Hoping for a bit of advice as I’m very new to this (and I’m sure I’m starting to get on my GP’s nerves!).
I had a Lap excision 2 weeks ago (11th Jan). I have 2 incisions, one to the left of my belly and another in the belly button.
The one to the left looks to be healing nicely, however, the belly incision looks very slightly pink (has done for 2 weeks) and has a very small almost white dot in it (unsure if that’s supposed to be new skin). I don’t have any signs of infection and both a GP and nurse practitioner have told me it looks like it’s healing nicely. I must admit, 2 weeks on and it doesn’t look much different in terms of ‘healing’.
Yesterday was the first day I was out and about and spent the best part of the afternoon sat up, rather than being flat.
I’ve woken this morning and have a new small bruise above my belly button and it feels more tender than it has done the past couple of weeks. It’s not continuous, it’s only when I get up, get out of bed, sit down and stand up.
Can anyone compare their experience and does this seem relatively normal? (I’m all very new to this).
Unfortunately because of this, my anxiety is going through the roof and any small prang, twang or cramp (of which there are a few on and off) I get worried things aren’t how they should be.
Thanks xxx
Written by
DB_73
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I have had two surgeries now first was similar to yours they were exploring to get me a diagnosis which they did but at that point my naivety they did ablation removal instead of excision 🤦🏼♀️
The first one took a few weeks to heal and I too had a belly button that didn’t seem like it was healing but it was. From what your saying all seems to be fine in my opinion.
I had surgery a second time 4-5 months ago and my belly button scar is still quite pink where the others are a mix of pink and white I think it’s just that it’s a much bigger incision compared to the others I now have 6 in total and BB is definitely the last to heal but I’m now at the point of no pain. Sadly everyone is different but there can be light at the end of this treacherous road
Thank you! That does help a little with putting me at ease.Sorry to hear what you’ve been through. It’s certainly never easy when it’s anything medical related!
I’ll try to sit back and be a bit more patient - something that I don’t really have as I just want to get back to ‘feeling normal’.
I think I was concerned at the tenderness reappearing, but conscious that I’ve been doing very little for the past couple of weeks and yesterday was a lot more sitting - that’s the only difference I can really put it down to.
I’ve always been petrified of infection as I had an awful experience after gallbladder removal a couple of years ago which was very distressing.
It’s still quite moist so I’ve been cleaning with gauze and antiseptic spray, but a lot of what I read suggests that clear fluid is good for it. It’s such an annoying place to have an incision in the bb.
I know full well what it’s like to want to be back to normal, I am not someone who can sit around and I couldn’t wait for normal to come back. I was extremely blessed that I felt really good just a couple days after surgery and was asking to go home but sadly 3days in I spiked high inflammation markers in my blood tests and was kept in for a further 5 days u til it was better. 8days total it was boring AF. I had bowel related endo so had a very long surgery but I can not praise the staff and my consultants enough. I now only get like the odd cramp when my period arrives and that is it so I count my blessing in that sense but it hasn’t helped my fertility as much as I hoped although it is still early days and I’m just impatient 🤦🏼♀️
Don’t forget that any movement at all affects your abdomen so even those small movements would have worked those muscles even though it feels like nothing to you. Please be kind with yourself even though it’s frustrating.
Sorry about your previous experience it’s amazing how badly they can effect us into the future.
Just keep it clean keep an eye on it and keep doing what your doing you been through a lot 😉 xx
I’m sorry to hear that! Best that it’s behind you now! Fingers crossed for the fertility! 🤞🏻I’m hoping I’m just being impatient with it and I haven’t done damage. It’s very frustrating as I’m due to start working from home tomorrow again and hoping the sitting at a desk won’t cause problems.
Thank you, I’ll try and just do exactly that. Keep clean and keep an eye xx
Hi, I had a diagnostic laparoscopy coming up to 4 weeks ago. I had an incision on my left side and in my belly button like yourself. I went back to work after 2 weeks and I got an infection in belly button so was signed off again for another week. My stitches haven’t started to dissolve and my belly button doesnt seem to be healing so well. I’m back in work tomorrow and I’m very weary and worried that I’ll not heal but I can’t afford to not be in work so it’s very hard.
I think if your worried contact your doctor again I’ll be getting back in touch with mine this week. Everyone keeps telling me to just rest but it’s not that simple when you have bill pay.
Can I ask if you were working from home? I’m trying to figure out the harm of potentially being sat at a desk all day with the belly wound not yet healed.I’m sorry to hear you had an infection, they’re horrible!
It’s definitely not as simple as just resting. Good luck with the doctor!
I’m concerned they won’t even entertain me with the number of times I was on the phone to them last week 🙈
No I’m a manager for Lidl so went back on light duties doing “management stuff” and covering on tills but I guess that was too much.
I’ve been on the phone to mine constantly asking questions since my lap, have more questions now than I did before I went in. That’s what they’re there for so don’t give up.
Be kind to yourself. You had serious surgery only 2 weeks ago. It can take 6-9 months to fully heal on the inside. Don’t over do it and listen your body. My belly button refused to heal up (this is my second lap, first was for gallbladder). It took 5 months for it to fully heal. I ended up having a granuloma appear which is harmless but does stop it from healing properly that they had to remove. It just suddenly healed up one week. Not sure what it was because it took an additional 3 months once the granuloma was removed.
Mine did get infected, apparently it's more common with dissolvable stitches. I knew pretty quickly, it got more red and inflamed and the pain was more skin-level and all the time, not just when I tried to use my stomach muscles, and this is gross but it smelled infected. I went back to work 4 days after mine and I think it was too quick, mainly just because my work trousers were a little too tight while my belly was still swollen so that can't have helped. I rang the GP and they fit me in the same day and it cleared up in a couple of days with antibiotics and actual woundcare advice because I wasn't told anything at the hospital!
For my recent lap 3 weeks ago I was very worried about my belly button getting infected as I’ve heard it happens easily. So I was checking it constantly. For the first 2 weeks I kept it securely dry under dressings, I changed the dressings if they started to peel. One day it did look a bit red so I put an inodine patch on it just to tackle any minor infection, the next day it looked fine and I removed the patch.
After 2 weeks I removed the dressings as the wounds were pretty healed.
After 2.5 weeks I removed my own dissolvable stitches as it all looked dry and good (though this was prompted by my mum who is a nurse)
The advice I got was as long as it doesn’t hurt or ooze then it’s probably absolutely fine.
Apart from calling a GP, You could also visit a local pharmacy and ask their advice & get medical supplies if needed. Pharmacists are very well trained in minor wound care.
Thank you! This is really helpful to know! The only area that feels like it hurts are the muscles beneath! Funny though as I had that for a few days following then it eased up. Since I’ve been sitting more though the internal bruising seems to have ‘come back’ almost.
I’ll continue to keep an eye. Think I’m also very paranoid! X
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Laparoscopy incisions taking ages to heal
infection month after laparoscopy 
Is it normal to have wound pain a month after laparoscopy? 
Support after laparoscopy
Laparoscopy for endometriosis 
