Very tender scar

[valleysangel92]

Hey all.

I had a laparoscopic hemicolectomy about 12 weeks ago. Things have been healing very well, I'm much more active and putting on steady weight.

However, I'm having some problems with the main scar by the belly button. It has recently (last week or so) gotten very sore again, it's very red and seems really irritated, especially by clothing. It also looks as though the skin around it is starting to bruise .
I saw my surgeon on Wednesday and it's mot infected or anything.

I know that an operation is a big shock to the body and things take a while to get back to heal but I was wondering what experiences others are having and what I can do to try and ease the irritation and help it heal.

Thanks all.

 

[UnXmas]

Hi, I've had several laproscopic surgeries, and never had problems healing until my most recent surgery last Easter. The main belly button scar just wouldn't heal. I wasn't too bothered as it just felt sore but didn't really hurt, but my parents started nagging me to see the doctor when after about eight weeks I was still having to keep a plaster on it to protect my clothes as it was still bleeding and oozing a bit of white pus. It seemed too that it would scab over but then my clothes would rub the scab off.

I resisted seeing the doctor as it seemed such a minor thing - previously I'd had an internal infection after surgery which caused fevers, etc. so I'd set my standards of what counted as post-surgical infection very high! But I showed my surgeon at my post-op appointment and he reckoned it was fine. It's only been in the last couple of weeks that the stitches have worked their way out and it's finally turned from a scab into a scar.

So I reckon that sometimes we just take a long time to heal, especially if you've other health problems. But if yours is itching and looks to be getting more irritated, you might want to see the doctor again. I think the important thing is that it should be improving, even if it's taking its time, but it should not be getting worse. I also put some E45 cream on my scars which helped with the skin irritation.

 

[ellie]

Often in laparoscopic surgery, the umbilical incision is the largest port, and needs to be formally sutured in the deeper layers. This is usually done with a strong dissolving suture. These take several weeks to be resorbed, which could explain the redness/sensitivity that's being experienced post op...


HD

 

[valleysangel92]

I didn't have much scabbing when my dressings came off, the scar was already healing really well by then. In fact all my doctors told me they were amazed at how fast it was all healing.

It has got more tender than it was before. Almost as sore as straight after the op sometimes. It did start itching this morning. I need to go back to the doctors anyway to request some bloods and see if they think I'm fit to work. So I will show them the scar then and see what they think. My surgeon did notice the redness and said it will settle but I can get referred back to him if it doesn't.

I had been nervous of using creams on it as I wasn't sure when you are allowed to start, but if it's ok then I'll start.

My stiches began to work their way out about 3 weeks post op and had totally gone by 6 week's. I can remember my doctor pointing out the little piece of what looked like plastic.

 

[UnXmas]

You probably won't need to see the surgeon again - your GP can probably manage it. I've found it's fine to use creams, but my skin doesn't generally react to much, if you're more prone to skin irritation you should probably stick to a cream you've used before and know you don't react to or ask your GP for something that's definitely hypoallergenic.

 

[nogutsnoglory]

12 weeks seems like a long time to still be so raw but maybe when the dressings came off you had irritation.

I think you are right to be hesitant to use any creams while its still raw. Did your surgeon give any indication of why its happening? Maybe certain foods can expedite healing or they can prescribe prescription cream they feel may help.

 

[rollinstone]

forgive me for my ignorance, but what is a hemicolectomy? they take out a bit of the colon? sortof like a resection?

 

[justkeepswimming]

Hello there,
I am new to this, but not unfortunately new to how you are feeling. Preety rough no doubt.
I had right hemacolectomy a yr ago. Vertical scar running from pubic bone 3inches up. Non existant belly button, and left with 2 pouches and permanent frown. After all stiches and dressings removed, I used bio oil twice a day and quite literally lived in joggers and lounge pants, as everything irritated the wound. Even now Ihave to be careful re waistbands etc. Not easy when you are trying to put on the pounds !
Time really does heal.
Also depends on what meds you take as they may not be helping. I have MS as well and sometimes when meds are altered it can niggle. Just wear natural fibres, and keep it loose:smile:

Hey all.

I had a laparoscopic hemicolectomy about 12 weeks ago. Things have been healing very well, I'm much more active and putting on steady weight.

However, I'm having some problems with the main scar by the belly button. It has recently (last week or so) gotten very sore again, it's very red and seems really irritated, especially by clothing. It also looks as though the skin around it is starting to bruise .
I saw my surgeon on Wednesday and it's mot infected or anything.

I know that an operation is a big shock to the body and things take a while to get back to heal but I was wondering what experiences others are having and what I can do to try and ease the irritation and help it heal.

Thanks all.

​

 

[valleysangel92]

You probably won't need to see the surgeon again - your GP can probably manage it. I've found it's fine to use creams, but my skin doesn't generally react to much, if you're more prone to skin irritation you should probably stick to a cream you've used before and know you don't react to or ask your GP for something that's definitely hypoallergenic.

Thankyou, some of my GPs refuse to deal with anything that's been done by the hospital. It's really annoying.

 

[valleysangel92]

12 weeks seems like a long time to still be so raw but maybe when the dressings came off you had irritation.

I think you are right to be hesitant to use any creams while its still raw. Did your surgeon give any indication of why its happening? Maybe certain foods can expedite healing or they can prescribe prescription cream they feel may help.

