SHARON (or any other medical professionals) please help!

[Dee*Jay]

I had a "suspicious freckle" removed from my thigh three weeks ago. There are two sets of stitches, both dissolveable and both on the "inside". I had the steri strip removed yesterday at the doctor's office, but last night and then again today there is a *tiny* bit of blood on the bandage. Is this something I should be worried about? I do have a call in to my doctor's office but my doctor is out today teaching at the medical school so they were going to try to get *someone* to call me back. Now, really, I'm not TOO concerned about this, but if it is the beginning sign of a larger problem I want to know today while my doctor's office is still open rather than having to go to the emergency room over the weekend. And my doctor did give me clearance to even start working out again on the elliptical machine (which I did NOT do last night LOL, and WON'T do until someone reassures me it's OK) so this seems a little odd to me since the indication I got was that I was "healed." And sorry for the graphic description here--just wanted to describe it accurately!

ANY advice that anyone could give me will be MUCH appreciated!!

 

[Mara]

DJ you don't say if the wound is weeping or looking infected or anything at all. I would assume there's some sort of hole or else it wouldn't be bleeding. For me personally I'd just treat it like a wound that is healing, maybe a bit of it split open at the scab part and is bleeding a bit, this happens to me sometimes. Did the DR say you could use something like Neosporin on it?

Anyway, I'm not a medical prof, but I'd wait to hear back from the doctor, but I wouldn't overly worry about a tiny bit of blood on a bandage of a healing wound.

 

[diamondsrock]

sorry for the tmi here, but I had a mole removed on the front of my leg where the skin is very tight. After he took the stitches out, a few days later it opened up (I guess wasn''t done healing?), but he was out of the country so I had to go to my regular urgent care clinic. It was bleeding a bit and the new skin was very fragile. You could almost see through it the skin was so new.
They of course didn''t do anything for it and now I have an awful scar there, which has taken what seems like forever to fade. Just letting you know maybe you should have it checked. I wish my dr. had been able to see me because maybe he would have done something differently, like sewn it back up or something.

 

[Dee*Jay]

Diamondsrock, that is EXACTLY where mine was removed too, where the skin is tightest when the big thigh muscle contracts. They didn't actually take any stitches OUT though, because all my stitches are on the inside (if that makes any sense), but they did take the steri strip off yesterday.

Mara, what you say makes perfect sense though, and it is not weeping or showing any signs of infection or anything like that.

Hopefully my doctor (or SOMEONE) will call me soon. Of course I have to go some charity event at lunch I just know they will call right in the middle of that and I won't be able to answer.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Good morning DJ! I just saw this, so forgive my tardiness. Sorry you are having trouble with your incision site. Of course you are worried, but likely it is just a minor issue. My assessment would include:

1) Check for signs of infection. Redness, heat, pain and drainage/exudate (not blood), increase body temperature. This is an unlikely scenario given your wound was given the OK yesterday, and wound infections at this time post op (aka 10 days and greater) become infrequent and even if they did it might be from another internal source (systemic infection) and that is even less likley given you are perfectly healthy. Also, removal of steri-strips can be challenging (they are sooo sticky) and they can remove old scabs that were aiding in the healing process.

2) How does the wound feel to the touch and appear? After you clean the site with water, (e.g after you shower and with clean hands) are you able to feel the incision and are the edges well approximated (do they match) or are there gaps? Does it feel smooth? If you touch it gently, does it bleed or does any other drainage come from the site? Bright red blood means it is fresh, and that could mean that you inadvertantly rubbed or poked the incision/regrowth (the tissue beds are delicate). I know you metioned that your incision was on your thigh--is it positioned in a place of high "wear and tear"? At the risk of sounding pedantic, areas that "rub" or "hit"on other surfaces on a regualr basis are at risk for shearing type injuries, and therefore take longer to heal and require more protection.

3) How often is this occuring. Is it continually bleeding , or was this a one time situation? Tension on wounds (where it is bleeing from on the incison itself) can cause then to gape and bleed. You might need another steri-strp if it is continually bleeding (taken off too soon?), or just a small amount of polysporin and a dry gauze.

4) Level of anxiety. Are you really worried about this DJ? B/c if you are, I would see the nurse in the clinic--is she able to see you without the Doc there? Do you have drop in clinics where you could be seen? How about your family doc? I know how you feel about going to ER if it isn''t warrented.

Please do not take my advice in the place of seeing a Professional. But I hope my bits have helped and apologize if I have missed something .

kind regards--Sharon

 

[Dee*Jay]

Sharon -

THANK YOU FOR YOUR POST!

1. I don''t think there''s any sign of infection at all.

2. The site is a little tender (which I think is probably to be expected). I''m not 100% sure how to answer your question about a "gap." I can see a *line* where the two pieces of my skin come together. The line is not perfectly uniform, but I''m not viewing anything as a "gap." The incision is indeed in a place of high where and tear; not only is it where the skin is tightest over my thigh muscle, but it is also subject to rubbing from my clothes (but I do have a bandage on it)

3. There is a little more blood on the bandage than there was this morning, but it is literally just specks (so now there are simply more specs than there were before. I am keeping neosporin on it with a bandage covering it for the next several days. I just went into the rest room and, using a clean white tissue, pressed down gently on the incision three separate times. There was nothing on the kleenex after any of the times.

4. I''m not particularly anxious with the situation *as it is* but my fear is that it could be the portend of something worse to come (like Diamondsrock''s situation where the incision splits open -- but since the stitches are all on the inside is that even possible?).

And I do understand completely what you''re saying about seeing a professional... but here I am five hours after my initial call to the office though and no one has even gotten back to me. I *know* they are busy, but if this is a problem I would like it addressed by my doctor''s office today rather than making some crazy visit to the emergency room over the weekend.

What do you think of the idea of putting a butterfly bandage on it? And is that the sort of thing I can get at a regular pharmacy or would I need to go to some sort of special surgical supply store?

 

[canuk-gal]

Date: 7/27/2007 3:01:15 PM
Author: Dee*Jay
Sharon -

THANK YOU FOR YOUR POST!

1. I don''t think there''s any sign of infection at all.

Right-o. I would be surprised if there were at this point in time. Remember not to use antibiotic creams with steriod in them, as that drug will delay would healing.

2. The site is a little tender (which I think is probably to be expected). I''m not 100% sure how to answer your question about a ''gap.'' I can see a *line* where the two pieces of my skin come together. The line is not perfectly uniform, but I''m not viewing anything as a ''gap.'' The incision is indeed in a place of high where and tear; not only is it where the skin is tightest over my thigh muscle, but it is also subject to rubbing from my clothes (but I do have a bandage on it)

I surmise you would see a gap if there were one. It really does look like a hole and from it you can usually express blood or other exudate. Glad this is nonexistent.

3. There is a little more blood on the bandage than there was this morning, but it is literally just specks (so now there are simply more specs than there were before. I am keeping neosporin on it with a bandage covering it for the next several days. I just went into the rest room and, using a clean white tissue, pressed down gently on the incision three separate times. There was nothing on the kleenex after any of the times.

Good, that is your litmus test in a manner or speaking. Keep your eye on it, but I think it will settle down and stop bleeding. Wear loose clothing and rest (I know you have been!!) to diminish wear and tear.

As as aside, I had an incident 6 weeks after my surgery where the end of one of my incisions started to bleed--on a Friday no less, and right before I was booked for my tissue expanders on the MOnday following...turns out it was b/c I wore an underwire bra and it was rubbing (for two hours) which caused a local inflammation and some bleeding. I was like you--upset and unsure; but I cleaned the area, put some Polysporin on it and covered it with a 2 x 2. It settled down and was dry in no time. Dam bra!

