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Infected Belly Button Incision

Posted , 6 users are following.

Guest
Guest

Hey All,

I had my gallbladder removed Jan 26th, went back to the surgeon for a follow up yesterday and my belly button incision is infected. He said it’s a little red. He prescribed me cephalexin, 3x’s a day for a week. Started yesterday, was able to only take 2 doses though.

I’ve noticed discharge from it, it’s not green but it’s kind of brown. Gross, I know. It’s sticky and hardens so I’m constantly wiping the area. it’s been kind of painful to lay on my stomach And there is an area on the bottom of my belly button that looks like it has pus on it. It doesn’t wipe off though. 

Anyone else deal with an infected belly button incision after surgery? I’m kind of worried about sepsis but I’m also a hypochondriac.

1 like, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Mrsoscared
    Mrsoscared Guest

    Posted

    Hi

    yes it’s very common.

    please don’t worry about sepsis you will not get series from that infection.

    it will be gone b4 you know it.

    your going to be fine.

    relax enjoy the fact you had yr opp it was successful you woke up came though it feel much better and your alive, enjoy living your life , 

    ‘well done for coming through yr opp .

    get plenty of rest.

    sleep well.

    drink lots of good water.

    eat nutritious foods and be happy life these days is getting shorter.

    your going to be fine.

    • Guest
      Guest Mrsoscared

      Posted

      Thank you Mrsoscared, I appreciate your reply!
  • Scottie13
    Scottie13 Guest

    Posted

    Yep mines got infected after I managed to tear the stitches in that wound. Was on flucloxacillin for 12 days and thought it had healed then a couple weeks later it opened again as had a massive amount of pus underneath it. So was on doxycycline for another week. I know sepsis is a big thing but you’d know if it was that xx
    • Guest
      Guest Scottie13

      Posted

      Hey Scottie, thanks for your reply!

      Sorry to hear that your wound had busted open again sad. My surgeon told me the belly button incision is where a lot of patients get an infection. Should’ve figured that. But hopefully cephalexin will do the trick for me. 

      I go back after the week of antibiotics for another follow up. He said if I feel better and don’t want to go I don’t have to. However I’m going to go just to have a peace of mind or I’ll obsess over the thought 😣.

      Did you have actual stitches? Did they put bandages over your incisions? I have/had (not sure if they’re still there) dissolvable stitches that were under my skin? No bandages just dissolvable bandaids, which I didn’t really care for.

    • Scottie13
      Scottie13 Guest

      Posted

      I had dissolvable stitches which took about 6-8 weeks to finally dissolve. They were white and stuck out a wee bit so ended up cutting some close to the skin as they were annoying otherwise. 

      Did they swab the wound before starting antibiotics? xx

  • Beenthruit
    Beenthruit Guest

    Posted

    Sepsis symptoms include feverish flu like symptoms: shivering, sweating , feeling cold. You become confused and fainting is common. You would not be able to write a post so clearly if you had sepsis. Give the antibiotic a chance to work, keep cleaning the wound using fresh cotton wool and cool boiled water- one wipe and discard that swab and keep your appointment with the surgeon next week. Try not to worry.
  • sarah87162
    sarah87162 Guest

    Posted

    When I had gallbladder removed a few years ago a district nurse came in every day for a bit to change the dressing. It was quite red around the belly button area but did settle down with time. I had no follow up appointment.

    Take care and keep in touch

    Sarah

  • julie50347
    julie50347 Guest

    Posted

    Dev,

    Thanks for your post. I had the same thing done on the 15th of May. I knew that I was going to have problems with the bellybutton. I have been cleaning and drying my incisions 3x a day now that the dressing are off. Applying antibiotic creme as well. It seems to be working. I am still not out of the woods yet. Any suggestions?

    • Scottie13
      Scottie13 julie50347

      Posted

      Is your wound oozing or anything? I’d be inclined to leave it alone and let it heal naturally. Obviously wash the area whilst you shower but I’d leave it alone to dry out and heal xx
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