Thankyou ngng, my surgeon didn't say anything about why it was still raw, he just said it would settle down. I'll ask my doctor before I use any kind of creams on the scar I think, just because I only really use a moisturizer on my arms and face (flakey skin) and that's just a generic one so not sure it's suitable

 

[valleysangel92]

forgive me for my ignorance, but what is a hemicolectomy? they take out a bit of the colon? sortof like a resection?

It's just the medical name for a partial resection of the colon

 

[valleysangel92]

Hello there,
I am new to this, but not unfortunately new to how you are feeling. Preety rough no doubt.
I had right hemacolectomy a yr ago. Vertical scar running from pubic bone 3inches up. Non existant belly button, and left with 2 pouches and permanent frown. After all stiches and dressings removed, I used bio oil twice a day and quite literally lived in joggers and lounge pants, as everything irritated the wound. Even now Ihave to be careful re waistbands etc. Not easy when you are trying to put on the pounds !
Time really does heal.
Also depends on what meds you take as they may not be helping. I have MS as well and sometimes when meds are altered it can niggle. Just wear natural fibres, and keep it loose:smile:

Hello, welcome to the forum!

Bio oil is pretty expensive where I live and I've not been able to work and I was at uni before everything hit me, do you know of anything else a bit cheaper? My waist bands on my clothing don't touch the scar, only the lowest tiny one which is almost invisible already. Which is a good thing since I don't own much loose clothing, I've always been skinny even before crohns and loose bottoms never stayed up.

I'm not taking any crohns medications at the moment, only paracetamol occasionally.

Thankyou for your input

 

[rob101]

Hi ValleyAngel, I used Rose hip oil on my scar from open surgery and it healed very well and is hardly noticeable which is amazing seeing as its about 9" long .You can buy it from Neals yard remedies and apply twice a day but not if the wound is still open.

 

[valleysangel92]

Hi ValleyAngel, I used Rose hip oil on my scar from open surgery and it healed very well and is hardly noticeable which is amazing seeing as its about 9" long .You can buy it from Neals yard remedies and apply twice a day but not if the wound is still open.

Thankyou, I think I may of heard of rose hip oil but I don't know of any stores / brands with the 'Neals Yard' name... Are you in the UK?

 

[rob101]

Yes I am. Have a look on Neals Yards website or find an organic 100% rose hip oil.

 

[valleysangel92]

Ok thankyou. I'm always a bit unsure of things I've not used before since I have flakey skin that gets sore when I use some products

 

[rob101]

I have very sensitive skin too but it was fine with me!

 

[valleysangel92]

My doctors said use some bio oil and see if it helps .

I only just thought of this but things haven't been easy lately, I got rejected from uni on health grounds, my grandmother has been ill and my sister is having a baby tomorrow (very excited about that, but history of complications in the family) . So hey.. Guess I may have found my cause.. stress... Don't know why it took me so long to click! Doh!

 

[UnXmas]

My doctors said use some bio oil and see if it helps .

I only just thought of this but things haven't been easy lately, I got rejected from uni on health grounds, my grandmother has been ill and my sister is having a baby tomorrow (very excited about that, but history of complications in the family) . So hey.. Guess I may have found my cause.. stress... Don't know why it took me so long to click! Doh!

I'm not sure about stress affecting healing, but how could you get rejected from uni on health grounds? Were you doing a course that required you to be physically active? Sorry - don't answer if that's too personal a question, I'm just really surprised because both my undergrad and postgrad the unis did everything they could to accommodate me, even when I postponed starting due to health. My course was all just reading books and essay writing though, I guess they might have something to say if I applied to study medicine or something.

Very sorry to hear about your grandmother, but congratulations to your sister! I hope you'll come back and post that the birth went ok.

 

[valleysangel92]

I'm not sure about stress affecting healing, but how could you get rejected from uni on health grounds? Were you doing a course that required you to be physically active? Sorry - don't answer if that's too personal a question, I'm just really surprised because both my undergrad and postgrad the unis did everything they could to accommodate me, even when I postponed starting due to health. My course was all just reading books and essay writing though, I guess they might have something to say if I applied to study medicine or something.

Very sorry to hear about your grandmother, but congratulations to your sister! I hope you'll come back and post that the birth went ok.

I was meant to be restarting my nursing degree. I started it last year but had to take a time out for crohns, then this year occupational health wouldn't give me clearance, so I automatically lost my place since there's a limit on how long they can hold the place (I took a year out before starting for a jaw operation which never happened) . Occy health said that my condition is too unpredictable, my joint issues aren't controlled well enough and I sometimes have high heart rates which we don't have a diagnosis for.

Thankyou, my sister had a little boy at 12.44 UK time. His name's Dylan.

 

[valleysangel92]

Quick update -

I have been using the bio oil twice a day every day, it seemed to be helping, the redness was certainly going down and I was finding my clothing a lot more comfortable.. Then this week I've caught a cold from somewhere and it's hit me like a ton of bricks.

All the nose blowing, coughing and sneezing is hurting my tummy muscles and aggravating my scar. So I've gone back to square one for now at least.

 

[UnXmas]

Sorry to hear that valleysangel. I hope you'll be able to shake the cold off soon.