Please tell me how long it took your stitches/staples to heal? My doctor's office says infection is unlikely-but my staples area looks red and has pus. I tried to post a thread like this before and hardly anyone answered.

Joan

Mine were definitely healed over by 10 days out.

I would say that if they are red and angry or have pus, it would be advisable to have them looked at. Are you using peroxide or anything on them?

Joanie,

I had surgery Feb 3. My port incision is still a bit red. The others are hardly visible. I had two, the port and one to the left that seemed to take longer to heal. No pus, though. You might want to call your doctor. I don't think there should be any pus. Do you have staples? I just had steristips and maybe dissolvable stiches or glue. But I didn't have anything that required the Doctor to remove them. I just left the steri strips on till they fell off themselves.

I have some surgery soap, that I had from a previous hospital stay and that is what I washed prior to surgery with and have washed my stomach with since surgery and I think that has helped keep it disinfected. Other then that I haven't had to do anything.

But I did worry a bit for a few days due to the redness.

SO if you are concerned, call the doctor. Everybody is different. And you sure don't want an infection.

Hope otherwise you are doing well.

Yikes! I had the surgi tapes and was able to take them all off after only a few days. Everything was all scarred over within a couple of weeks. I think you should call your dr if you have pus!

I too had the surgical tape on my wounds as well but I do recall the location the port was placed the top right side took longer to heal and seemed to leak a little, when I showed it to the Doc he said just to put some peroxide on it after a shower and pat it dry before doing that. It finally healed but sometimes it itches but I think that it's healing on the inside. When is your next follow up vist? Maybe you should call your Doc or his assistant if you are not sure. Keep us posted on what they say..

my staples area looks red and has pus

This does not sound good...is it hot to the touch?

Keep an eye on it, it is hard for a Dr. to tell you since he is not visually seeing it. If you feel it is does not look right, then it most likely doesnt. We know our bodies better then anyone. Go to your PCP to se if it is infected. Any doubt do not wait, the last thing you want is a port infection. GOing to your PCP is not going to hurt none , it will just giveyou peace of mind if it is not infected.

Good Luck

Keep us posted after you go to your Doctor. I would think a little Neosporin wouldn't hurt till you go, as long as the wound doesn't look open. Best of luck.

Thanks y'all. I am going to my PCP to ask if they are infected. The nurse at my surgeon's office was just like.."it is normal to have drainage from the incisions, and infection is unlikely." Well, she didn't answer my question. I am going to someone else to ask. Thanks for the great advice and support. I appreciate it more than you know.

Joan

I had staples as well, they stayed red for a long tie even now that the staples have been out for three weeks it is still red but no pus. The pus is not a good sign, definatly see your PCP If he says all is well try using pure vitamine-oil on the scar to help with the healing it really works.My DR. says that if the fat level under the skin if tight then the redness will stay longer but it will fade. Let us know what happens.

Howdy, Im a RN yeah you probably have an infection, don't panic, yes do see your Dr. asap. Clean with peroxide, put on some neosporin or a generic antibacterial, and cover it with gauze or a BIG bandaid. do this twice a day. again don,t panic, See you Dr. asap. let as know how your doing.

Hey all.

I wanted to update you-and you all were very helpful.

Since having my staples out my incisions have crusted over, and are healing nicely. I have been putting peroxide on it, and that has helped greatly.

Thanks bunches,

Joan

That's great news, Joanie! Please don't overdo w/the peroxide. It's very drying. Once you get your staples out, you can put vitamin E oil on your closed incisions to help prevent scarring.

I agree, it does sound like an infection. Please be careful using the over the counter antibacterial/neosporin creams on a wound. Some of these tell you specifically not to use them on deep cuts as they can damage underlying tissue and in fact worsen your wound infection.

DO see your doctor, call for a check up appointment for some questions regarding the condition of your incisions. If you have drainage, wash with good old soap and Water, then cover the cleaned wounds with clean white gauze and bandage tape. The gauze will draw in the drainage so the doctor will be able to see the amount and the color. If your drainage is clear or clearish with a tan or red tinge it's probably ok. If your drainage is opaque (milky, not clear) or green, it probably is not.

If the area is inflamed, hot to the touch, increasingly painful, and you have a fever, get yourself to an ER. You should talk to Penni (also a nurse), or Delarla both of these girls had infections and had to fight to get them dealt with.

DO NOT wait, you could end up losing your port, or your entire band.

Good Luck and keep us posted.

D'OH!! I'm sorry I missed the updated all is well post... I'm glad you're ok!