Infections on operative site

[Tinker]

I had a breast repair (after cancer) in Jan.  The sutures were slow to heal but they seemed to be getting better.  Until this am.  I took a bath, and happened to notice 2 big suture infections. 

Called the PS and will see him Wed.  No fever, and they are draining.  This is 8 mos post-op.  I'm either allergic to the sutures or my immune system is poor.  My last WBC was 3 or 4 but it's always on the low side.

Is this common with Sjogren's?

[lynnmarie219]

I know its common to heal slower when you have sjogrens and at times we get infections easier but I would think after 8 months the sutures should have been healed, so this one baffles me. I am glad that you are going to your doctor this Wednesday....that way there is no guessing and he/she can look at it and give you an answer!

Please let us know how you are doing after the appointment.....good luck!

[irish]

tinker, The way that you are explaining it makes me think that these are internal sutures that are working their way out. This happens from time to time. I would think that they will culture the drainage to what is growing in the drainage. Sometimes they just make a drainage that isn't a "bad bug" but still need some antibiotic anyway. Also, will probably need to have special cleansing of the site etc. The docs should explain all this to you.

Yes, sjoggies do have a tendency to heal slower, but people without sjogrens will have this happen with sutures also. Hope all goes well for you. Irish

[Tinker]

Thanks Irish and Lynnmarie. 
Irish, you are right....they are internal sutures.  This surgery was on the unaffected breast (no cancer or radiation in this one.)  The infected sutures are blue and visible.  I hope he cuts them out or does a surgical revision cause I have less than aesthetic results.   

I think I'm allergic to the sutures.  They still itch after 8 mos.  I'll post after my visit.  Hope I don't get the lecture about this is  being my fault.  Somehow, the nurse made me feel that way on the phone. 

I'll insist on a culture and I want this darn things removed.  Tired of messing with this!!

[irish]

tinker, I had a hysterectomy back in 1990 that ended up being a long and involved surgery with a very long incision. My incision would itch a lot and drive me crazy. In about 1998 or so I had a doc appt for unrelated problem and was lying on the table so I told the doc about my incision. He took a tweezers and pulled out a stitch that was about 1 inch long--it was infected but it sure took the long way to get out. HaHa!!!

Yah, LIke I am sure you sat and pushed and pulled and prayed the stitches would come out so you could bother the nurse!!!! Good luck with this. Irish

[Pooh]

Hi Tinker,
This happened to me after my last c-section.  The sutures inside were suppose to disolve over time, but instead they turned hard like plastic and blue/green like you mentioned.  They to erupted through the surface of the scar and were infected.  Really weird what our bodies do from time to time, but with Sjogren's it's even weirder.

Take care and I hope this latest doesn't last to much longer.

Let us know what the doctor says.

Hugs, Pooh

[Tinker]

Update on doc visit:  The infected sutures looked 100% better this am than they did on Mon when I called the doc.

The resident pulled out the blue exposed sutures with no problems.  Just a little pink drainage.  I don't need antibiotics cause the sutures are well on their way to being completely healed.

The resident also pulled out the clear sutures on the areola.  I hope that this is the end of it, but I am expecting this to occur over and over since I've been having other doctors snip and pull sutures for me since Feb '08.

I got fitted for mastectomy bras (YEAH) that actually fit!  That will go thru my insurance if approved and they will mail them to me.  How great is that??

And he's going to do some other cosmetic procedures to make things look better.   So, all in all, it was a very productive visit. 

[pudmott]

So happy to hear the visit went well Tinker. Good to hear you don't need AB's either. Hopefully the insurance will cover your bras and you can get comfy.

Keep us posted

pud