I know this is a question for my surgeon but it's Sunday morning and nobody is there. I had my surgery on Oct 19th (woo hoo!) and I saw my surgeon for a follow up on the 22nd. At that time he took off the bandages over my incision sites except for where the Port is. The other incision sites are not infected and haven't re-opened or anything, but they are just red and sore and a little itchy- I guess from healing. I wanted to put some anti-biotic ointment on them, but he didn't instruct me to. Maybe he just wants the air to hit them- I don't know. I feel like I'm overthinking this. Anti-biotic ointment can't be a bad thing. I'll call the office tomorrow and ask- but I was still wondering if anyone else was instructed either way to use it or not.

Hey, this sounds too familiar...lol. I was banded the same day as well. Almost same stats as well, freaky. I went fri to remove top bandage covers and all small tape over the 4 small holes were taken off, only port side longer one is still "taped". I asked my PA about the same thing and she told me was that an antibioic cream with pain relief will not only keep skin "moist", but aid in healing time as well as cut down on itching due to the pain relief additive. Hope the eases doubts and helps you out. good luck!!

Hey there- I had my surgery on the 14th of october.....I had the opposite advice from the PA at the office.....she said they would prefer to let the incisions air/dry out.??? Mine have surgical glue covering them. They said to wash with soap and water two times a day/pat dry. I guess it can be different with everybody. Good luck!!!!:thumbup:

Thanks. I ended up putting a little on and I'll call the office tomorrow. I'm so happy to meet other October Bandsters! Best of luck with both of you.

Hi, I also had my band done on 10/19/09! My doctor didn't take off my badages I took off the outer one on Friday and still have the tape which i was told to let it come off by itself. I will have my first apt with the Dr. on Wed. 10/28

I also had my band on Oct. 19th 2009. I didn't have any bandages my wounds were just Durmabonded (Superglued) together. I had a problem with my cuts being itchy so I started taking liquid Benadryl. It stopped the itching and It helps me sleep at night.

I was banded on the 20th! I have a question regarding how you feel doing the 4 oz/hour process. I don't feel nauseous but i have this feeling in the back of my throat that I just can't place. Anyone know what I am talking about?

And I was specifically told to let the steri-strips stay on my incisions until they fell off on their own and not to put anything on the incisions after the steri-strips fell off. And, of course, call the doctor if the incisions felt hot, etc.

I called the office. They said to let the port bandage fall off on it's own and don't touch it. As for the other incision sites, I could put a little ointment on it if I feel like I'm going to scatch. Above all, don't scratch they said! Well- duh I knew that. But in a few days stop with the ointment and let them heal naturally. I go back on the 5th so they'll take a look then but come in if any signs of infection or fever.

I'm not sure what the 4oz an hour process is. I'm curious, what is that? They prefer I have 3 meals a day and one snack, but since I had extra swelling in the area from the hernia repair (it was sizable) they understood it was taking me longer to drink my Protein shakes. When I move to mushies, they'd like me to end my meal after 30 min. so I don't overeat and graze all day. I think the swelling went down because today is the first day my tummy growled and I ate (drank?) more Soup than I have in the past few days. A little less than 1/2 cup soup. My biggest problem is staying hydrated. I'm supposed to drink 64 oz Water per day! I'm bringning my water bottle everywhere and sipping all day and only getting 25- 30oz. Water has never made me so gassy before! I burp after every sip and I take little sips. Everthing is making me gassy. I'm afraid to go back to work tomorrow.:wink2:

Deekel - I have to drink 4 oz of clear liquids every hour, very slowly because the 4 oz must last the whole hour. Three of these hours includes my protein shakes which I treat as "Meals". This is a difficult task because you are constantly looking at the clock. I went back to work today and did not do that well with this!

Colls, I had a sore/dry patch in the back of my throat for a few days. I chalked it up to the oxygen drying out my throat. I didn't ask about it but it went away. Definately call your surgeon if it persists.

Deekel - I have to drink 4 oz of Clear liquids every hour, very slowly because the 4 oz must last the whole hour. Three of these hours includes my Protein shakes which I treat as "Meals". This is a difficult task because you are constantly looking at the clock. I went back to work today and did not do that well with this!

Wow, I'm sure your surgeon feels this is for the best but I wouldn't do well trying to time 4oz per hour. I'd drink too fast or slow. Or I'd get wrapped up in something at work and get my timing all wrong. Good luck. I look forward to seeing how we all do!

Hi all! I had my surgery October 8th and its interesting how different all the instructions can be. I had the laproscopic proceedure done outpatient and left with only the glue. I was told we could shower but to face away from the water stream and to let the water and soap flow over but to keep my back to the water flow. They told me not to put any kind of cream at all on my stomache and to not touch or pick at the glue at all and to just let the glue fall off over time and when it does not to pick the scabs.

Well I am over two weeks out and things seem to be healing very well and at the three week point was told we can take a bath if we wanted to. I want to wait though until the bigger incision right above the belly button is very clearly healed.:wink2:

Seems that this past friday which is just two weeks past surgery for me I turned a corner and started to feel great with my energy back, tacking house cleaning projects and I even danced this weekend. So hang in there and soon you will be dancing too.

Hi guys, I hope you don't mind me joining your thread. I was banded 10/20/09. My doctor prescribed a tube of cream called Recoveron-NC for my incisions and told me to apply it 2 times a day. The strips that were on the incision fell off yesterday. My incisions are a little red around the cuts and there doesn't seem to be any swelling. Today I ate a can of clam chowder I put in a blender and liquified first. Man that sure tasted better than chicken broth, It's nice to hear your experiances it sure helps me knowing I'm not the only one in the world going through this.

Thanks for your imput

Bob M.:wink2:

Edited October 26, 200916 yr by BOB M.

Mine itch and are red also, the strips came off about a week ago but they are red and itch.

I was banded on the 20th! I have a question regarding how you feel doing the 4 oz/hour process. I don't feel nauseous but i have this feeling in the back of my throat that I just can't place. Anyone know what I am talking about?

I have been having the exact same issue-what the heck is going on? also re bandages-I took them off my self and re butterflied an area I was not happy with-just did it-I'm an EMT. Also put polysporin on the 3/4 healed incision. Now i put vitamin E on the scars. Mine are not nice-long (in my mind 2") it-(checked with doc)