Hole in bum after sewn up

[CheerBear12]

Hi plz can any body help me I'm so scared I just had my proctectomy 8 weeks ago but there is a hole in my bum wound :O it's not big but big enough what's does this mean and what will they do. Is it normal? I thought the reason for the proctectomy was so that there was no hole. Help me plz I go see surgeon a week tomoz so ill mention it but just so I'm prepared for what he's gonna have to do I'm still in pain as well and can't sit for long slowly getting better but I thought it would stop hurting by now feeling stressed

 

[nogutsnoglory]

I have a hole in my rectum from a catheter and the doctor did not stitch it, they said it would scar over. I was surprised but maybe it's standard practice.

 

[CheerBear12]

As far as I'm aware I didn't have a catheter in there only a drain in my stomach. I only remember a massive pad on my bum

 

[Jennifer]

I haven't dealt with that myself but I've heard other members mention needing to pack the wound (which I did have to do after my resection as the wound on my abdomen didn't heal properly) depending on the size and how deep it is so it can heal from the inside out. If its near the anus then its possible that it could get infected often from fecal matter which can still happen with wound packing in that area as well. Ask the surgeon if they think it needs to be packed so it can heal from the inside out and ask about possible infection from fecal matter and if you would need antibiotics and what to look for symptoms wise that you should contact them about for further treatment.

Edit: I'm going to tag Afidz as she knows a lot about wounds that wont heal after surgery (although as far as I'm aware all her wounds were on her abdomen after repeated surgery).

 

[CheerBear12]

I've got a stoma so don't need to worry about fecal matter which is a good thing. I'm hoping I don't have an infection/need antibiotics but its still leaking abit from wound. I'm finding it extremely hard to keep it dry even when I don't go in bath. Thanks I'll see what he says go on Monday. Dreading it

 

[Jennifer]

Oh I'm sorry. So many members, can't remember who has what most of the time. Good to know though. Packing the wound may still be a possibility though depending on the size. Hope it gets sorted out soon though. Let us know what the surgeon says.

 

[CheerBear12]

Lol no worries I'm the same tbh and its not big but it's big enough. I think he might just put a few stitches in( I hate needles) he might suggest packing too. If he does can I do it myself or does a nurse have to come everyday? I'll let you know what he says

 

[afidz]

If there is an open wound, call the surgeons office and try to get in sooner. By not treating it it can get bigger, get infected or create pockets of puss around the wound. (thats where I am right now) Don't pack it or put anything on it with out talking to your doctor. . A lot of times with open wounds you can't just simply stitch it up because that would leave you with a cavity that would fill up with puss and then the wound would just open again, possibly worse than it is now.
let me know if you have any questions, like Jennifer said, I have a lot of experience with wounds and in the end stages now with the current ones I have

 

[CheerBear12]

Aww bloody hell that sounds awful and scary don't want any of that happening. Already had an infection in it a few weeks after don't want another or anything else. I'll try to get it quicker thanks. Glad yours are getting there now after what you been through with it. Hugs

 

[CheerBear12]

Argh well got it wrong my mam has just checked it and she said its been sewn up but it's further inside than the rest of it so it looks like a hole but you can't get any further. Sorry folks feel stupid :/ I'll just leave my appt only got 6 days to wait knowing that its not any of those above thank goodness. Still scared tho

 

[Jennifer]

Nothing to feel stupid about. I couldn't see my wound too well either. I think if I had done the packing job myself instead of my mom doing it (you can have a nurse pack wounds or they can teach you how to do it yourself or teach a friend or family member, just to answer your question), maybe my bellybutton wouldn't look so stupid. Still something to keep an eye on. If its too caved in near the stoma I imagine that may cause other problems (leaks maybe?) but I've never dealt with a stoma before. Edit: If you want we could move this over to the Stoma section eventually.

 

[CheerBear12]

Lol thanks and I do struggle to see it down there and my stoma is fine thank goodness no problems there. Hardly ever have any probs with it. I'll let you know what happens hoping he says it will be ok. Worried about having local anaesthetic in my bum if i do need stitches ouch it's a sensitive area!

