Belly button incision looks horrible!

Digestive health
1

Hi

I had my gallbladder removed 16 days ago and all my incisions have healed nicely apart from my belly button.

I have taken a seven day course of antibiotics from my GP query infection but the problem is my GP isn’t seeing anyone and the nurse is on leave and I don’t know how to reach my surgeon.

I don’t know how it is meant to look but it doesn’t look right to me. It is also weeping constantly a pale green thickish fluid.

I’m a big girl and the incision is sandwiched between two rolls of fat so it’s not getting any air. The surgeon took the dressing off on my nine day check up and said to leave it off. Which I have. I don’t trust my surgeon as when he was removing my dressings from the other incisions he ripped off a chunk of my skin causing a second degree friction burn.

The wound looks angry and it is very pink around it, slight smell too but I’m not sure if that’s belly button smell.

I don’t know what to do. I’m not in pain, no fever or sickness etc. It just looks horrible and I’m so anxious about it! Will try to attach a pic.

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Anyone??

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My belly button looks worse than that it is swollen on one side and I can’t even see inside it. I asked by phone whether I should try to open it up and was told no just to leave it alone and it will heal. I can’t tell what is going on but I have a discharge too but no fever or other sign of an infection so I can only say my experience…so far I am trying not to look at it. We can’t visit a doctor in person here due to COVID but the surgeon I had do not see their gallbladder patients unless there is a complication and when I described the issue I was told that it was not a complication! :frowning:

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im currently sitting in A&E as ive had enough of it!

they took a swab ill let you know what they say.

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i have an infection and had to have it packed and have to attend wound care clinic three times a week for dressing changes until it heals.

i suggest you go to A&E asap as “not looking at it” is not going to make it go away.

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Oh I am at work already seem to be okay so far putting toddlers in beds and other duties. I am considering if nothing clears up though going as you have kind of given me the push I needed to at least get it looked at. I hope that yours will clear up soon with the wound care.

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I would say if I could have avoided this surgery I would have because it was made to sound like a very small procedure going in at emergency and it has caused me more grief than a total hysterectomy surgery I had in abdomen years ago!
That discharge I see looks the same as mine. You were right to go get it seen to I am seriously now after seeing your picture going and getting mine looked at in emerg. Thanks for sharing. I sure hope wound care goes well I am not sure I can afford more time off work so I hope I can work around it somehow!

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if you have an infection it wont clear up. it will only get worse. get yourself to A&E and ask them to swab it.

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I agree. i would not have had it either.

im third day on antibiotics and had my dressing changed yesterday. saw a surgeon who said it looks fine… does not look fine to me, its bleeding now and still having pus coming from it. the dressing they put on yesterday came off and it looks horrible still. not as red looking but so open on the edges! it gives me so much anxiety. i redressed it myself and im seeing my GP nurse tomorrow afternoon and ill ask her opinion. im very worried it will never heal…

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They just told me that because I am a diabetic I will take longer to heal and are blaming the issues on that. I waited all night at emerg to see someone and have had to take a day off work which was mostly because I am tired. That is the only answer I was given other than having a discharge is part of the healing process. I give up too and am a wreck about it and don’t understand the difference in the way I am being treated with this surgery. It makes me nervous too. Let me know what the GP nurse says hope you are okay.

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saw the GP nurse yesterday and shes dressed it with some special dressing that draws out all the gunk and helps it heal faster. seeing her again tomorrow so will let you know if it is working