Wound still open a month on

Hi I am new to this group but looking for any advice I got a atrial pacemaker placed a month ago and after a week or so was feeling good dressing was removed and wound looked fine now w month on most of my wounds healed but I am left with two small open holes near the bottom of the wound , I don't think it's infected but the pain and things with my arm are back as anyone had this ? Should I be going back to the doctors or can it wait till my pacemaker check in a few weeks.

3 Comments

Get it checked earlier

by jimkirschvink - 2015-12-02 02:12:11


When they put my Medtronic in almost 10 years ago, they used glue. The doctor came in and ripped off the band-aid and just laughed. After he left, I rubbed neosporin all over it and put a bandaid back on. It healed just fine.

It seems if you still have something draining, then something is wrong, especially if it was a month ago. Best keep it clean, and have it checked. If you get or have an infection, they usually tear everything out. Best of luck, Jim Jim

Stitches

by Artist - 2015-12-02 04:12:08

It could be stitches working their way to the surface. I had some really heavy duty stitches working their way to the surface, months after my surgery. It would be a good idea to treat the open area with an antibiotic cream and if you have any surgical scrub, periodically wash the area with that. If there are no sighs of infection this is probably not an emergency, but to be on the safe side, call your doctor's office and see if they want to move your appointment date up.

One Stitch

by Zetha - 2015-12-04 12:12:30

I have also had one stitch that was supposed to remain beneath my skin, outside at the one end of the scar. The clips were taken out after 10 days, no problem , but this stitch remained a hard little knob. At 6 week cardiologist visit, my doctor was not worried, said it would go away, dissolve... after 3 months a longer piece of the stitch came out, my husband said to immediately phone cardio , but funny thing, as it is sometimes in life, after my shower, the little 'string' came off and by the time of my dr visit we could only feel it slightly by rubbing finger over wound. Now, after 2 weeks, everything has settled and another curious thng is that at some stages wound/scar looks better and more faded and then again I see it being more red, but no infection.

NOW I realize, today I am at 3 months post PM!

Good luck Tinkerbell!

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I finished 29th in London in 2 hours 20 minutes 30 seconds which is my fastest with or without a device so clearly it didn’t slow me down ! I had no problems apart from some slight chaffing on my scar - more Vaseline next time.