Tape over Incision

[Latindancermom]

I have my first follow up appointment since surgery tomorrow. But I'm curious...I forgot what they said about the tape strips that are horizontal across my incision. I thought they told me that that tape would come off on its' own? Or will they pull it off tomorrow during my appointment? What do they generally do on the first appointment after surgery?

[lelc2002@yahoo]

Hi---my tape pieces are still on the top(under my arm) part of my big incision. They have'nt fallen off yet. I was told to leave them on until they come off by themselves..... I had surgery Aug. 1st.........Ly

[Latindancermom]

Thanks for the info! I had my surgery August 8th. I really wish they'd fall off soon.

[bbest]

My steri-strips itched so bad, I would scratch around them and actually peeled some of them off. No harm done, my incisions were closed.

[HGD24]

I was also told the steri strips would fall off on their own or if a couple were peeling off, my hubby could gently remove them the rest of the way. I think only a couple of the actually came off on their own. My surgeon removed the rest at my 3 or 4 week appt. I found that the breathing exercises that I learned at my hospital's relaxation class helped me get through the removal. Although it didn't really hurt, it was uncomfortable, like having a bunch of band aids taken off. I found that short, quick breaths out while each was removed helped take my mind off of it.

[slprncess]

My steri strips itched so bad because i found out i had a allergic reaction to the adheasive on them so my dr said it would be ok to take them off. He said that by the two week point the incision should be closed up and it is so no harm done!
Now i have to deal with the itching still and raw skin. Yay!!

[sweetness514]

My first surgery, they all came off by themselves. This last surgery half came off and the other half were half way off but after three weeks and seeing that they were not coming all off by themselves my hubby carefully peeled them off, and it really helped me with the itchiness and even pain, as they was causing me some weird pain/numbness. I did this after I read in David Wolpert's book that after three weeks it's okay to take them off.