On one of my husband's nightly incision checks (because I couldn't see it over my swollen belly!), he nervously said, "It's yellow! And there are purple marks all over the place!" Yellow? Purple? Those colors weren't mentioned in my discharge papers, and panic set in. I was convinced I had some strange, unheard of infection or that my mega-doses of Motrin and Darvocet had destroyed my liver. I called the nurse and was immediately reassured.
Turns out, abdominal hysterectomy is a pretty brutal surgery. The doctor cuts through many layers. Ligaments and blood vessels are cut away from the uterus. Organs are moved and rearranged. Blood vessels are tied off. The top of the vagina is stitched. With all the cutting, moving, tying, and stitching, it's inevitable that some bruising and discoloration will occur. Some blood vessels will undoubtedly be broken. Just like any other bruising, these bruises must go through the normal healing process, and that involves changing colors: red, black, purple, and yellow. Some people bruise more easily than others, and the bruising shows more vividly on light-skinned people. Have I mentioned that I'm pale as a ghost?
Normal Signs
- Bruising
- Slight numbness around the incision
- Slight burning of the skin surrounding the incision (I felt this around my belly button, too)
- A hard, jagged ridge forming along the incision (this will eventually recede)
- Swollen tummy
Warning Signs
Still, the possibility of infection and other complications does exist, so you should learn the warning signs. Call your doctor if you notice:
- Pus draining from the incision site
- Fever of 101 degree F or higher
- Abdominal pain that does not improve with pain medication
- Dizziness
- Persistent headache
- Vomiting
- Burning with urination
- Muscle aches
- Redness extending more than 1/8 inch from the incision
There is life after hysterectomy... and it's good. Enjoy!
Hi...love your site! Answered so many questions as I find the hospital tells you very little upon release. I am 5 weks, almost 6 post op and feeling better every day but still weepy at times, still tender just above my incision, the incision itself underneath(the tissue) feels rock hard, swelling just above the incision like a little pouch (will this ever go away) today some discharge - no bleeding but my friends say its just part of the healing process( can you remember any)? Does this all sound normal to you? Still not sleeping well, awake every couple of hours...night sweats....still ahve ovaries but was on a needle 3 months prior to try and stop bleeding before surgery and this causes temp menopause so perhaps that explains lack of sleep and hot flashes....sorry for so many questions....thanks