SAH Day 9 and nervous about taking steristrips off

It is Day 9 for me post-SAH. Have had lots more energy than I expected, which has made it hard to know if i am resting enough.

I'm supposed to take steristrips off after a week, but I've been really nervous about the incision all along and am nervous about having the incision uncovered and just out there. Is it ok to cover it with some gauze or does that defeat the purpose??

I had the steri strips and they were peeling off. I was also scared but what I did is pulled off the ones that were almost off and it didnt hurt at at all or pull anything off. I didnt put any gauze but I have been swapping the incision with alcohol after shower.

My dr told me to leave them on until they came off but they were on there good and not even peeling. At 2 and a half weeks I saw my dr and he took them off using tweezers! My tummy was still tender but it did not hurt.
After the strips were off I made sure they were towel dry after my showers. I have also been massaging them with Rosehip oil with lavender oil mixed in.

Mine were starting to peel off. I just took them off now before a shower, and there was a tiny drop of blood. Which kind of confirms my sense that I am doing too much. I've never had surgery before and the incision stuff is scaring me silly!

I let mine fall off naturally. I made sure I used soap (gentle soap) and water on them when I was in the shower. They didn't last a full week. My nurse told me to make sure I let water and soap run over the steri strips.

If you are having any drainage you can definitely place some guaze on them. Just change it everyday and give it a chance to have some air also. I also used a sanitary pad in my underwear to help with any drainage issues.

Thanks! I was told to let water run on them too. They were starting to peel off on their own. Gauze + airing sounds good.