4 weeks post op.....hard road

I was actually doing pretty well until about 2 weeks post op when I got an infection in my incision in my belly button.  It got pretty bad and ended up in the local hospital for 5 days on IV antibiotics.  Now I have a pretty big wound and long wound tracks that they have to pack and dress.  NOT what I had planned at all.

Today I finally got a wound vac and we are really hoping it will cut down on the healing time, especially of those long tracks under the skin.  I just want to get back to my swim exercise class!  Not going to happen for a few more months though.....

Has anyone else had a nasty infection from one of their incisions?

Also since I got it I have been unable to drink the protein shakes that I had no issue drinking before, even post surgery I could get down like 4 oz over 20 minutes.  Now it takes me about an hour to get down 2 oz and then feel really sick and nauseous.

I don't know if I can do this......

 

 

I did not get an infection, but when I had my tummy tuck the entire incision turned necrotic and I had a giant triangular "crater" in my belly just under the breast bone and extending under both breasts (I had a reverse tummy tuck which is an upright "T" shape). For several reasons, I was not able to get a wound vac, so I spent 5 months cleaning and sucking it twice a day until it healed up (from the inside out). Even after the skin started to re-grow it was very delicate and thin and was very easily torn open again for several weeks.

Not sure why you would be reacting to your protein shakes differently, unless you are taking oral antibiotics (which can make you queasy). Perhaps you can try a different brand of shakes,

You CAN do this. You have to.

Lora

Like Lora I had issues with my tummy tuck and I wore a wound vac for over a month and it took 11 mo to heal completely. Not doing it is not an option. The wound vac worked wonders for me the last of the healing was just surface stuff that my body didn't want to scab over and get better.

Are you on any nausea meds? I agree the antibiotic may be messing with your belly when it comes to shakes. Perhaps try a different brand or ask the doc for a suggestion.

You can and WILL do this!

I had an infection one week after surgery which landed me back in hospital on iv antibiotics, prior to that I had no probs with my protein but since I got out it turns my stomach just to think about it and drinking its a chore! I'm hoping this goes away soon, good luck with the wound vac I hope it clears up soon for you.

Hi!  I'm sorry to hear you're having so much trouble.  I didn't have probs with infection; but I DID come home (despite my quite vocal objections) with a 104-degree fever and diarrhea.  I was operated on Wed. 11/13/2003 and came home Sat. 11/16/2003.  By Monday,  11/18/2003 - I was readmitted to the same hospital where I'd had my bypass and my diagnosis was Pancreatitis.  I had wondered why everyone else on the floor was up and walking around the next day and I just wasn't.  It certainly wasn't my 1st surgery - I'd had knee joint replacement, 2 cervical fusions and four lumbar laminectomies,  I'd also had extensive pelvic surgery due to female problems.  Sooo, it wasn't pain keeping me down, I was just plain too sick to get up and nobody caught on.  All I can say is be patient.  I had to recover from pancreatitis -- a long slow process -- and my weight didn't really start to budge at all for the first FOUR MONTHS; but when I was better and everything was working "O.K." I lost all my weight and now after 9 years I don't even check a scale - I can tell by my clothes; that and I keep mental track of what I've eaten every day!  Feel better and best of luck to you!