|
Post by redwood on Jul 14, 2011 18:17:12 GMT -5
So finally here is my scar from my liver surgery where half my liver was removed because of an endometrioma in my liver. It goes up to my sternum. The bottom part didn't turn out as well as it seems like the scar is wider. The small scar closer to my belly button is from a drainage tube. They didn't even stitch that up afterward, but just put a bandage on it after they pulled it out. My scar is stuck so that the skin doesn't move where it is. Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by JC on Jul 14, 2011 21:16:46 GMT -5
That's a pretty kick ass scar if you ask me! And nice abs too! Lookin good! It's amazing what this disease can do. It's just crazy.
My drainage tube was like on the other side of my abdomen. I wonder what mine will look like when it's all healed. I tend to scar dark purple so we'll see I guess. And the middle of mine had to be re-opened since I got that seroma that needed to drain. EW.
Thank you for sharing! I feel like doctors need to see this so they can see just how bad this disease can get!
|
|
|
Post by hellsbells on Jul 15, 2011 11:33:47 GMT -5
Redwood, that's cool! It's a about the same length as mine. How long ago was your surgery? You've given me hope that mine will still fade!
|
|
|
Post by redwood on Jul 15, 2011 15:18:31 GMT -5
In September it'll be 6 years since the surgery, so it's been a while. Mine was pinkish in the beginning and then it faded. I didn't have staples in it like you did, Hells. It was more like Jenaya's but it had steristrips over it horizontally every inch all the way done. It seems like the bottom of it was stretched somewhat in the beginning, like separated a little, which I think is why it is wider at the bottom. But definitely the color fades over time. What's weird is the scar is stuck, so the skin doesn't move back and forth over it. Is yours like that? I also see small wrinkles developing on the outer side of it - I think from movement of skin being restricted. My upper abs on that side don't work like the ones on the other side. You can see the other side is more developed. I think at first that top abs muscle wasn't working at all on that side as it felt gushy, but later it's a bit better but not half as developed as on the other side. I probably should have done physical therapy afterward, but no one mentioned it and I didn't do it, not knowing it might be an issue. But that is something you ladies with big scars might want to check out, if it seems some of the muscles aren't operating properly.
I'm surprised you had such a long scar for a gallbladder removal. My gallbladder was removed too, not because it had stones, but because it was attached to my liver and they were removing the lobe where it was attached and they said they couldn't just leave it "hanging there." I thought that was kind of funny. Poor little gallbladder.
|
|
|
Post by hellsbells on Jul 15, 2011 15:46:16 GMT -5
It was a combination of not being able to do keyhole and having a surgeon with enormous hands! Still grosses me out when I think about his hands probing under my liver and what not. I still have numbness, and if I tense my stomach muscles it feels very different on the side where the scar is. I don't quite know what you mean by the skin being stuck though. Oh, and the staple holes have faded to tiny white dots. You can only see them up close. And mine's wider too at the bottom where it came open and took FOR-EVERRR to heal!
|
|
|
Post by 1234 on Jul 15, 2011 17:09:16 GMT -5
oh Hells that is horrible. Enormous hands? that should be a disqualifier for being a surgeon, at least a non-laparoscopic surgeon.
|
|
|
Post by hellsbells on Jul 15, 2011 17:15:39 GMT -5
Lol yeah. My mum has a really small scar where she had appendix out years ago - wasn't laparoscopic. Years later a doc saw at and said 'You must have have a tiny Asian woman operating on you'. Mum was baffled until she realised it made sense. My surgeon was a hulking 6 ft odd German, I'm guessing he had shovels for hands!
|
|
|
Post by redwood on Jul 15, 2011 18:55:39 GMT -5
hmm, my surgeon was a big guy too. Maybe he had large hands also. So your scar did separate a bit (like mine) at th
e bottom. I wonder if it's harder to hold together lower on the abdomen on the side like that. What I mean by the skin being stuck is this. My scar is on the right side and if I put my hand to the right (outside) of the scar and push to the left, then the skin just bunches up to the right of the scar. It's like it sewn together several layers deep, the skin to the muscle - it doesn't move freely there - its stuck in one place. I just wondered if this is how it always is, or if it's just like that for me. It's kind of hard to explain, but do you know what I mean?
My stomach muscles felt different for a long time too. I went back to my activities (rock climbing, yoga, cycling, hiking) after 2-3 months, but I didn't do ANY ab exercises for about 9 months. It just hurt too much and felt really weird. I also do aerial dance, which is very ab intensive and I didn't do that for 9 months too for the same reason.
|
|
|
Post by hellsbells on Jul 16, 2011 3:40:37 GMT -5
Ahh yes I think I know what you mean. Well, it's good to know that what I feel is normal!
|
|
|
Post by JC on Aug 8, 2011 7:26:24 GMT -5
LOL My surgeon had small hands. My incision is only 5 inches. I don't feel that weird muscle thing you guys are describing and I think it's because my incision was cut along the natural muscle striations whereas your guys was cut across them. My scar is looking pretty gross right now. I'm only about 4 weeks post op but my scar is super bloated because it's still fluid filled from the seroma and it's super dark purple. Maybe I'll post a pic to scare you all. HAHA. It looks like a caterpillar.
|
|
|
Post by hellsbells on Aug 8, 2011 14:54:33 GMT -5
Mine's still a dark pinky/purple colour. I've recently been informed that a gel called Kelo-cote is very good for scar healing. My GP wouldn't prescribe it though. Apparently got to come from a specialist. So when I saw the dermatologist about my hair I mentioned it to her. She also said it was too soon to prescribe that gel (apparently it's mega expensive, but it's really not that bad). She did give me a prescription for this tape that has a mild steroid in it. I reckon it would work only it's too painful when I take it off the scar. It's still very tender. If anyone tries it let me know how you get on!
|
|
|
Post by omaklackey on Aug 8, 2011 15:04:27 GMT -5
Hells, I still swear by Bio Oil. Can you get it over there? It was recommened by Cass. I have two nasty scars on top of each other and another for my gallbladder, as well as my old c-section scar. (to many surgeries!!) Its really soft on the skin and works well to get rid of the darkness.
|
|
|
Post by JC on Aug 8, 2011 17:48:10 GMT -5
I have a lot of steroid cream left over from my lap that I have been using. It's kind of reducing the size of that bloated seroma thingy. I just hope I can get this scar to where it's flush with my skin instead of caterpillar looking. Stupid seroma messed up my pretty scar!
|
|
|
Post by hellsbells on Aug 9, 2011 2:38:57 GMT -5
That's what mine's like J - one half is raised and the other half is flat but wider. Karla we can but a few people have told me it's not that great for big scars like this. I can imagine it's great for softness, stretch marks (if only I could get rid of those!!) but I ain't about to waste my money on it for this. It needs a little more intervention I think!
|
|
|
Post by JC on Aug 9, 2011 8:45:36 GMT -5
I was thinking that bio oil will be good later on down the road when the scar heals a little more. My wound was cut open again a week after my surgery so it's all screwey and weird. Sounds like you're in the same boat Helen. My wound was completely opened up again and leaked fluid all the way up until last week. UGHH! Nasty!
|
|