OMG ... and I swore I wouldn't ...

[sccrm08]

Michele,

I was allowed to shower as soon as I went home at 10 days, but my husband had to put waterproof bandages down my back everytime i showered. We were not allowed to get it wet until the stitches were removed.

[Geish]

I have been helping Sam shampoo her hair in the shower all week. She has been taking showers everyday since she got home last Monday. The hot water really seems to help her back pain. In just reading your postings I'm thinking that maybe I misunderstood the doctor and she wasn't supposed to get her back wet. I was a little loopy from lack of sleep when he gave us the discharge instructions, so that is a definite possibility. HELP PLEASE. Tell me what your surgeons said. Good news is she is still together!!!
- Michele

I was cleared to get the incision wet at 13 days post op. I'm sure Sam is going to be just fine.

[rosie1108]

I showered 6 days post op

I went home after 5 days, and I could shower the day after that. They said not to allow the shower to spray directly on the back until a week or more, but to just get suds on a loofah and allow it to run down the incision and rinse it using a cup and pour water down. All my stitches were dissolving on the inside and there were about 30 little pieces of tape going across the incision. I never wore any other dressings or bandages on the incision, so it may depend on that.
Hope this helps!
Roseann

[samsmom]

Thanks everyone,

Sam has dissolving stitches and they also used some type of glue. She had a bandage on when we left the hospital 6 days post-op. The doctor said to remove the bandages the following day and not put any other dressing on. He did say to try and face forward in the shower, but if you are shampooing long hair it is inevitable that the back gets wet.

Maybe the disovling stitches are ok to get wet but not regular. Either way we are going in 2 days for her 2 week check-up and she is doing well.
- Michele

[DebbieM]

OK.....Back to IT!!! Im am fused to the sacrum and I am 4 months post op and I still cannot bend over to w_ _ _ . OMG I cannot believe I just let that out but, what if I am out somewhere and I have to IT . Then what????? How long post op until I can bend????????

[Geish]

Debbie I am fused to the sacrum as well, but not quite as high up as you, only to T4. I was given a special tool to help me out but I don't seem to need it any more. I have no idea how, but I am just barely able to reach to take care of myself. I think it was sure grit and determination on my part. That and watching my 15 year old roll her eyes when I needed help. Anyway, if you go to www.sammonspreston.com there is a tool they sell that folds up to carry in your purse. It is item #EAA26-52 and runs $36.75 (highway robbery, I know, but it might be worth it). The tool I was given was item #E6629-01. We took the sponge off and it worked wonders with toilet paper wrapped around it. I hope this helps.
Alicia
PS I found cottonelle disposable/flushable wipes to be a blessing!

[Susie*Bee]

Debbie-- Yes, that's a hard one to talk about for sure. I thought I would need one of those toilet aids, back when I was in the hospital. Even now sometimes I think it would make it simpler... but I do ok. Our arms just don't seem quite long enough, do they? I'm not fused to the sacrum-- T2-L4--but it's still a long way when you don't have any flexibility. The hospital had suggested that one Geish cited... and the folding one folds to just 4 1/2". Good luck!