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I had surgery on monday, I came home last night, and I'm already so excited about this journey. I was told I could take a shower my first day home but I'm soooo anxious about getting my incisions wet and getting an infection! I'm also worried about fixing the tape/gauzes myself if they fall off. Any tips? How did you keep your incisions dry after your vsg?

Thankfully I have a removable shower head so I should be able to just avoid the area altogether. Want to hop in the shower but I need some advice first.

Also, unrelated but where I had my IV in feels like someone beat my hand to a pulp! Bumping into things or even bending my hand in some positions hurts, was anyone else this sore in the area of their IV?

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It should be fine to shower.. if it worries you too much you can put some extra dressing whilst you shower then take it off.

The pain where the IV is normal... i had a bruised pain for around 2 weeks... i think i irritated the area whilst doing my laps around the ward with my IV in.. it will go away

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Just be sure to use a clean towel and washcloth until they look like they wounds are sealed. I got Water proof band-aids at Walgreen's and put those on for the first week just because I'm paranoid. It wasn't a problem though, the glue worked well. But heck, I shaved my chest and stomach because I didn't want bald Patches. Talk about itching.

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I had steristrips. I was told not to let my incisions soak forever in the shower stream and not to scrub hard over them, but I had no problems.

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You can also get surgical soap from pharmacy. I put it on my incisions but do not rub.

Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

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I'm getting sleeved 8/1 and take my kids to a pond to play. How long do you think I should wait before going in that kind of Water? I mean, it's clean, but it's still a pond, not a pool.

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Just be sure to use a clean towel and washcloth until they look like they wounds are sealed. I got Water proof band-aids at Walgreen's and put those on for the first week just because I'm paranoid. It wasn't a problem though, the glue worked well. But heck, I shaved my chest and stomach because I didn't want bald Patches. Talk about itching.

oh no! shaving! I bet it *did* itch! yikes, I think I'd take the bald Patches instead. :lol:

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I'm getting sleeved 8/1 and take my kids to a pond to play. How long do you think I should wait before going in that kind of Water? I mean, it's clean, but it's still a pond, not a pool.

You definitely need to ask your surgeon but I would think 6-8 weeks for standing water. I'm not sure I'd take any chances sooner.

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I'm getting sleeved 8/1 and take my kids to a pond to play. How long do you think I should wait before going in that kind of Water? I mean, it's clean, but it's still a pond, not a pool.

I was told not to submerge in water until my incisions had completely healed with no holes. It was about 4 weeks or so.

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I was told I could shower but not have the Water hit my stomach directly. I stood with my back to the Water. I patted dry my gauze coverings. I only lost 1 before my 2 week post op.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

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This may sound crazy but when I had stitches in my knee I was told to wrap the knee with a plastic bag... If your super concerned might not be the best feeling but I would cut a plastic bag, like a kitchen garbage bag and tape it across until your finished showered... It's better than stressing about infections...

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Edited by nyteacher125

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I have had two previous surgeries-one for burst appendix and one for hernias. I remember putting press and seal over my bandages. It worked really well.

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@@Aliel84 whenever you are released to go in the bath or swimming would be fine. I started using coconut oil in that area at 4 weeks.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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