Chest wound not healing

[Cibby21]

Hi, I hope everyone is well. My partners chest wound was ok for first couple of weeks but then a small area ( about 1/2 inch in middle of chest ) started to breakdown it’s not infected just opened up and weeping clear. He saw his Cardiologists who said “ stick a plaster on it” which he did. That didn’t work so now he’s seeing Practice Nurse at Doctors to have it dressed every week and instructions to change dressing every four days. Has anyone else had this happen? Just looking for reassurance more than anything! Thanks 🙏

[Blackcatsooty]

It is still early days for your Keith.Really good that the practice nurse will see him every week. That will ensure the wound does not deteriorate and the clicking does not worsen.

His surgeons have to pull him about during the op and it takes months for the body to recover. If he carries on with his exercises and sticks to the restrictions (no raising arms above head, no lifting and so on) then recovery will gradually improve.

Could be worse things than sitting around in the warm weather or watching daytime TV.

Keith could look for the improvements. I found the steady improvements quite a joy. Every couple of days something stopped hurting or something started to move.

Best wishes

[Cibby21 in reply to Blackcatsooty]

Hi Blackcatsooty, thank you for taking the time to reply, as you say it is early days and he’s still got a way to go but I notice the improvement. I’m happy that he’s seeing the Nurse on a regular basis and I’m sure his wound will heal in good time perhaps we’re expecting too much too soon. Take care, all the best and speedy recovery.

[Hidden]

Hello

Yes I had this happen and I really thought it was never going to heal

I had to do exactly the same as your partner is doing and it went on for weeks as I say I thought it was never going to heal but it did

During this time though I did get seen during the healing process and they gave us some stuff I have no clue what it was to put in what I saw as a hole where it was not healing and slowly it came together

Keep it dry and if there is no improvement or you think it has got worse at any time then let them see it again

Hope his recovery is going well in other ways x

[Cibby21 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you BeKind28, it is very reassuring to know and interesting that it was packed because yes I would describe it as a hole. He’s make a good recovery in every other way and can walk 6 miles now where pre op he couldn’t walk 100 yards! Thank you so much for taking the time to reply, look after yourself, kind regards Cibby21

[Hidden in reply to Cibby21]

Hello

He is doing really well I am pleased

Just keep a close eye on it and if you feel it has either started to get infected or not healing don't worry just let them see it again

Like I said I thought mine was never going to heal but it did and his will to x

[Cibby21 in reply to Hidden]

🙂 x

[Bingofox007]

It will heal. You’ve done so well but the skin is prone to all sorts of bacteria snd infections but as long as you feel well and no worsening symptoms you will do well. I always look at 6 weeks for things to heal, simple things. The skin is simple. As long as everything inside is doing well. take care❤️

[Cibby21 in reply to Bingofox007]

Hi Bingfox007, thank you for taking time to reply. Everything on the inside is good Keith had an X-ray to check chest etc at his review and everything was fine. The body is amazing as there is no infection and as you say as long as everything on the inside is ok the outside will eventually heal. It is reassuring to hear the thoughts and experiences of other folks. Kindest regards Cibby21

[doorclosed in reply to Bingofox007]

does anyone know if manuka honey really works on wounds?

[Bingofox007 in reply to doorclosed]

I know there are honey based dressings but I don’t know of wound criteria that would warrent the use of them. ❤️

[Cibby21 in reply to doorclosed]

Hi doorclosed, I’ve read about honey based dressings, not sure I would use without advice. But thank you it’s one to ask about. 🙂

[Giant68]

I had similar. The heart failure clinic at Southampton General put a dressing on connected to a vacuum pump which I ended up having for about 3 weeks. It kept the edges of the wound together and dry while it healed.

[Cibby21 in reply to Giant68]

Thank you Giant68 I’m pleased to hear your wound has healed, good to know different methods used. Stay well 🙂

[Wooodsie]

I had the same thing Cibby21 and the same treatment at the hoppy. That was 18+ months ago, it is all OK now, just a normal scar.

[Cibby21 in reply to Wooodsie]

Thank you Woodsie, seems part of the healing process, roll on 18mths! 🙂

[El-Tel1990]

I had a similar issue and was told not to worry. When the wound did heal I began to use bio oil. The scar is barely noticeable now. Be patient, time is the healer !

Chest scar

[Cibby21 in reply to El-Tel1990]

Hi El-Tel1990, thank you for your reply good tip with the Bio oil, agree time is a healer, it’s still early days only 8wks since op. Look after yourself 🙂

[Tez666]

Mine was badly infected where the three wires went in, I was told to keep it clean, put new dressings on, which I brought from morrisons(cheaper) it did stop weeping eventually.....

[Cibby21 in reply to Tez666]

Hi Tez66, thank you for replying your experience sounds nasty but glad it stopped weeping eventually. Hopefully Keith’s will do the same. Take care 🙂

[Gassafe1]

Had exactly the same 6 weeks of dressing and antibiotics

[Cibby21 in reply to Gassafe1]

Hi Gassafe1, thank you, good to know it could take a while to heal. All the best 🙂

[Auiron]

Here is a link to wound Dehiscence and evisceration: webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/wha...

This is an American website.

[Cibby21 in reply to Auiron]

Thank you Auiron I’ll have a look. All the best 🙂

[Sewing19]

Hi. My chest wound took about 6 weeks to heal. A very small piece at the bottom just wouldn’t knit together. DNurse dressed it twice a week. Been ok since. My leg wound became infected 5 months after my bypass and it was well healed. So we have to watch these sites. Hope your partner soon heals.