4. I''m not particularly anxious with the situation *as it is* but my fear is that it could be the portend of something worse to come (like Diamondsrock''s situation where the incision splits open -- but since the stitches are all on the inside is that even possible?).

Yes, anything is possible--wounds can and do open! Not terribly common and really depends on the wound, person, situation......I don''t mean to be alarmist.

And I do understand completely what you''re saying about seeing a professional... but here I am five hours after my initial call to the office though and no one has even gotten back to me. I *know* they are busy, but if this is a problem I would like it addressed by my doctor''s office today rather than making some crazy visit to the emergency room over the weekend.

When else to these things happen but on Friday....

What do you think of the idea of putting a butterfly bandage on it? And is that the sort of thing I can get at a regular pharmacy or would I need to go to some sort of special surgical supply store?

Honestly, I prefer dry gauze. They are very soft, absorbable, practical, come in serile packages, are cheap and offer protection while allowing air to circulate. I used them exclusively in my recent wound care (mastectomy and drain sites). Altho those butterfly bandages have their purpose, they are very sticky and tend to "pull" upon removal, and I think you want to avoid that. A 2 x 2/3 x 3 gauge with tape securing, is often easier removed. And for what it is worth, we never used those kind of butterfly bandages in the hospital for wound care. But that is only my experience.

Take it easy DeeJay! This is the first day without SS, so your incison is adjusting to the extra pulling/tension without the security of the SS. Hope your Doc''s office calls you back.

cheers--Sharon

 

[Dee*Jay]

Sharon -- YOU ARE THE BEST! I guess my only question at this point is how to tell if an ointment has steroids in it? I have neosporin at home--is that OK to use?

 

[canuk-gal]

Date: 7/27/2007 4:05:03 PM
Author: Dee*Jay
Sharon -- YOU ARE THE BEST! I guess my only question at this point is how to tell if an ointment has steroids in it? I have neosporin at home--is that OK to use?

HI DeeJay:

What a kind thing to say! I haven''t used Neosporin in specific, but I believe it has only antiboitics in it (frequently, these ointments have a three antibiotic combo for the best coverage--broadest spectrum). I bought/used Polysporin and believe it is similar.

Topical corticosteriods quite often have names that end in "one" (e.g. hydrocortisone) and it should be written clearly on the product not only that it contains a "topical corticosteroid", but the exact one (so you don''t have to guess, as per FDA rules).

Keep well!

cheers--Sharon

 

[Dee*Jay]

Sharon, seriously, I don''t know what I would have done without you today! (And of course my doctor''s office never did call me back.) I feel like I should print out this post and send it to Blue Cross/Blue Shield and ask them to cut you a check, LOL!

I''m hopeful that whatever is wrong with me can be cured with a little neosporin (I did check the ingredients and there doesn''t seem to be any steroid in there) and a nice glass of wine!

Thank you again.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

DeeJay, how are you today?

cheers--Sharon

 

[Dee*Jay]

Sharon, thank you for asking!

We have been car shopping all day so there was much in and out of different vehicles, which I''ve done as carefully as I could. I have peeked under the bandage a few times and there is only one tiny tiny speck of blood, and it''s the same one that''s been there since early on, so I''m happy about that. The incision is a little sore and itchy today though, but I guess that''s to be expected. I am imagining a "yellowness" around the actual line in the skin, but maybe that is the residual bruise? (Of course I immediately though, OMG, I''m INFECTED!!! But I don''t really think that''s the case, LOL.) I was pretty black and blue round around the area until a just a few days ago so I wouldn''t be surprised by any left over bruising.

I really appreciate you asking.

 

[canuk-gal]

hi;

DeeJay--hope you find something great to drive.....and unless you are making medical history by displaying first case of localized jaundice, if memory serves, I believe yellow is the last color a bruise shows before it is......gone.

Now it is my turn to have the glass of *medicinal* wine......

cheers--Sharon