Infection? - Incision Photo attached

[BearsWin]

Hi there

I went for my two week recheck today. The PA was concerned about the appearance of the incision (alhough he said it was a possible superficial wound infection) and started me on two weeks of Keflex and has me washing the area with baby shampoo.

I haven't had anything approaching a fever and feel fine in general, not much scrotum swelling. The PA was happy for me start cycling and whatnot and it was suggested I have another recheck in two weeks, although since I have to fly from Nevada to So Cal he said sending photos of the incison should be okay.

Hate to be graphic but I guess that's what we do - this is what it looks like. I really had left the incision alone as instructed so the fact it looked like this kinda shocked me.

Thoughts? Am I f*cked? Anyone with similar experience? My wife is trying to convince me that if its a superficial incision infection we may not be screwed but of course one's mind goes to the worst.

Nov 17 2022

IMG_1935_(2).jpg (1012.53 KiB) Viewed 1201 times

[newbie443]

I have never heard of baby shampoo as a wound cleaner. My doctors said to use antibacterial soap. I use dial gold for showers. They also advised to use Bacitracin ointment and sterile dressing to cover the incision. I even used a water proof round Band-Aid and the ointment for my repair as the incision was small enough to do so. And I wiped the area around the incision (not the incision itself) with alcohol wipes. That dried out the area and killed germs. I was able to wear as little as possible as much as I could to help keep the area dry. It does not look bad to me but I am happy you were started on meds. Glad your medical staff is acting early as many don't. Keep the incision clean and dry. and follow your doctors instructions.

Good luck.

[Maddawg]

My doctors office recommended this for pre and post op cleaning

[BearsWin]

My doctors office recommended this for pre and post op cleaning

Thanks - I used that for 3-4 days pre-op but not postop.

I have never heard of baby shampoo as a wound cleaner. My doctors said to use antibacterial soap. I use dial gold for showers. They also advised to use Bacitracin ointment and sterile dressing to cover the incision. I even used a water proof round Band-Aid and the ointment for my repair as the incision was small enough to do so. And I wiped the area around the incision (not the incision itself) with alcohol wipes. That dried out the area and killed germs. I was able to wear as little as possible as much as I could to help keep the area dry. It does not look bad to me but I am happy you were started on meds. Glad your medical staff is acting early as many don't. Keep the incision clean and dry. and follow your doctors instructions.

The Dial soap was another option he put out there. Nothing about a topical antibiotic or a sterile dressing. Since it's kinda of exudative right now it never really looks "dry" but I'll maybe start with the sterile dressing as well. It's just a hard area to not get some crap in, those scrotal folds.

Really appreciate the help/insights.

[Spanishxb]

Looks good man just keep cleaning it with soap and water and dry it or dab with alcohol or peroxide once a day and keep it dry and clean. Mine looked way worse. And now you can't even see the scar. Kind of amazing. You will be fine just relax it gets better and congratulations!

[Tmansdorfer]

Yea I agree with everyone else that it doesn’t look too bad, when I had the infection it was red around the incision and I had fluid oozing out. Just keep it clean and dry and you should be good

[on the road of life]

My doctor's recommendations were:

Soap and water.
Chlorhexidine.
Leave the wound uncovered.
Keep dry after cleaning it, you can apply a hair dryer that does not burn, to dry.
Watch out for: Redness, pain, suppuration or inflammation of the wound, hardening of the surrounding area, excessive inflammation of the penis or testicles

penoscrotal incision

[BearsWin]

My doctor's recommendations were:

Soap and water.
Chlorhexidine.
Leave the wound uncovered.
Keep dry after cleaning it, you can apply a hair dryer that does not burn, to dry.
Watch out for: Redness, pain, suppuration or inflammation of the wound, hardening of the surrounding area, excessive inflammation of the penis or testicles

penoscrotal incision

Looks good man just keep cleaning it with soap and water and dry it or dab with alcohol or peroxide once a day and keep it dry and clean. Mine looked way worse. And now you can't even see the scar. Kind of amazing. You will be fine just relax it gets better and congratulations!

There's just the slightest bit of yellow pus at one side of the incision and I'm hopeful with some of the additional cleaning suggestions I've gotten here plus starting the Keflex it may be just a slight skin incision infection without deeper involvement.

It did look red yesterday at my appointment but I had been doing some local walking about in the LA heat (cold as hell in Reno now so I appreciated the sun) and I may have irritated the incision area somewhat.

Yea I agree with everyone else that it doesn’t look too bad, when I had the infection it was red around the incision and I had fluid oozing out. Just keep it clean and dry and you should be good

Thanks Tmansdorfer - I'll check out your prior posts - sorry that happened but you're an inspiration.

[on the road of life]

My doctor's recommendations were:

Soap and water.
Chlorhexidine.
Leave the wound uncovered.
Keep dry after cleaning it, you can apply a hair dryer that does not burn, to dry.
Watch out for: Redness, pain, suppuration or inflammation of the wound, hardening of the surrounding area, excessive inflammation of the penis or testicles

penoscrotal incision

Looks good man just keep cleaning it with soap and water and dry it or dab with alcohol or peroxide once a day and keep it dry and clean. Mine looked way worse. And now you can't even see the scar. Kind of amazing. You will be fine just relax it gets better and congratulations!

There's just the slightest bit of yellow pus at one side of the incision and I'm hopeful with some of the additional cleaning suggestions I've gotten here plus starting the Keflex it may be just a slight skin incision infection without deeper involvement.

It did look red yesterday at my appointment but I had been doing some local walking about in the LA heat (cold as hell in Reno now so I appreciated the sun) and I may have irritated the incision area somewhat.

Yea I agree with everyone else that it doesn’t look too bad, when I had the infection it was red around the incision and I had fluid oozing out. Just keep it clean and dry and you should be good

Thanks Tmansdorfer - I'll check out your prior posts - sorry that happened but you're an inspiration.

Fibrin is sometimes confused with pus.

A liquid or cream-like substance, possibly pus, and an indication of infection (usually accompanied by other signs or symptoms)

Something yellowish solid, I had a lot and it also scared me a bit, it could be fibrin or fibrinogen, which is basically a protein that the body produces to stop bleeding and repair the wound. A doctor or nurse identifies it immediately.

[BearsWin]

[
Fibrin is sometimes confused with pus.

A liquid or cream-like substance, possibly pus, and an indication of infection (usually accompanied by other signs or symptoms)

Something yellowish solid, I had a lot and it also scared me a bit, it could be fibrin or fibrinogen, which is basically a protein that the body produces to stop bleeding and repair the wound. A doctor or nurse identifies it immediately.

Thanks - I reached out to the on call urologist yesterday after more pus appeared who reached out to my surgeon. They think it’s just a superficial infection that should be fixed with the Keflex and keeping clean/dry. I feel fine and I do think it’s a little better today although the incision wants to be a little exudative. Surgeon scheduled a Zoom call tomorrow for another look - would have happily had me in but I live an hour plane flight away. He wasn’t particularly concerned. I’m gonna have to put the anxiety away and trust at this point.