Open wound healing after resection.

[SumCiA]

Hi everyone, as you may know i had an ileocaecal resection about 3 weeks ago. The wound got infected and i was left with a semi-open wound. I was having the wound cleaned and dressed every day at the hospital until about a week ago when my surgeon told me i could do it for myself at home (no packing).

My first and lesser concern is that the area under the bottom half of my wound is depressed into my belly. I did loose alot of weight due to crohns probably at least 4 stones (24 kilos) in the last six months and this left me with the usual flabby tummy area. The depressed area is like a deep valley just below my belly button. Any one have any ideas? Could it be due to my rapid loss of weight, muscle tone or could it also be due to the cavity left by abscess under the wound??

My second concern is that after i changed the dressing today i noticed that the opening to the wound looks to be closed off. There was no discharge on the dressing. I have been told that there is likely to be discharge for at least 4 weeks and that the open wound should heal from the inside out over the same period. I am anxious that if the wound heals over prematurely another abscess is likely to form underneath again.

Any ideas or advice would be great. I don't go back to hospital to see my gastro for a 1 1/2 weeks so don't know whether to go to see GP or Nurse before then or not.

Looks like my recovery could get interesting. Yippie!!!

Take care all.

 

[Digits]

i had the same happen to my main scar (the vertical one by the belly button) and i was sent home with my mom to pack and dress it for about 6 months, and its still not fully healed, (its been about 4 years) with a small pinpoint hole that sometimes leaks.

I posted a picture of my scars in the thread "surgical scars" and you can see my main scar, and how it is depressed into my stomach, and i hadnt lost weight or gained a lot, the depressions are just from the abcesses.

my scars are purple bluish, because all the skin layers never grew back, and its sore all the time.

hope allgoes well! im not sure about it healing prematurely and staying open in the inside...

 

[SumCiA]

Digits, that's quite a scar you have there. Mine is very similar. Did your doc tell you that the depressed area is due to the abscess or was that a conclusion you made? Shouldn't the cavity where the abscess was then heal over time to level out the abdomen? Very strange that after 4 years you still have the depression.

I'm sure you have already asked all the questions you needed to about your wound but if i get any further info on mine that may interest you i'll let you know.

 

[Guest]

my scar is a mini version of digits.. i also had a revolting cavity in my stomach where the stitches broke down and left a gaping hole. ugh - i made the mistake once of putting a mirror to it - am sure i saw my backbone lol

i had a district nurse come every day to pack it with ribbon, for weeks after, which didnt really help, so the hospital put a silastic foam solution in the hole, which encouraged the healing.. and eventually it did close up. but its left a depression, a little flattish valley, which feels different, more sensitive, than the other part of my scar.

 

[Digits]

yeah, mine is from the abcess, and of course ive asked "what if i lost weight" etc..and the answer has been the same, which is it will still be depressed and a valley like that.

ive visited a plastic surgeon, because its still very tender and hurts, we are just waiting for medicaid to OK it.

yeah, i was only like 12 or so, so my mom was packing it every morning and night for forever it seemed like.

 

[SumCiA]

Hi Dingbat, i think mine is to far healed for any preventative measures like the foam. Looks like i may be left with this 'thing' for good now. I see my gastro doc next week so will discuss what my options are, if any, to flatten it out.

Digits, my scar is beginning to look more like yours by the day. I'd be interested to hear what the plastic surgeon said could be done to fix the problem. I am also interested to hear that private healthcare are willing to pay for the corrective surgery. Here in the UK i doubt my private healthcare would be willing to cover so called 'aesthetic' surgery.