about 4 weeks after surgery 1, i got an infection and had to have a small hole opened on my incision. I drained, packed and dressed it as it drained very much puss throughout the day. A week later, another hole further up opened on its own and i had to do the same and it drained, a lot. All seemed to be doing better and now a 3rd hole opened up further up on the scar which also drains heavily. It's been 4-5 weeks with daily drainage, i mean how much fluid could be in me? where is it all coming from? i foolishly expected maybe two weeks until healing. i've seen the doc, he simply says just keep it clean and covered. I'm worried that this is taking an unusually long time and will delay surgery 2, the takedown. anyone have similar experience?

I had a lot of drainage from a hole that opened up in my incision -- so much that I had to change the gauze every 20 minutes. Mine turned out to be a fistula. It's still draining after 4 months. I imagine your doctor has considered that possibility.

Hope your wounds heal soon.

Anjuli

After more than a month without much in the way of forward progress, I'd ask about a referral to a wound specialist to discuss a wound vac to help speed this along.

Jan

Last year I had my rectum and a portion of my colon removed, and I too had an incision that would not heal and kept draining. Approximately five weeks after my surgery, I was seen by the wound care nurse at the hospital, who immediately called my surgeon and had me hospitalized. I ended up with the wound vac and had it for about five weeks. It cleared up my the infection, helped the incision to close, and I was able to have the second surgery to reverse the temp. iliostomy as planned three months after the first surgery. It seemed to make a great difference, and I hope it's an option for you.

Mine incisions where the drain tubes would not stop oozing for weeks. It got so bad it turned greenish and smelled horrible. I got very sick and had to have it all drained with syringes. About 16 ounces worth. It wasn't too bad. They gave me a relaxant and used ultrasound to see it and get it all out. I felt so much better after that.
I hope you heal soon.
Tracy

hey jan... if my wounds are overgranulating and are raised above the skin, would a wound vac help in healing? i had one for several weeks after surgery when the wound got almost to skin level they removed it because insurance would not cover it anymore. i keep needing to have it silver nitrated but its taking forever to close.