Operation scar

If it was fine a week ago then it's even finer now! It doesn't need a dressing at this stage, unless your clothes are chafing.

Have a look using two mirrors just in case it's unexpectedly gaped (unlikely) just to put your mind at ease.

Luckygirl3

Op now two weeks and 3 days ago - small 2 inch scar with stitches still there - dissolvable ones. I cannot see if it is OK as it is on lower back, and the dressing fell off this morning. I have another which of course I cannot put on!

Any nurses out there? - should I assume that it is healed now and just let it get on with it?

Last seen by nurse at hospital a week ago and she said it was fine. Can't see a nurse without going to the practice which is about 35 minutes away!

Can someone at the practice arrange for a nurse to visit you at home?

Is it worth asking?

It may vary from place to place but in some places the community nurses are a separate group who support several practices, as well as each practice having its own nurses, some of whom make some home visits as well as working in the health centre.

So in such areas, a visit of a nurse from either group would do.

Thanks for all advice. I think I will just leave it for now unless it gets uncomfortable; and I will try and make sure it is not being chafed by clothes.

I had an operation 2 weeks and three days ago as well. I had the stitches out on Tuesday and was told not to scratch but just let the scabs drop off (sounds yucky). My nurse said everything was fine so unless you have reason to think otherwise I’d just go on as normal.

If dissolvable stitches they naturally fall out. Yes try and use a mirror to check. Scabs do form, just as long as its clean no puss, it's spot on.
When the scar goes "White" completely healed that can take time.

Is everybody’s old scar white? My ancient C section is dark red!

BlueSky
I have one longitudinal scar from my two C sections.The previous scar was opened up to get DC2 out.That was 50years ago, and both are now white.
Sorry about yours being dark red still, but my tummy is horrendous.

Same here Pinkprincess, apart from the colour. Just as well I don’t wear a bikini!

Luckygirl3

Thanks for all advice. I think I will just leave it for now unless it gets uncomfortable; and I will try and make sure it is not being chafed by clothes.

They should be able to send a District Nurse if you can't get out. Tell them what has happened and that you can't see the scar yourself.
I wouldn't twist around or try to look at it n a mirror.

It would put your mind at rest if a nurse takes a look at it..

Am sure it’ll be fine. I had big, open belly ‘zipper’ surgery just under two years ago. They glued me shut and I didn’t have any dressings at all on it.

My daughter had an operation almost 3 weeks ago to put a plate and screws in a broken ankle. She was told to have the wound checked by a nurse at 5 days then have stitches out at 10 days. She couldn't get an appointment until 15 days! After numerous attempts to get an earlier one she rang 111 at 10 days, who arranged an appointment early the next morning at an urgent care centre half an hour away! Thankfully it was healing nicely and they took the stitches out but it seems that getting any sort of appointment via our GP surgery is nigh on impossible. We thought an appointment with a practice nurse would be relatively easy to arrange. Sadly the NHS is currently chronically understaffed as the population grows but there are fewer GPs at our surgery. She's now arranged her hospital review for another 3 weeks time when hopefully she'll be signed off to weight bear and my role as 'live in chauffeur' will be at least reduced!

I'm retired but do casual work invigilating at the school I used to work in. The last few weeks juggling my bookings around her need to be driven into central London for in-person work occasions has been exhausting. I can't imagine how she'd have coped if she hadn't moved home at Christmas for her new job!

Good old Mum! Glad you managed to sort things out for your DD. NHS is sadly in a bit of a state. I watch the TV programmes about life-changing specialist surgery somewhat ruefully - it is good the NHS can do these things, but there are some basic flaws at ground level and for chronic life-wrecking problems like pain there is little to offer.

Can you feel where the incision is? If it feels dry and not sticky or crusty it should be fine. Smell any gunk you retrieve. If it smells foul it needs medical attention today. If there’s no odour and it feels dry and not warm/ hot, it should be okay. I wouldn’t want to say 100% as I can’t see it.

Thanks - I have avoided touching or poking it in any way - I am a coward! But I will see if I can see it with the 2 mirror trick.

I had six stitches in my forehead when I split it open, near the hairline. Silly me...

I had the dressing on for 3 days or so and then took it off to air dry. But I kept the surrounding skin clean. Stitches were taken out later and 2 years down the line I have a white scar.

BlueSky Sorry to hear about your red scar. I wonder if your scar is more of a keloid type scar. Everyone is different though.

Most scars do turn white, I have more than my full share and they all turned ahite with time!

If you have a camera phone take a pic of it then you can enlarge it to look and reassure yourself

Just to say to all those blithely suggesting a community nurse visit - my DD is one, and the pressure of work/lack of staff at the moment means that the only people getting a home visit are those who would otherwise die (e.g. insulin injections for people unable to do their own) or end-of-life care (morphine drivers) ☹️
All other appointments have been cancelled, and patients have to get to their GP or minor injuries unit..! No idea how long this will go on for, but the lack of nursing staff is crippling the service... ?

BlueSky

Is everybody’s old scar white? My ancient C section is dark red!

The emergency one which was vertical is white. about 3/4 inch wide and very wobbly. The othe two horizontal ones have disappeared.

Really all your old scars are white? Mine (only had a C section so far) has always been dark red/ purplish! Never thought any different till I read about other people’s experiences. I believe a keloid scar is raised, mine is not, still nobody mentioned it when I’ve been examined over the years. Too old to worry about it now!

I am a member of a GP nursing team, if your wound has been checked already by the hospital nurse , then it will be nearly healed now .. as stated above a phone photo or mirror will re-assure you .. if it’s not red or inflamed and no exudate is seen , then there is no infection.. try dabbing some Vaseline or similar to aid the scar healing .. you may be able to feel the ends of the sutures now , so advice would be to book an appointment for these to be trimmed .. but please be aware that you will probably have to wait a few weeks for this appointment .. all Gp surgeries are very short staffed and overwhelmed with patients the same as the district nursing teams .

BlueSky

Really all your old scars are white? Mine (only had a C section so far) has always been dark red/ purplish! Never thought any different till I read about other people’s experiences. I believe a keloid scar is raised, mine is not, still nobody mentioned it when I’ve been examined over the years. Too old to worry about it now!

I had a TKR 11 years ago, and the scar is still dark pink.

Thanks elleks was already googling reasons why!

I use Bio Oil for scars. (open heart surgery). Blood spots liver spots , small non developing moles and small lumps/pimples on my neck.( Is know they have a name)