Post surgery question - my incision is a little inflamed??

Had abdominal surgery two weeks ago. Got a 4-5" incision on my lower abs now.

Here is the scoop:

Surgery was on the 12th.. Yesterday and today I am noticing my incision which is covered by steri-strips, which are beginning to loosen up on one end. The skin surrounding the edges of the strips (about a cm in either direction) is beginning to look darker, tanner? redder, a little. Accompanied with some pain/irritation. Is this normal? Definately feels like the skin, not muscle as far as I can tell. Looking at the incision directly, where the steri-strips are loosening up, it looks dark and not too pretty compared to a week ago.

Anything I can do? Or is this normal? I am showering only every-other day. Should I use some special anti-bacterial soap on it? . Hot compresses? I cant really tell if this is normal or possibly a skin infection or something..

The Surgeon is 30 miles away, and says to put some hot compresses on it. What does other suggestions might you have?

thanks

It sounds to be normal. What I would suggest if you think the showering is not helping is covering it in waterproof bandages when showing so it doesn't get wet and cleaning it with peroxide on its own..... You do need to change the steri-strips about once every two/three days.

As your skins heels it will get darker (uglier) than it was when it was a fresh incision alot like a cut on the leg from falling..... The skin will expand as it begins to heal its self and the redness is from circulation regaining in mending blood vessels etc as the new skins takes form....

If your cut is not getting puss filled or turning yellowish you should be okay.... if it starts turning yellow that is a sign of infection and it is best to get it checked out. Just keep it clean with peroxide but dont use ointments on it while it is still closing because ointments have Vaseline as a base and bacteria and germs floating in the air can stick to the Vaseline base and hurt more than the ointment helps.....

Good luck

If it gets infected, the area will actually feel hot, the redness will spread and possibly swell. Darkness of the skin at the incision - I think that's normal (from what I remember from my 3 abdominal surgeries). Does it have pus oozing from the incision site? If no pus, just do the compresses like the doc says and keep a watchful eye on it. If your temperature starts to spike, then really worry and get your butt to a hospital.

As long as you don't have anything oozing out of the incision and it isn't bleeding or bust open or get any redder you should be fine. Don't put a hot compress on it, if something is swelling always use something cool. It will make the swelling go down and take out the reddness

If it is the area around the steri strips and not around the incision itself it could just be irritated. If it is around the incision, it may be the beginning of an infection.
The steri strips usually do come off in the shower about 10 days after the surgery. I myself had surgery on the 6th. And in January too and that part is about right.
Buy if you have discharge or swelling and redness at the incision site, go to the ER and tell them or your doctor or at least give him a call and tell him. You really don't need to use an anti-bacterial soap.