Help, I had a hematoma removed and I think it might be infected. Can you please !


Question: Help, I had a hematoma removed and I think it might be infected. Can you please give me some advice?
I THINK it might be infected, but I cannot (at this time) afford the $60 office visit to follow up with the doctor. I had it removed one week ago, tomorrow. It was healing just fine, I followed the post-op instructions to a "T". I left the bandage on for 24 hours, washed it with soap and water (gently) twice a day, and put petroleum jelly on it to keep it from drying out.

Twice today I took my bandaid off, and the bandage looks tinged and a little discolored, not like it looked in the days previously. I took the bandage off today and dabbed some toilet paper on it, and a light yellowish color was on it (very light). Should I clean it with peroxide? Should I leave the bandage and petroleum jelly off and let it dry out (going against post-op instructions), or should I keep going with the post op instructions?

It was the diameter of a pencil eraser. I have been diligent about the post op care because I did not want to risk and infection during my pregnancy, but it was medically necessary to remove the hematoma since it kept spontaneously bleeding and was growing at a rapid rate.

Answers:

The yellowish color could be serum, which would be normal. Peroxide probably wouldn't hurt. I might try some triple antibiotic ointment or Bacitracin ointment instead of petroleum jelly. Letting it dry out at this point and at that size seems okay, too.

But if the edges of the wound get swollen and/or reddened, if there's a bad smell coming from it, or if it's very warm to the touch, call your doctor.




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