Bandages for how long?

[hdd55146 29]

How many days did you clean and put new bandages on your wounds? How long did it take before they were healed enough for maybe just Neosporin w/o being covered?

[Elode 8,093]

Mine never where covered. I had staples though, do you have staples? The only thing I changed was the dressing on my my JP drain site. @@hdd55146

Edited January 1, 2015 by Elode

[FrankyG 1,450]

I had two layers of bandages. Top layer was a large bandage, they said I could take them off after 3 days, but the steri-strips underneath needed to stay on until my first follow up appointment. Two of them fell off before then, so I put bandaids on to keep them from getting rubbed by clothing, and the doc took off the others the day of the checkup. She said I could leave a bandaid on the one that is up on my bra line (where my underwire would rub it) until it was completely healed and not in danger of getting rubbed raw from wearing a bra.

I had no external stitches or staples - all glued shut. No drain sites either. I had an internal stitch where they pulled out the stomach part tho.

Edited January 1, 2015 by FrankiesGirl

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

I had steri strips that I left on until they fell off. Took about a week.

[Tauruslady5 154]

No bandages here. They used a special purple glue that came off within one week.

I am in CT, where is everyone else from that they had staples and bandages?

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

Philly and I and steri strips

[hdd55146 29]

I think mine were glued except for my drain site. There's just a big bandage on it that I was told to change daily after showering. I guess I better do it until I'm sure it has healed. Better safe than sorry.

[Aranks 94]

I had only steristrips covered with bandaids. Took the bandaids off when I got home and 4 days post op my surgeon removed my steristrips. After that in just put neosporin unless my pants were rubbing or I wore a fitted shirt I'd throw a bandaid on.

[ready2livenow 19]

I had 6 incisions. 5 had glue with no covering and one (the largest where the stomach was removed and a drain was placed) had a gauze covering that I changed everyday until the drain was removed (12 days). Now I keep the drain site (drain removed Tuesday) covered until the incision site is completely scabbed up. Nurse practitioner said should be about 3 days. After that everything will remain uncovered and will keep an eye out for any sudden changes. Each incision is still sore.

Once the scabs are gone and appear more healed, I'll start a scar lightening cream.

[Tauruslady5 154]

I think mine were glued except for my drain site. There's just a big bandage on it that I was told to change daily after showering. I guess I better do it until I'm sure it has healed. Better safe than sorry.

It seems like alot of people also had a drain site. My surgeon did not do that either. Why would they do that when there is absolutely no medical reason to do that? I ask my surgeon this before my surgery and that was his answer.

[Lindsey Skinner Abbott 97]

My surgeon said he does the drain in case their is a leak the infection would go into the drain instead of my body. He said many surgeons do not use a drain after they have done hundreds/thousands of surgeries. I guess it is just how they surgeon feels. I am not thrilled about the drain but it made sense to me.

[athena3127 199]

Stapled in Kentucky here

[WL WARRIOR 690]

I was stapled and had no drain. Like someone said above, my surgeon had done nearly a thousand surgeries and no longer felt putting in a drain was necessary.

My staples were covered with steri strips and large band-aids. The nurse took them off before going home on the third day. It stung a little to have them ripped off so early. When the strips and band-aids were being taken off the largest incision (where the stomach was pulled out), I freaked out. It felt like my insides were going to spew out as she tugged the dressing off.

I was told to let hot soapy Water run over the incisions during the next five days until the staples were taken out at my one week follow up.

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

It seems like alot of people also had a drain site. My surgeon did not do that either. Why would they do that when there is absolutely no medical reason to do that? I ask my surgeon this before my surgery and that was his answer.

I was more comfortable with having a drain. When I had my hysterectomy I didn't have a drain and developed a nasty abcess post op even though I was walking daily. My drain was pulled at discharged so I didn't have to worry about caring for it at home.

[Justoperated 141]

My bandages were removed before discharge. Had no drain. Was advised to use soap & Water. Inaddition to that I cleaned daily with 70% alcohol. Had no issues.