[Cibby21 in reply to Sewing19]

Hi Sewing19, just goes to show even after a few months wounds can break down. Keith’s Nurse did say it’s usually the leg site that gives most trouble at healing. Will definitely keep an eye on his leg. Hope you’re recovering well now, best wishes 🙂

[Sewing19 in reply to Cibby21]

Thanks Cibby21. Hope Keith contortions improve ❤️

[hombrecito]

HiJust a short note to say that I had the same problem and, it all healed up nicely. may sem for a long time, but it does heal.

Best wishes

[Cibby21 in reply to hombrecito]

Hi hombrecito, will definitely keep that in mind it’s good to know it will take time, thank you. All the best 🙂

[Handel]

Hi Cibby. What your partner is going through is by no means unusual. My husband's wound was a little like your partners and it was just bathed with water and dried thoroughly (hair dryer!!!). It soon healed and your partner's wound will do too. It will heal from the inside out.

Lots of love to you both and keep us posted. Jan xxxxx

[Cibby21 in reply to Handel]

Hi Handel, thank you I will update his progress, and yes the inside is doing well so it seems logical to think of it that way. Good tip with hair dryer. I hope your husband’s doing well. ❤️ xx

[Handel in reply to Cibby21]

Hi Cibby21. My husband has a new lease of life thanks to the bypass and your partner will too. Lots of love and hugs. Jan xxx

[Cyprus12]

I used Vasaline and that helped soo much. The scaring was minimal and I just lathered it on. I can't rave about it enough. Much better than any creams I was recommended!

[Cibby21 in reply to Cyprus12]

Hi Cyprus12, that’s interesting, thank you sounds like you’ve healed up nicely. All the best 🙂

[Ivorychris]

HiYes my husband is 4 weeks post op and a week or so ago this happened to him too but at the bottom of the wound. It looked like it had pulled and was a bit gunky. A friend who's a district nurse had a look and told me to keep it dry and how to dress it and said it should look better in a week or so. She was absolutely right! We're 8 days later and it's looking so much better. We're not there yet but I'm not worried about it any more (I was picturing all kinds of scenarios at one point).

It seems to be quite a common thing so trust in what the nurse has said, keep a eye on it and it will be fine.

[Cibby21 in reply to Ivorychris]

Thank you Ivorychris, I agree as you say you run all sorts of scenarios through your mind. Keith’s feeling reassured from the feed back everyone has kindly taken the time to post. It’s much appreciated. I hope your husband continues to make good progress with his recovery. Wishing you both well 🙂

[RailRover]

I am over a year post op but I am still troubled by the chest wound. Most of it has healed fine and it doesn't weep at all, but there are a couple of inches at the lower end that are red and slightly raised. It "pulls" for want of a better term - not a very pleasant sensation. Sometimes it stings a bit. I am fairly slim, so there isn't a huge amount of flesh to take the stretch of extreme movements. None of the creams that are spoken about here seems to help. I do think it's improving very slowly, but it's certainly a long job.

[Cibby21 in reply to RailRover]

Hi RailRover, I’m sorry to hear your still in some discomfort, I suppose it’s an area that is constantly moving therefore the stitches are always being challenged. Hopefully you will continue to make progress in the right direction and find a cream that does help keep the Skin supple. Take care, all the best 🙂

[Heather1957]

No, I was lucky and my wound healed very well but I wouldn't worry too much (at this stage). It doesn't seem to be infected and the Dr wasn't too concerned, it might just be a stubborn area that will take a little longer. The practice nurse will ensure they keep on top of it.

I hope it soon heals up.

[Cibby21 in reply to Heather1957]

Hi Heather1957, thank you for your reply, yes I agree a stubborn little area, but we’re taking onboard all the advise given and keeping it clean and dry with a shed load of dressing’s! All the best 🙂

[goldenbay]

Hi Cibby21, I had the same issue 21 years ago. It seemed to be where the sutures were. I was a Community Nurse at the time. The wound showed no signs of infection so I just dressed it myself with Inadine and Mepore and it healed well. Keep well both of you.

[Cibby21]

Hello goldenbay, thank you for posting a reply, Keith is applying a dressing with what looks like iodine and then covers with a plaster as instructed by the Practice Nurse sounds similar. And it’s good there’s no infection so hopefully it will heal in time.Hope you’re keeping well, all the best 🙂

[shopman]

After bypass surgery for her legs my wife was treated for areas that wouldn't knit together mostly where the skin was thin and the District Nurse came every couple of days to check & treat her using "silver" dressings. They are expensive but did the trick very quickly.

[Cibby21 in reply to shopman]

Hi Shopman, thank you for taking time to reply. I’m glad to hear your wife has recovered. Good to know regarding “silver “dressing’s. All the very best 🙂

[Philry]

I've not had that problem; I had two large incisions in my groin, which only had a couple of stitches (for whatever reason) and I had a couple of gaping wounds. I went on a high protein diet, to aid the healing process, and the wounds closed up in record time.Perhaps increasing the protein in the diet, with plenty of vegetables could help?

[Cibby21 in reply to Philry]

Thanks Philly, interesting I could increase the protein, we do eat a lot of veg. I’m pleased to hear it worked for you. All the best 🙂