I was banded 12/30 and haven't had a shower since the night before the procedure. I am required to wait 48 hrs, which I've passed. I'm just SO nervous to get the sites cleaned.

Any tips or suggestions? Thx!

My surgeon allows showers the very next day. I think you should shower--it will make you feel a lot better. Just don't spend a lot of time soaking your incision sites--if they get sprinkled, they'll be fine.Pat them dry and enjoy a fresh, clean body.

My surgery was 12/30 and I have been taking showers 2x a day- feels so nice and helped my breathing return to normal. The steam helped me cough up some ugly globs from anesthesia! I was told not to soap or scrub my incisions, though.

~Stephanie

I don't know what post-op instructions they gave you, but I was told to let the steri-strips fall off. When I could shower I just soaped the whole area (with the bar not a cloth) and rinsed. Gradually most of the strips fell off, but my skin started to itch so when the last few wouldn't fall off, I helped them. The itching was driving me crazy so I carefully applied Eucerin anti-itch moisturizing spray. Sprayed it on my fingertips and applied to the red itchy areas, but not directly on the incision. That helped. Don't worry too much about showering. You will have some small scabs that will eventually fall off. It was the itching from the steri-strips that drove me nuts. I am sensitive to the adhesive on bandages and disposable electrodes. I get an itchy rash. I don't remember any problems with showering.

As soon as you can get out and walk, and keep walking. That is my primary exercise. Until daylight savings comes back I also use Curves and Water aerobics. I walk on weekends and holidays and when I have enough daylight almost daily. I found a park near home that has a 2 mile nature trail, and I carry peanuts for the squirrels. I try to do twice around as a minimum, but if I have time I will do 3 and if really ambitious, I will do 4 times. I have gone from women's size 22 to misses 12, and from 2x scrubs (I work in a doctor's office) to medium tops and small pants. I am addicted to my walk, and get cranky if I can't go on the days I have daylight. Unless it is lightning, ice, or heavy snowfall, I am there (even in the rain). I am like a nut case jogger you see in all sorts of weather, only I do it walking, stopping to feed the squirrels, who are alway happy to see me. A little off your thread topic, but since you are newly post-op, thought I'd throw in a little extra advice. Good luck on your journey.

Edited January 2, 200917 yr by PATCHELTON

no reason why you can't shower...enjoy...it will feel great....