Incisions

• By Reikiwoman
• Reply 3496105
• October 28, 2012 at 11:29 am
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Hi Kim,

Have you been back to the surgeon or cardiologist with your issue of drainage at your incision site? The reason I ask is that a friend of mine ended back in the hospital with a Mersa infection around the incision area and it was very serious. Have they tested for Mersa? I would be very concerned about the fact that it is still weeping. How are you feeling otherwise? I know, it's hard to tell because we usually feel pretty rough after open heart surgery. But are you beginning to feel a little better each day?

Please take care. Infections can be very dangerous.

All the best,
Bj

• By KimFaith
• Reply 3496283 · In reply to 3496105 by Reikiwoman
• October 28, 2012 at 12:42 pm
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Thank you for your concern. I visited the surgeon's physician's assistant last Tuesday, with a follow up this coming Tuesday. Let's hope that this is not something more serious as you mentioned. I also could have continued with the visiting nurse, but she would only report back to the surgeon's office. I can tell it is not getting worse, it just does not seem to be getting better.
Kim

• By Reikiwoman
• Reply 3496376
• October 28, 2012 at 1:28 pm
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Hey Kim,

I think that's what you need to be concerned about ~ the fact that it's not getting better. Sometimes there are specific antibiotics to treat certain types of infections. Keep speaking up; sometimes we have to advocate for ourselves and if you don't feel strong enough to do it for yourself, get someone close to you to do it for you.

Please let us know how you are doing.

Bj

• By Rosetazoriginal (Inactive)
• Reply 3496507
• October 28, 2012 at 2:25 pm
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This is not normal. Are you on antibiotics? Do you have a higher than normal temperature? I wouldn't wait because it seems to me those antibiotics are not treating this infection. It could be more than just a skin infection since it's so painful. Not to worry you, but just to urge you to get this looked after ASAP.

• By Grega
• Reply 3496616
• October 28, 2012 at 3:13 pm
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Kim, not to alarm you too much BUT read Gloria's ( aka Sternum) or my profiles just to get an idea what can happen .......time to DEMAND blood work to track white cell counds and to be aided by a wound specialist. Maybe a wound vac is all you need http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative-pressure_wound_therapy but it NEEDS attention YESTERDAY !!!!

Godspeed

• By Reikiwoman
• Reply 3496634
• October 28, 2012 at 3:21 pm
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I think the idea of working with a wound specialist is spot on. My friend had a wound vac while in the hospital and dealing with the Mersa. The sooner you are seen, the better!

All the best,
Bj

• By KimFaith
• Reply 3496740
• October 28, 2012 at 4:02 pm
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Thank you all! Believe me I am very much a self advocate. I'm definately on top of this. I have been checking my temp and it has been normal from the get go. I know that if on Tuesday she (physician assistant) sees no improvement she plans on bringing the surgeon in. The area in question is very small, and towards the bottom of my incision. Due to wearing a sport bra 24/7 I believe it is not getting enough air. I plan on sleeping with out the bra the next two nights and see if that doesn't help matters. The only real concern I have is that the antibiotics haven't helped.
Kim

• By lookn4ward
• Reply 3497338
• October 28, 2012 at 8:13 pm
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KimFaith, I am still dealing with open incision wounds that I'm having a tough time healing up, but no infection.

Ask your healthcare professionals to culture your wound site, this will provide them a way to ensure that the antibiotics you are taking actually cover the type of infection you have.

And by all means, read up via Grega and Sternum's profiles, not to intimidate or scare you, but just so you are in the know.

• By MargaretMCI5
• Reply 3498005 · In reply to 3496740 by KimFaith
• October 29, 2012 at 3:32 am
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Good for you Kim, you're staying on top of this. At the risk of being repetitive, all the above suggestions and advice is crucial. There may be very little wrong, but then again if something serious is brewing you should shut it down immediately.

If your antibiotic was being effective, you probably wouldn't be having any more discharge. MRSA is the NEW SUPERBUG - you sure as heck do not want that.

As per Grega and Sternum's info - the other things that can go wrong with the sternum after surgery are horrendous. Please be careful. We know you are going to your doctor. Can you go today?

