Infection?

[kfay]

I would like to hear from any of you who may have had infection in your chest after your surgery. I've noticed the past couple of days that I have had much more soreness in a certain part of my incision (mind you, it is completely healed up). Then today, while I was getting dressed, I notice that this area was very red, like I had a sunburn. It is down much too far to be from the sun and a low cut shirt (which I haven't worn anyway). I thought maybe my bra was aggrevating it, so I took it off. I also thought maybe my seatbelt had rubbed it, so the rest of the day I kept the seatbelt off of it. It has seemed to grow. I finally called my cardio and he said he "hoped like hell it wasn't an infection". Even though I am a little far out to normally have one, he said it could be an interior suture that is infected and they could just open me up and remove it which would not be that big of a deal, but if not that, I could be in trouble. I am going to meet with him and a local surgeon first thing in the morning. Does this sound right to you guys? Any other ideas about what it could be?

Thanks,

Kim

 

[Ross]

Sounds like an infection to me. Glad your going to the doc.

 

[Bina]

Kim, try not to worry....do you have an elevated temperature?
My incision top and bottom was gross for a few weeks and I had a home nurse helping me with it..... cleansing, etc.
Let's hope that it just needs a simple lancing and cleaning.

 

[marie]

Praying that it's not any thing serious. I did not have an infection so I do not have any input but wanted you to know i hope all goes well and keep us posted.

 

[ctyguy]

my incision at 6 weeks was still only about 1/2 way healed up so I went to the doc and they told me it looked like an infection. The nurse took a cotton pad, soaked it in saline and proceeded to "clean" the unhealed area. It was more of a scraping than anything, got the area to bleed which is a good sign as it promotes healing. I kept it covered for the next several weeks as it slowly healed. The only thing I would do is daily take the bandage off and clean it with a gauze pad and saline.

After it was fully healed I noticed that in the area that had already healed up there was a dark spot right in the middle of the incision. I squeezed on it a bit and sure enough it opened up and there was blood and some white puss. I did the same regiment for about a week and then that healed up. That was about 2 weeks ago and now it seems all is good.

The best thing you can do is see the doctor, hopefully its something minor. And if there is a surface infection they will get you on antibiotics and get it cleaned out. That is what they did for me and it worked like a charm.

 

[Jkm7]

My first OHS, I had a small (about 1") area at the bottom of my incision that became infected. It oozed a sticky liquid but no blood. It was definitely caused by rubbing from my bra. (This time I knew to not wear that style.) Doctor cleaned it and had me dilute betadine (which is the orange disinfectant they coat our skin with pre surgery) and apply that to the spot twice a day. It also won me a 5 week course of antibiotics. It healed fine and I had no problem.

Good that you are seeing your doctor. Don't take a chance with a possible infection. Good luck and let us know how you make out.

 

[kfay]

Here's the thing...my incision is completely healed...no open or weeping areas AT ALL. It looks like it could have been done a year ago. I think that is why my cardio is so concerned. He thinks it could be a much larger infection problem. I am having my blood drawn at 8 in the morning and then meeting him and a local surgeon.

Fingers crossed.

Kim

 

[Bina]

Kim, I understand....but try not to make yourself sick over this tonight. Tomorrow will bring you some answers.

 

[MNmom]

Hey there, good luck and let us know what happens tomorrow!

 

[perrypiratesdad]

Get some rest and try not to worrying. Worrying accomplishes nothing but age you. Rest assured that your doctor will get you all better.

I always love it when doctors say "gee, I hope it's not...". He should have just said, "well, we better just take a look, but I'm sure it is something we can take care of easily".

Take care and get some rest.

- John

 

[Gnusgal]

I got an infection after an ICD placement, not OHS. The first sign was some white puss on part of the incision site. I went to the ER and was told it was "granulation tissue" and I was sent home. I had more puss and oozing and went to the ER AGAIN. This time they took cultures from each arm and kept me overnight in the hospital. Nothing showed up in the cultures, so once again I was sent home. Finally, the site started getting WAY puffy and had a continuous flow of clear liquid pouring out of it (I would fill a gauze within minutes and have to replace it repeatedly). I was in so much pain that every bump in the road was excruciating. I showed up at my EP's office and told the PA I would not be leaving until I saw my doctor. She tried to tell me I should go home and come back the next day when the doc would be back in the office. I told her absolutely not and insisted that she call my doc in the EP lab and get her up to the office. When the doc finally showed up she took one look at my incision, squeezed (which split open the "healed" portion), and declared "Yup. It's infected." Now, if they had listened to me weeks earlier, it would not have gotten to the point it did. As a result, I had to have my ICD removed, the site was left open to heal with a wound vac, and I had to be on IV antibiotics for 6 weeks.

So my advice is to go in. I'm glad your doc is taking it seriously. Mine did not and it cost me big time. Do not play around with this stuff. Hopefully it's something small and easily taken care of. But in the event that it's not, it sounds like you will be in good hands.

Good luck to you and please let us know how things go tomorrow.

 

[khawkk]

Please let us know what you find out.
In the meantime, I know it's hard but try and relax.

Remember, you are loved.