I had a skin abscess on my upper thigh area where it joins the butt. It was about 2-3 inches deep when I had it drained. Followed Drs. orders and packed open wound for 3 weeks and took meds (Avelox - 7 days). Went to all follow up. Called at 40 day marked when I still had drainage (yellow/brown and blood and was given Avelox again for 7 days. Went back 6 weeks after I & D and was told that wound was infected and given 14 days of Avelox combined with 14 days of Flagyl. Wound had moderate drainage for first 10 days (thin brown/yellow which turned to straw color mixed with blood). On the tail end of antibiotic therapy now and wound now has scant blood drainage and very little clear to yellowish drainage - very very mild discomfort at site (more like an irritated scar). What is the normal healing time after I & D in this area? Should I be looking for another Dr. at this point since I am still not healed?

I was a home health nurse and saw many wounds that APPEAR to sound similar to yours.

Abscesses and draining wounds take time to heal. The priority is to keep the site clean, do the care exactly as specified in as clean an environment as possible. Getting a close family member or friend to help monitor progress and do some wound care and assessment is always a good idea as well.

It can take a couple weeks to a couple months depending on the site, how much movement it takes, the nutritional status of the patient, the resting working pattern of the patient, etc.

Your doctor seems to be following up and doing the right things, but you are always welcome to get a second opinion.

Don't give up, but be very attentive to your needs and what the progress is. As I said, if getting another opinion would help, go for it. But at least ask the previous doctor for his clinical notes for the new doctor to compare to them.

Sherasi, RN