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Original poster

How long does an abscess wound take to heal?

69 replies

Soresoresore · 13/04/2022 23:27

Had emergency surgery under general anaesthetic to cut out an abscess 3 weeks ago. Surgical wound was 6cm deep initially and is now 3.5cm deep.

It’s being packed and dressed every other day at the clinic and is obviously healing but is still a big open wound with lots of clear exudate.

I have googled but cannot find anything on healing times. Has anyone had anything similar? How long before you stopped having to go and have it packed and dressed?

Thank you!

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Original poster
Soresoresore · 13/04/2022 23:28

BTW, I have asked at the clinic and they said ‘how long is a piece of string, you’re doing well though’ 😳

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frenchfancy81 · 13/04/2022 23:30

Several weeks, I imagine. I had it done (armpit) two years ago and had to go daily then every other day for almost 3 weeks and it wasn't as deep as yours at all. Good luck!

Original poster
Soresoresore · 13/04/2022 23:36

Do you have a big scar frenchfancy81?

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Original poster
Soresoresore · 13/04/2022 23:36

Thank you for replying!

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Frazzled2207 · 13/04/2022 23:38

Hey. This happened to me recently. I was discharged after just under 6 weeks but it didn’t need to be packed after 3 weeks so from that point my dh mostly cleaned and re dressed it and I went to see the nurse once a week ish.
I was told chance of reinfection was very high but mine didn’t.
Is very frustrating but you will get there.

MrOllivander · 13/04/2022 23:39

A while. Mine ended up needing closing with stitches (armpit)

Angie7421 · 13/04/2022 23:41

You are lucky my doctors would not see me to change dressing I had to get two busses into city once a week and do it myself 3 times a day because my doctor won't see patients I am strong but it was horrible I am discusted in the after care but mine took 10 12 weeks

Foxfeeder · 13/04/2022 23:57

Not what you want to hear but I had a breast abscess which took 10 months to heal completely. I moved from daily to every other day to weekly dressing changes within about 3 months and was doing them myself at weekends quite early on. However, I was allergic to some of the dressings, my healing stalled and the skin kept breaking down before it finally healed fully. To help, we looked at my diet so I was eating lots of things to promote healing so I’d recommend you ask your wound care nurse if they have info to help you.

I hope it goes smoothly for you.

Original poster
Soresoresore · 14/04/2022 00:13

Thank you everyone.
All but one of the district nurses have been amazing and I am very lucky to be able access this service. I can drive to the clinic myself to have it re-packed and so far, appointments have been made outside of my work hours. It’s a pain but it’s healing well so far.
The district nurses I have seen have told me that it’s a deep one and that I must keep up the appointments. Only one young nurse told me that I could be packing it and dressing it myself. All the others (I seem to see a different person each time I go!) have said ‘no way’.
My biggest fear is that it will get infected as the abscess I had made me very ill (early signs of sepsis).
Thank you for your good wishes!

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IdblowJonSnow · 14/04/2022 01:09

I had an underarm one removed under GA. I don't know how deep it was bit it was packed for a week and then healed pretty fast after thst.
I do know that similar wounds heal at varying times for different people so you can't know unfortunately.
Hope it's soon op.

Original poster
Soresoresore · 14/04/2022 08:31

Idblow
That sounds painful. I can imagine it hurt a lot moving around. Glad it healed quickly for you.

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Frazzled2207 · 14/04/2022 09:07

mine was underarm too - I can imagine its harder to heal because arms moving around constantly etc

Luckily although the dressings were a PITA I wasn't in any pain at all with it once the abscess drained (was awful before then though)

Original poster
Soresoresore · 14/04/2022 18:22

I agree, an underarm abscess wound sounds difficult to manage. Rubbing against clothes for a start.

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LIZS · 14/04/2022 18:31

Dh still has a gap from 18 months ago, Mostly scarred over and fully healed but open about a finger width.

cptartapp · 14/04/2022 18:33

Twelve weeks is average.
Nurse who has dressed very many of these. Unfortunately, recurrences are quite common!

felineweird · 14/04/2022 18:37

I'm afraid mine took bloody ages, about a month 😔

felineweird · 14/04/2022 18:38

I mean that's how long I had it packed for, toom much longer than that to 'heal' and I have quite a big crater like scar

Snozzlemaid · 14/04/2022 18:43

Mine on my stomach took about 4 weeks of packing and yes I have a scar.

Pinkflipflop85 · 14/04/2022 18:48

Mine needed around 11 weeks of packing. Have ended up with the most awful raised angry scar and it still hurts at times (a year on).

Mindymomo · 14/04/2022 18:53

I had one which was about 1cm deep, it took 2 weeks of packing and changing every other day. Once it go so far, I was able to change the dressings myself.

winterchills · 14/04/2022 19:23

Nurse here and the "how long is a piece of string" is correct. Depends on your health, any comorbidities? Do you eat plenty of protein? Smoke? You could get infections that could prolong wound healing. Whoever told you that is completely correct and being honest.

LadyHelenaJustina · 14/04/2022 19:29

My daughter had one. It initially required packing, then various forms of dressing. It took 6 months to heal properly, with dressings changed every 3 days. It was initially about the size of a 20p coin, but quite deep. The hospital did a great job, and there is only minimal scarring.

Original poster
Soresoresore · 14/04/2022 19:42

@cptartapp

Twelve weeks is average. Nurse who has dressed very many of these. Unfortunately, recurrences are quite common!
Ages then! 😅 I’m a bit worried about it coming back now! It was cut out whilst I was under general anaesthetic and was initially 6cm deep. I thought maybe that meant the sac was removed too? I really hope so!
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Original poster
Soresoresore · 14/04/2022 19:44

@Pinkflipflop85

Mine needed around 11 weeks of packing. Have ended up with the most awful raised angry scar and it still hurts at times (a year on).
It’s strange because it doesn’t hurt at all now. It will definitely be interesting to see what it ends up like.
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Original poster
Soresoresore · 14/04/2022 19:49

@felineweird

I mean that's how long I had it packed for, toom much longer than that to 'heal' and I have quite a big crater like scar
I think I’m expecting a crater!

Don’t read on if squeamish

It looks like an empty eye socket (sorry everyone!) I’m wondering how the edges will close together. Maybe they don’t !

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