Wound Oozing after surgery

Hi
I had my cardiac loop recorder inserted late yesterday and the wound appears to be slightly oozing (white appearance) under the clear waterproof dressing.
Obviously it is sore still as its fresh but I'm not sure of its worth getting someone to look at it? Is this normal? Advice anyone please :)

8 Comments

No worry..

by Duke999 - 2014-02-15 02:02:05

That's normal. This is the introduction to what your future PM procedure will be like, except your PM site will be bigger. When it's all said and done, you will have a perpendicular scar for you loop recorder when they will remove it and a horizontal scar for your future PM implant.
You will proudly be called "Scarchest" instead of "Scarface". Right now, you just got to deal with that pain.
Of course, it hurts. They just cut you open and stitched you up. When you shower, make sure to not let water seep through. You just got to hang in there. There's nothing anybody can do. I wish you a pleasant recovery.

Duke

Great advice

by Melcheski - 2014-02-15 05:02:35

Thanks for your comments they have helped me to know if it is normal or not so my take away from the replies is.
1. It's normal
2. If it gets worse or becomes red, fever occurs then go back to doctor

Well it's Sunday morning here in Australia so here is hoping I will be back at work tomorrow morning .

New incision

by donr - 2014-02-15 08:02:12

The waterproof dressing is clear - so obviously you can see the incision all the time. It's going to ooze for a day or so, but that should end soon. It's a small incision - compared to a medial slice to get at abdominal contents (Guts!). But it is still a cut a couple inches long, so it's going to ooze a bit till it seals itself up. I it is still oozing Monday AM, it should be seen.

second thought - it has a waterproof cover. That means it will not dry out because air cannot get to it to evaporate the moisture that comes from the oozing. This keeps it from scabbing over & will extend the oozing time. When did they tell you to take off the cover? IT is natural for damp skin to appear white.

Third thought - if it swells up & gets red & more tender, it should be seen sooner - this means potential infection & you do NOT want a pocket infection, so it has to be jumped on early.

Don

Looks the same

by Melcheski - 2014-02-17 08:02:02

Hi Don
Thanks for your message, the incision area looks pretty much the same no worse and no better.
Still very sore but not red so hopefully its just all apart of the process.
Do you think I should get it looked at?

Mel

Well, it's Monday...

by donr - 2014-02-17 08:02:54

...at least in the US.

So - how's the incision doing? Progress report, pls.

Don

Looked at?

by donr - 2014-02-18 08:02:50

Before we answer that, when do they propose that you take the waterproof off?

It has not been a week yet, BUT..is it still oozing anything? By now it should be completely closed up.

Go read a post I wrote some months ago for Newbies called "Some Tough Love for Newbies." Find it w/ the SEARCH function, top right corner of the page. Should come up as the top entry. Open it up, it's long. It will give you some insight if you've never had surgery before.

My experience w/ waterproofs is that they do not let the incision area (or injury area) dry out soon enough, & I've taken them off after a few days. Of course, that's for a self treated cut, NOT one treated by an MD.

My guess is that it looks kind of wrinkled & water-logged & white. Of course it's sore - you just got stabbed by an expert - & it's NOT just a minor surface cut - it goes all the way through skin, sub-cutaneous fat & some fascia, they separated enough of the SC fat from what's below it to make a pocket for half a brick to be inserted. Probably feels like half a concrete block to you at this point.

MY judgement is that it is good to go as long as it is NOT oozing, swollen & red.

Don

Request for wealth & helfare report

by donr - 2014-02-20 10:02:05

Well, how's it doing? Haven't heard from you, so curious - no, Nosy!

Donr

Been offline

by Melcheski - 2014-02-28 04:02:34

Hi Don

Sorry for the delayed response I have been offline for over a week.
The wound is healing nicely, still al little irriatating but that is to be expected.
All dressings are off now and the air is doing the wound area a treat.
As suggested I went back and searched your tough love for newbies post and found it very amusing/helpful.

The next now for me is a waiting game to see what my heart is doing and what treatment I require.

I hope all is well with you.

Mel

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