Should I be concerned? Incisions...

[FluffyChix 17,409]

12 hours ago, SIPS'ing on Sunshine said:

I'll get there, I just can't stomach the thought at the moment. I just want it to close up and heal! Maybe this will scare my body to just seal it shut so I don't have to scrub it with a toothbrush! Here's hoping 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

So, sadly there is a medical reason for doing this. Removing the scab is called debriding. It allows a wound to heal from the inside out and "may" even reduce scarring. ((hugs)) Sucks to have to deal with though.

[SIPS in Seattle 344]

So, sadly there is a medical reason for doing this. Removing the scab is called debriding. It allows a wound to heal from the inside out and "may" even reduce scarring. ((hugs)) Sucks to have to deal with though.

I scrubbed it this morning. I didn't vomit! It looks awful though. The "white" colored skin inside the wound made me gag. Now it's covered in gauze. 🤢

[CJ Sunshine 241]

I scrubbed it this morning. I didn't vomit! It looks awful though. The "white" colored skin inside the wound made me gag. Now it's covered in gauze. 🤢

I hope it heals well for you now!

[SIPS in Seattle 344]

I hope it heals well for you now!

Thank you. Keeping them covered between showers. Hopefully they heal quickly.

[travelergirl 142]

I agree with fluffychix. This should help with healing. So much of what we deal with is hard to imagine but when you have to do it you find a way. I once had a wound that i had to flush and then pack to make sure it healed from the inside. So...been there done that with you! So congrats on taking care of yourself and getting it done.
Keep them moist. Some sort of ointment is good. I've used Eucerin as well as a Vitamin A and d ointment for various wounds in my life.
Keeping the edges of the wound clean (hence the brushing) and moist will help healing and scarring.
I personally used tegaderm bandages with gauze to cover my two incisions the had some signs of opening.
Also keep up with your fluids and Protein so your body has what it needs to heal.
Let us know how it goes

Sent from my SM-G920V using BariatricPal mobile app

[SIPS in Seattle 344]

I agree with fluffychix. This should help with healing. So much of what we deal with is hard to imagine but when you have to do it you find a way. I once had a wound that i had to flush and then pack to make sure it healed from the inside. So...been there done that with you! So congrats on taking care of yourself and getting it done.
Keep them moist. Some sort of ointment is good. I've used Eucerin as well as a Vitamin a and d ointment for various wounds in my life.
Keeping the edges of the wound clean (hence the brushing) and moist will help healing and scarring.
I personally used tegaderm bandages with gauze to cover my two incisions the had some signs of opening.
Also keep up with your fluids and Protein so your body has what it needs to heal.
Let us know how it goes

Sent from my SM-G920V using BariatricPal mobile app

Thank you, I kept them covered today with non stick gauze and tape. I didn't even think about adding an ointment to keep them moist. Tomorrow I will add vitamin e oil. Or would A&D ointment be better?? Thanks for the tip! Much appreciated [emoji173]️[emoji4]

[trying4me 56]

Thank you, I kept them covered today with non stick gauze and tape. I didn't even think about adding an ointment to keep them moist. Tomorrow I will add Vitamin e oil. Or would A&D ointment be better?? Thanks for the tip! Much appreciated [emoji173]️[emoji4]

Gauze is ok. Moisture is controversial and I would stick to your surgeon's recommendation, keeping things moist and covered with things like tagederm are not recommended, this is the perfect environment for infection as no air is moving through. Clean and dry using gauze (which allows airflow) secured with tape is ideal. If it doesn't improve in 2 weeks make an appointment. And as previously stated get your Protein and Water goals met to improve healing.

Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

[SIPS in Seattle 344]

Gauze is ok. Moisture is controversial and I would stick to your surgeon's recommendation, keeping things moist and covered with things like tagederm are not recommended, this is the perfect environment for infection as no air is moving through. Clean and dry using gauze (which allows airflow) secured with tape is ideal. If it doesn't improve in 2 weeks make an appointment. And as previously stated get your Protein and Water goals met to improve healing.

Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

I have an appointment on the 18th already for my one month (after my two week surgical followup) so I know they will check them on the 18th. Just keeping them clean and covered until then [emoji4]

[FluffyChix 17,409]

If I were gonna do ointment, I would want to do an antibiotic ointment.

After radiation I had about a 3inch long, 3/4inch deep radiation burn at the back under armpit area. I had to soak it in domoboro soaks which is an acetic acid solution/antiseptic that dries out the wound from the inside. Then I had to slather it in silvadene ointment which is a combo of silver nitrate and sulfa in a cream suspension. I had to only loosely cover it with gauze and keep my arm elevated so it could get the maximum amount of air flow to it. They wanted it to be very dry. When it scabbed, they debrided and we started all over again.

Edited September 8, 2017 by FluffyChix

[heycrystal2052 430]

On 9/6/2017 at 0:31 AM, FluffyChix said:

((hugs)) Dear God and all that's holy! I just threw up a little in my mouth at the toothbrush part!

The thought of that, hurts my thoughts. I had an issue w/ one stitch and I actually pulled it out myself, once I did that, it healed perfectly. That picture looks like there's an infection, that's not okay!

[James Marusek 5,244]

One month out wounds should heal. There might be an underlying condition such as diabetes that might be interfering with wound healing.

[Apple203 1,314]

I had a wound like that from a toe fusion -- surgeon whipped out a scalpel and cut off the necrotic tissue, and then it healed. I learned after that to scrub wounds more aggressively. Hopefully you are healing well now. :-)

[SIPS in Seattle 344]

One month out wounds should heal. There might be an underlying condition such as diabetes that might be interfering with wound healing.

Nope, never had diabetes. Other than being obese I was generally healthy pre-surgery. Only thing I suffer from is a bad back and asthma.

[SIPS in Seattle 344]

I had a wound like that from a toe fusion -- surgeon whipped out a scalpel and cut off the necrotic tissue, and then it healed. I learned after that to scrub wounds more aggressively. Hopefully you are healing well now. :-)

Ack! I don't know that I can scrub more aggressively. It gives me the heebie jeebies. I started scrubbing with hibiclens. I have an appt on the 18th so I'll just keep scrubbing and covering it up til then. 🤢.

Other than it still being open, I'm not sure what other signs of infection to look out for... it's not warm to the touch, I have no fever... no odor, no pain 🤷🏻‍♀️

[SIPS in Seattle 344]

I wonder if this is all due to the glue... my skin has never liked any adhesives, bandaids or surgical tapes etc