 

[afidz]

I'm glad your stoma is doing good. I used to always worry about the what if factor of having one, but everyone on here is so positive about their experience with it that I don't really worry anymore.
Like you said before, I know its hard to keep it dry, but do your best. I wonder if you could put something like tegaderm (the stuff the put over IV's) to keep it dry. I know as a general rule they don't like incisions being covered like that because it needs to breath, but it would keep moisture out that could cause infection. Something to call and ask about

 

[CheerBear12]

I'm so glad we've made you less worried about it I do try my hardest I dry it every time I go the toilet as well this weather doesn't help but its in a awkward position anyway. Can imagine that hurting when taking it off but it would keep it dry. I'll ask my surgeon on Monday thanks for advice tho

 

[CheerBear12]

Awkward Place even*

 

[CheerBear12]

Hi went to see my surgeon he said it will close up on its own and it's healing well just taking time. He said I will still be getting pain in it just coz it's in a awkward place and its being sat on all the time. When they removed my rectum it was inflamed so the disease was still there. If I'd have been joined up it probs would of come bk again or might not have been able to join me up if it was so bad. I'm going bk in 6 months time. All good news

 

[Jennifer]

Thank you for the update CheerBear12. Although I still hope the pain goes away completely soon.

 

[afidz]

Glad everything is good!

 

[CheerBear12]

It's nearly 4 months and my bum is still painful and still got a hole in my bum I've got a feeling it won't close on its own but we'll see. I didn't expect this amount of pain for so long

 

[Jennifer]

Are you on any medications currently that may be affecting the healing process? Have you spoken to your surgeon recently? Is there any indication that it's been getting smaller?

 

[CheerBear12]

No not on any meds its healing apart from the hole. I saw my surgeon in July he said it could take 6 months to close up... I'm 4 months nearly I checked the other day and it looks the same to me is it normal to still have pain there?

 

[Jennifer]

Does it seem red and inflamed? Its it draining any fluid at all? Is the pain getting better, staying the same or getting worse? I think its normal to have pain where you have an open wound. How have you been keeping it clean? Are you seeing anyone from a wound care clinic?

Afidz, come mere plz.

 

[afidz]

Same questions as Jen, inflammation, redness, discharge? I would go to the surgeon for a check up. Any open would, especially where yours is can be painful, it might hurt for quite some time.

 

[CheerBear12]

Doesn't seem red or inflamed and its always draining fluid always clear tho no matter how many times I dry it not enough. I use a towel and toilet paper every time I use toilet. The pain not too bad today but still there. Sometimes it's bearable sometimes its not. The worst thing is am going away for a week got tablets with me tho if I need them. But probs will get unbearable soon with sitting. I went to see surgeon in July and it was draining then but can't remember what he said :/

 

[afidz]

Does the drainage have an odor?
If its clear thats a good sign, but if the amount increases at any point then you need to be seen asap. My wounds on my stomach drain a little, but its just part of the healing process.

 

[CheerBear12]

I'm not sure whether it has an odor not that I've noticed I'll keep a check on it thanks my stomach wounds have never drained but are taking time to fade. I'm hoping it will close before I go in January. I'm in agony with it now can't stand and sit for long when will it go away?

 

[Jennifer]

Can you have someone take a look at it to make sure its healing well? Be it your surgeon or at a wound care clinic? Even having your regular doctor take a look at it is better than nothing. They may be able to offer better ways to keep it clean. Also when you sit I wonder if sitting on one of those donut inflatables would help along with wearing loose fitting clothing if you aren't already.

 

[CheerBear12]

I can't go to see my surgeon or doctor yet till next week and the last time I went was in July and she said it was healing ok and couldn't understand why I was in so much pain I could get my mam to look at it in the mean time. I do try it to wear loose clothing. Thanks for advice really appreciate it

 

[afidz]

If you have an option to go to a wound care clinic I would recommend doing so. They have a lot more medical equipment and supplies at their disposal and are very good at helping wounds close. I am not sure if you have to get a referral or not but talk to the surgeon about it. And if you do go, bring someone with you (someone your comfortable with since its in an awkward place) because you are obviously going to need help with dressing the wound with whatever needs to be on it.