• By KimFaith
• Reply 3498509
• October 29, 2012 at 9:53 am
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Hello all,
After reading all of your advise, since I'm scheduled tomorrow morning to see my surgeon's assistant, I shot out an email voicing the concerns all of you have suggested. She is very good at reading, and getting back to me via email. I will keep you all informed on the outcome.
Thank you all, this forum has been a lifesaver for me :-)
Kim

• By KimFaith
• Reply 3498923
• October 29, 2012 at 12:14 pm
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Hello once again,
Spoke with my surgeon this a.m. and he assured me that my incision did not get infected with MRSA. What I believed to be puss like drainage, is actually fatty tissue. The wound is just not healing properly, but he mentioned it is nothing to really be too concerned about. I will be seeing him tomorrow so I will see what he has to say after he looks at it again. Hopefully he is not downplaying this like doctors occasionally do. I have confidence in his opinion, so I feel like I'm in good hands.
Kim

• By Grega
• Reply 3499248
• October 29, 2012 at 2:10 pm
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Kim I would still request blood work as my infection was NOT an MRSA but rather a staph that invaded my breastbone/sternum and the insicison healed in 24 hrs of my sternectomy ......saved my life BUT I really would like a sternum back but the infection was so invasive that the rib ends took so much debriment it left my ribs brittle that no prosthesis could be attached so the flap was needed

• By Reikiwoman
• Reply 3499342
• October 29, 2012 at 2:48 pm
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Kim,

I agree with Greg on this one. What about a wound specialist? Trust what your gut tells you. You'll know what to do. Take care.

Bj

• By Antigone
• Reply 3501652
• October 30, 2012 at 1:36 pm
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You should either be seeing an infectious disease specialist, or your docs should be consulting with one *now.* If none of this is going on, I would suggest you go to the ER immediately and ask for blood cultures to be done and test a sample of the drainage coming from the incision.

• By KimFaith
• Reply 3501833 · In reply to 3501652 by Antigone
• October 30, 2012 at 2:22 pm
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Hello to all :-)
Saw my surgeon this morning and all is good. I suppose we can't be too careful but it seems I have over reacted. Not even infected. Due to the location, being between my breast, the area stays moist. Giving it more air, by not wearing my bra when I sleep helped tremendously.
I really love this forum. All of you have been so supportive. I truly feel going through my OHS would have been much more difficult without all of you. The before and after advise has been priceless.
Love to all,
Kim

• By Reikiwoman
• Reply 3501948
• October 30, 2012 at 2:57 pm
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Glad to hear all is well! But never apologize for over reacting, my friend. Recovery from OHS is serious stuff.

All the best,
Bj

• By lookn4ward
• Reply 3501969
• October 30, 2012 at 3:02 pm
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Yeah! I adore happy endings, good for you!

I used to always worry about overreacting, to the point of staying quiet - an approach that landed me in trouble a time or two. You are right about being careful, it is much wiser to sound the alarm - if it's false, good for you; if it's not false... well, good for you (for catching it early)!

• By MargaretMCI5
• Reply 3501993 · In reply to 3501833 by KimFaith
• October 30, 2012 at 3:10 pm
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Wonderful news! He did do a swab, right? M :)

• By Antigone
• Reply 3503946 · In reply to 3501833 by KimFaith
• October 31, 2012 at 9:59 am
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I'm just curious how your surgeon knows there is no infection. Have you had blood cultures done, any blood work at all in the past several days? If he made the determination just be looking at it, I'm concerned.

• By KimFaith
• Reply 3504040 · In reply to 3503946 by Antigone
• October 31, 2012 at 10:57 am
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Thank you for your concern. What I thought was an infection oozing from my incision was actually fatty tissue. He poked, prodded, and placed a matchstick-like ( silver nitrate ) thing on my incision to close it up. It looks 100% improved this morning. I need to touch base with him in a week just to check how things are coming along.
For me, at some point I need to trust my surgeon. This man opened me up and repaired the most vital organ in my body. I need to be confident in his opinions.
Kim