Following Up With My Surgeon
[ Wednesday April 15th 2026 at 4:13 pm ]
Things have taken a turn for the worse in preparation for having my right knee joint replaced. At this moment the outcome hasn't been determined.
I had blood work done on April 10th 2026. I am fighting an infection. To be clear the infection isn't out of control. My life isn't in danger. The problem is that I don't have a cough, cold, flu or coronavirus symptoms. By process of elimination the next possible source of infection is the fluid that is still draining from my April 2nd 2025 incision.
When I had the appointment with my surgeon on March 23rd 2026 we discussed the operation to surgically address this and to replace my right knee joint. My right knee joint affects my activities each day (like getting food). The fluid draining is annoying. It hurts. But it isn't having the biggest impact. At that time a small opening from my incision would occur, about a teaspoon of fluid would come out and the incision would be closed again within a few hours.
Just over 2 weeks later the open became 6mm or ¼". It was open for about 5 days. Now I have an opening that is 1cm or ⅜". I started feeling this last night. I had a dreadful time trying to unwind from how painful this was. It felt like I was getting a paper cut each time I moved. It was sufficiently unpleasant. But this isn't dangerous.
If the incision is opening, spitting out a bit of seroma fluid and then immediately closing it isn't a concern leaving it to be surgically addressed. But having an open wound is much different. Statistically there is a 76% chance of infection after 2 weeks. This may force my surgeon to perform my seroma surgery first.
I have just done as my family doctor requested. I have followed up with his office. Now I wait for my surgeon to make a decision. I have only included the facts, the blood work report and the logistics I have in place for next week.
If my body needs the seroma surgically addressed because the situation evolved I understand. I would need to talk to the hospital about getting some practical help until my right knee joint can be replaced. But I didn't want to sway my surgeons opinion with my own preferences.