What Should I Expect? Calling all skin abscess sufferers!!

[liv]

Developed an abscess deep under my the skin in my derrière while already on Cipro and Flagyl which was treating abscesses which developed from fistulas in my cecum. (Gotta love Crohn's complications!) Was given Keflex which helped it from spreading but not enough to avoid surgery.
After two days of Keflex was immediately sent to the on-call GI surgeon at the nearest hospital to have it drained. Did not require anesthesia (yay!) just a spinal, which went smoothly. My incision is nice and small but about a foot deep (ouch!) and did not require daily packing just nice sitz baths and constant dressing changes.
Even though I'm not in remission and it is likely for these abscesses to become persistent I'm being positive and hoping that this is going to be my Crohn's final punch before I finally get on Remicade! Where I will be the winner and finally get in remission.

So just a few questions for the unlucky who have dealt with this before:
1) How long should I expect drainage?
2) How soon after the wound closes can I start doing "normal activities" without worrying about re-opening the wound?
3) What are some tips and tricks to aid in the healing process?
MOST IMPORTANTLY: 4) What is the wound supposed to look like while healing? (Please be as graphic as possible; this means color of skin, puss, peeling etc.! Nothing can gross me out anymore.) There seems to be no information for this online, or if it is it's hidden quite well since nobody wants to discuss this fun topic.

Hope all is well with all of you! And feel free to answer any and all questions to the best of your abilities. I appreciate everyone's input and support:hug:

 

[KWalker]

Welcome! Check out my thread called "lots of blood/pus". It should help answer all of your questions.

 

[liv]

Thanks for the reply KWalker. I read the entire article. As scary as it was it was some what helpful! I hope you never wait three years ever again.
Hopefully it's cleared up by now!

 

[smallfry]

Hi Liv,
Sorry to hear you are in the same boat. I have had crohn's since 2001 and was on remicade and now humira due to a remicade reaction after being on it for 6years or so. I have had trouble with tracts and abscesses in my recto vaginal septum and I just had a seton stitch put in from my rectum to my perineum. So glad my surgeon was able to divert things from my vagina!! She did a great job and it looked just like a piercing but a new tract is draining beside it. It is very red and has an outer ring of puss. Just did a round of antibiotics and still no change. Lots and lots of sitz baths with epsom salts. I'm so tired of taking the baths but it really does help. It has been a month and I am still draining but I have the seton to keep it open. My drainage is a thick and yellowy green with some blood. My brother had one like you and it took around three weeks to finish draining. I'm noticing that gauze is pricy to buy and have found the round cotton pads used for face toner work great! you have to be careful which ones you get, I like organic compressed cotton so the cotton doesn't stick to you like a cotton ball would. Good luck and ask anything!

 

[KWalker]

Liv, I'm now just over 6 months of healing and still have quite awhile to go. I'm not needing packing or anything else but it's still open and even draining some days. I'm going to have quite a nasty scar. I do know people who have had it drained in the doctor's office and then sent home so it will all depend on the size/severity. Hopefully yours isn't too bad and doesn't give you any problems!

 

[liv]

To Smallfry,
Thanks for the details and advice! I'm going to ask my doctor about the cotton pad idea when I see him tomorrow and see if he recommends it for my situation. Hopefully all is well with you now.

To KWalker,
Glad to hear you're doing better, what an ordeal you went through! Thanks for the support and advice.

Overall great news is everything seems to be healing fairly quickly. I did every single thing anyone recommended to me from eating lots of anti bacterial foods like honey, garlic and cranberries to sitting on lamb fur because it's supposed to aid in healing (gotta love Ukrainian wives tales). I have an appointment with my GP tomorrow to make sure I no longer have any infections and as long as that checks out I get to start Remicade on Monday! I'm still draining but hopefully it's gone down enough that I can finally get infused.

Lots of love and thanks to everyone!