Bandages?! Off When?

[wnicoleb 25]

Ok this may be a dumb question but I can't get a hold of my surgeon and I'm not sure when to pull off my bandages?! I'm 4 days post-op ... Should they be off? Can I shower w them off? Should I take them off and place new ones ontop?! Ahhhh someone help! One of them fell off and I'm about to shower should I cover it or leave it?

[NerdyMHC 76]

I'm not a medical expert, but I am 3 days post-op and I took them off today to take a shower. My husband is an RN and told me that as long as the incisions have a hard scab over them that it would be okay to shower. My surgeon said to make sure to use unscented soap so as to not irritate the incisions. I took off all of the bandages and used my hands to apply the soap, softly rubbing over the incisions and my entire stomach. I patted dry when I got out of the shower and only applied bandages to where my drain was taken out because it had not fully scabbed and to the incision right under my boobs, so it didn't get rubbed. The rest I left unbandaged, put a clean shirt on and then put my binder over that. I hope this helps!

[NerdyMHC 76]

If you have steri-strips, make sure not to mess with those until they come off by themselves!

[wnicoleb 25]

Um yes that was tons of help!!! I had surgery a day before u so I think I'll be ok to remove them!! That's awesome thanks for the quick thorough response!! Good luck to you!! ...oh wait another question have u been eating ok and have u been having gas pains?!

[Tink22-sleeve 528]

I agree with Nerdy.

I am a nurse, also.

[wnicoleb 25]

Thanks people!! I'm taking them off as we speak!!!

[NerdyMHC 76]

The surgical gas pains are gone. It seems like I really only get intestinal gas pains when I take too big of a drink and then it kind of flares up to my chest and I know that I need to take a couple of minutes before drinking again, and to take smaller drinks. It's hard for me because I haven't found a Protein drink that I really like yet so I try to drink it down as fast as possible...I am learning that doing this is actually making it last longer because I have to constantly stop drinking because of the flare ups...lol...Long story short, yes and no to the gas pains...

As far as eating...My doctor put me on full liquids after getting out of the hospital and in my huge bariatric packet that I got from my nutritionist is a sample menu for the day that lists when to drink what. I follow this, only changing the content of the meals. It has helped me to make sure that I am getting all of my liquids, Protein shakes, and Vitamins in. It takes me almost an hour to get down 8 ounces of Protein shake, about half an hour to get down 8ozs of Water, and about half an hour to get down my meals, which range from 2-4 ounces.

I just really pay attention to my stomach. If it makes ANY kind of gurgling, flare up, or does anything out of the ordinary, I take that as a sign that I am getting full. I haven't felt the full feeling that I am used to, but I also haven't really felt hungry and it doesn't bother me to stop eating at these times. I eat because I have to and almost find it to be almost a nuisance.

I hope you get something out of all of this rambling! lol...Let me know if you have any more questions!