using Neosporin.

Please Do NOT use peroxide as it kills cells! You need to contact your doctor immediately.

I want to thank everyone for their concern. Presently I am doing well and all is cleared up! Good luck to everyone and have a Happy Halloween!

You need to be tested for MRSA it could be that a staph infection that is resistant to antibiotics. Good Luck!!!

Haven't been on for a while but I also had a port infection and ulitmately had mine removed. Still waiting for the last of the wounds to heal. It can continue to ooze for some time. As long as the drainage is not pussy looking and has no odor just stay on the antibiotics. Eat as much protein as you can for healing. Do not use peroxide or ointment as both can cause other problems. Peroxide can burn new sensitive healing skin. A dry dressing is best. It is better for all that liquid to drain out rather then pool inside so don't be dicouraged with that. Pussy, smelly, increasing pain & fever are the things that tell you go see the doc again. Good Luck. If you have more questions you can pm me any time.

I am totally frustrated. I am about 4 months post op and things have been bumpy. I had a visit with the surgeon today and my port is infected and has been almost since day one. Antibiotics haven't touched it and of course there is the chance that the whole band is involved. Needless to say the port, and possibly the whole band have to come out. If they have to take the band out I will be having the RNY in January. If the band can stay I will get a new port and yet more scars. I don't want to regain all the weight I have lost to this point but I am so frustrated. Anyone else gone through or going through this?