One more question regarding incisions...

I had my surgery on 9/1 and yesterday I had a small area (pea size) open up and start bleeding slightly. I thought that a month out I should be totally healed? Probably should not have been playing jumpy ribbit frog up the stairs w/my almost 3 year old...

Also, any other women out there get bad, recurring yeast infections post treatment? I am on levaquin right now so that is probably not helping... but my problem is that the intertal creams burn me like fire so I am reluctant to use them...any tips?

Thanks,
Cats

I guess that was two more questions...

Hi Cats, I cannot really advise you except to say that, though it is great you felt up to playing jumpy rabbit frog up the stairs, I wonder if you should really be doing that yet?? :blob_fire You have had a couple of recent surgeries and have had months of complications. Do look after yourself!

Love and prayers,

I had the open spot as well that oozed for a good month and finally scabbed and healed over. As for the yeast infections, have you tried Activa yougurt? It has the real live cultures in it that may help ease the problem from the top down!

Anyone have their chemo actually give you open sores in the female private area? That's what I'm dealing with right now! OWWWW

gocatso,

I think it would be best to take it easy for a while yet. I was told 6-8 weeks recovery for these types of surgery.

Regarding yeast infections. They can be caused by medicine, not sure what levaquin is, it could be the source of your problem. Some medicines kill off bad bacteria as well as good bacteria. Yeast infections are cause by killing off good bacteria. Someone please correct me if I wrong. Taking yogurt is a good idea, I believe because it promotes good bacteria.

good luck, hope your feeling better soon

Lee

gocatsgo, I will say, avoid any jumping, excercising for two months. Though the external stitches seems to have healed, but internal stitches takes much longer. My doc told me to not lift anything more than 5 Lb for first two months.

Bleeding does warrant a call or visit to doctor to check if there is no internal bleeding or internal damage.

I am not scaring you, but you have already had much more than your share of pains. You do not want more.

Cats:
I echo everyone here. Also what often happens is it is necessary for you to heal from the inside out. Sometimes you will have slower healing-- you know the radiation does this and will for a LONG TIME. But sometimes what happens in the healing process is a pocket will form underneath, so even though the skin has healed, you are definitely not healed completely underneath, any you will see this serous fluid often tinged with blood come to the surface and find a way out. Playing bunny hop may have given your skin level a perfect reason to open up a little and let this fluid out. If you hadn't opened it this way, you would have had to debride the scab a little to allow the fluid to free. You may also see other pockets open and be able to lightly rub around your incision, you may notice more fluid come to the surface and out the opening at skin level. The color of the fluid should be clearish to tinged with blood. If it's a strong blood color, you are doing too much. And if you have any greenish or yellowish thicker discharge, make certain to contact you physician for a different antibiotic.

Levaquin is a very good antibiotic for this type of wound, but IS strong and can cause yeast infections. Eating more yogurt with live active culture will help, but you will probably need to pick up some Monistat or the like over the counter to tame the yeast infection, and then hopefully the live culture yogurt and maybe some extra supplements of probiotics will help the yeast infection from coming back while you are on Levaquin. The radiation, as you suspected, does affect your immune system, and I have heard of more frequent yeast infections as well as UTI's. I guess it's one of the small prices to pay for being Survivors!:)

PLEASE take it easy for a little while longer as others have said! We care about you Cats, and don't want you taking on too much, too soon. ;)

Best of luck to you,
CancerDad:angel:

I had the open spot as well that oozed for a good month and finally scabbed and healed over. As for the yeast infections, have you tried Activa yougurt? It has the real live cultures in it that may help ease the problem from the top down!

Anyone have their chemo actually give you open sores in the female private area? That's what I'm dealing with right now! OWWWW

Mom2ntn
A cousin of mine had the same sore problem. She dealt with it by trimming everything short down there (do not shave or use creams if you have sores) and cleaning with cotton wool soaked in warm water and salt solution. Towel dry and ensure that everything really is dry before wearing cotton underwear and loose clothing. It did take her a while to get rid totally.
hope it helps

Thank you all for your care, concern and advice... I am so eager to get back to my old self, that I suppose I jumped the gun a bit. It is hard being home with the little ones and not lifting them up... but I will tone it down a bit. I have learned through this very well to take cues from my body when I need to...OK body...point taken.

One more question for you folks - about post-op pooping - is it now normal for me to have flat golf pencil poops? Or could this be a sign that I am at the beginnings of another blockage? Maybe a partial blockage? When I go it is usually just loose, but if I get any formed stool it is flat, and very thin... My follow up w/my surgeon was just moved to Nov 1 as he is going away. I am still going upwards to 15-20 times per day. I am was hoping to get on some fiber and/or lomotil soon. It is hard to leave the house unless I don't eat or drink anything - otherwise I am still ending up w/some accidents... NOT complaining one bit...just trying to find a way to improve on things.

Thanks again!

PS - Stopped Levaquin last night! Port is less itchy today - no oozing or anything like that. Also I will try to choke down some yogurt today...not my favorite... I may call my gyn and see if she can give me something oral for the yeast... the Monistat creams are VERY painful for me.

Thanks again:wave: