question about incision

[zoeh]

I was wondering if bleeding from an incision (laparotomy) was normal? I am a big chicken and am afraid to look at it. my mom will be here this afternoon to check it out for me. I just notice some blood spots on my house dress. it could have happened during the night, and I just didn't notice. it's not alot, just a few spots here and there. I have never had surgery before and just wondered if that was normal. please forgive my "big babyness". I tried calling my dr. but the office is closed. I will know more once I (mom) look at it.
any input will be appreciated.
it will be a week tomorrow since I've had surgery and this is the first time it's bled.

thanks,
wendy

[chloe08]

hi there
i just check mine because i am neurotic and just finished nursing school so i'm used to looking at incisions!
in terms of your trip...........i guess that would depend on how you feel but i will let you know that riding in a car has only become fairly comfortable for me w/in the past few days.  i had difficulty having the seatbelt over my incision.  the tent?  not sure because i still have pangs of pain when i sit up a certain way but i suppose it depends on how much pain you're having/not having and how you usually sleep in general.  tents are not my thing so i am probably not a good person to ask!

[ireneo]

Interesting - when I had my steri-strips, I was told that they would fall off in a week. That was about right. That's when I discovered that there were stitches under there. They were supposed to dissolve but they didn't. I ended up sliding them out after another week. Ick.

[zoeh]

my incision is vertical. my belly is still a bit swollen (having that big cyst in there for a while kinda didn't help) so it's hard to see by just looking down. it's not bleeding anymore thank goodness and still no oozing. I think I've managed to keep the remaining steri-strips. (only one has fallen off so far...that is where the bleeding was coming from).
chloe, I see that you said you are still checking yours 4 wks out. I am hoping that is will be back to normal by then. my daughter and I have a long trip planned at the end of the month. (it's a 16 hr. trip, but plan on spending the night in 2 cities on the way. the longest ride will be 7 hrs). I have my follow up appt. on the 16th and will ask my dr. if it will be ok to travel. do you guys think this is a good idea? also, I have to mention, that I will be staying in a tent 2 out of the 7 days we are there. do you think I will be ok to do so? as of today, I feel great, but you know how that goes!

thanks,
wendy

[chloe08]

glad to hear things are ok.  i have a vertical incision and my steri-strips didn't last the predicted 2 wks.  it was impossible to keep them 100% dry.  i had a couple of areas that had some scabbing that had come off.
i just checked mine daily to make sure nothing was actively oozing (this is not normal as far out of surgery as you are so thank goodness it doesn't seem to be that).  i'm almost 4wks out and i still check it now/again to make sure :o)

[belle10]

You are not the only one who was afraid to look at their incision :) I am a big BABY also ! Was yours vertical or horizontal? Mine is horizontal. It does not bother me at all now to look at it. I call it my battle scar!  Hope you are feeling well today!
                                                                                                          Sabrina

[zoeh]

thank you all for your response. I didn't want to sound like I was panicking, but I didn't know if it was normal. my mom did check it out. she said it looked like the last tape came off and there was some clotted blood in that area. she said otherwise everything looked fine. no oozing or anything. I think maybe when I took a shower, the tape must have come off and I had not noticed. I am showering with my back toward the running water, and am trying not to get the tape too went, but....

thanks again!
Wendy

[chloe08]

hi there
just wanted to add that a bit of drainage right after the surgery is normal (i had a fair amount and a saturated dressing) but drainage a week later is what concerned me in the original email.  this is not what you want to see ideally a week later.

[Sandymac]

Your mom has probably already looked at it and found it to be o.k.. When I had my laparoscopy a few months ago I actually started bleeding a tiny bit while still in recovery. I had just gotten over a nasty flu bug and for whatever reason, I started coughing and pulled something..Now, I realize my incision was lot smaller than yours.

I noticed it when I went to the bathroom just before getting released.. scared me to pieces, but when they looked at it, it wasn't anything to worry about. They made me stay awhile longer just to make sure.

And, strangely enough, that location healed better than the other 2 (I had 3 small incisions) I can hardly see where that one was (very close to belly button).. anyway, I'd sure call if it gets red, or hot to the touch or swollen.. Or, just call anyway for your peace of mind.. Heck, that's what they're there for right?? Try not to worry..

Sandy

[fungirl1011]

Hi Zohe.  It is normal to have some seepage from your bandage.  I would definately have your mom look at it and make sure that there is not greenish color seepage (that would indicated that your incision may be infected).  If you are uneasy, I would definately give the on call doctor a ring and see what they have to say.  Hope you are feeling better otherwise.  Please make sure that you are not overdoing it or lifting too much.  

Hugs,
Kasie

[chloe08]

hi there
i would give the on call md a call.
is it just that small spot that you mentioned or has there been more?
i just checked my post op instructions and it said to call if there was any drainage from the incision