Hello all. I made it through the surgery and now I'm on my to recovery and losing :-) . Thanks for all of your well wishes. I feel as though a really large truck has run over me, backed up and then run over me again. I don't really have a lot of pain, just a lot of soreness. The puncture sites are getting very itchy. Are we allowed to apply ointment of any kind? That was the one question I forgot to ask my surgeon about.

The hospital staff were great. Surgery was supposed to start at 12:45 pm, however there was some issue or another and I did not go into OR until about 3pm. Next thing I remember it was almost 8 pm and I was waking up in my room. My husband and son spent the night with (hospital had a sleep sofa, that was unexpected but cool). The contrast die for the leak test was totally gross. I could not wait to get some Water, ice chips and a tooth brush.

Ii was discharged around 2:30pm.

Now its time for a nap :-) .

Hello all. I made it through the surgery and now I'm on my to recovery and losing :-) . Thanks for all of your well wishes. I feel as though a really large truck has run over me, backed up and then run over me again. I don't really have a lot of pain, just a lot of soreness. The puncture sites are getting very itchy. Are we allowed to apply ointment of any kind? That was the one question I forgot to ask my surgeon about.

The hospital staff were great. Surgery was supposed to start at 12:45 pm, however there was some issue or another and I did not go into OR until about 3pm. Next thing I remember it was almost 8 pm and I was waking up in my room. My husband and son spent the night with (hospital had a sleep sofa, that was unexpected but cool). The contrast die for the leak test was totally gross. I could not wait to get some Water, ice chips and a tooth brush.

Ii was discharged around 2:30pm.

Now its time for a nap :-) .

I would ask your surgeon about the ointment but we were not allowed to. They did not want us using any petroleum based products on the incisions. I was instructed to use a saline based wound wash 3 times a day and then anti bacterial soap in the shower. My incisions healed nicely with no issues.

Congratulations on getting through the surgery and back home! My surgeon will not allow me to put anything on the incisions. However, he did tell me that I could take benedryl for the itching. I would ask your surgeon though before doing it just to be sure.

I see him tomorrow to have the drain removed so I'll ask him then. Thanks

Welcome to the other side! (did anyone get the license plate of that truck?)

As I understand it (and from my personal knowledge ..I'm a wound specialist) you should not put any ointments on your incisions even antibacterial ointments because they can actually trap bacteria underneath the petroleum based ointment and in your incision. Stitches are best when allowed to dry. Itching is a good sign healing is taking place. Using saline or wound wash is ok, you can keep it in the fridge so it cools off and then apply it cool with gauze to help the itching. But dont over do it. You want them to dry out, dont keep them wet all the time.

Definetly ask your surgeon what is his preferred wound care protocol, they should've dicussed that upon discharge, but nevertheless, ask again, that's what they are there for.

Take care!

Eileen

Good to hear that you are doing well, I know the soreness can be kinda annoying- but you've got this!

Hey Virtlygirl, glad to see you made it to the otherside! Hope your itching settles down. I hate itching! Hopefully you will be able to take some benadryl.

And as far as that truck goes...next week i will try to steer clear of it when it is my turn but I gotta feeling it is going to find me!