Removing Steri Strips & Swelly Bellly

I am 10 days Post OP today and doing very well. Very little pain left. I have only been on MOTRIN 600 since the day after surgery, no narcotis. I ventured out to my sons basketball game on Tuesday evening, and that went well, a little sore after sitting on hard bleachers for 2 hours, but ok now. I drove a couple of blocks today to get my hair cut and was fine, no pain when I hit brakes, (still won't go to far though). So anyway back to my question......Can I remove my steri Strips? I had Ab Supracervical Hyst. My staples came out last Friday, and they put about 10 steri strips over my incision. Today I looked at it and the incision is completely Closed, so I took off 3 strips and I want to know it its ok to take them all off? I am just now able to see my incision.....My Swelly Belly was SO Huge I couldn't even see my incision or move my belly to see it, gone done about half way, but still annoying! I want my normal belly back.......how long can I expect to stay swollen? Thanks for all your support, Ladies!!! Sarah

Hi Sarah,

I had steri-strips from the beginning, no staples. But the DR told me to remove them after 10 days. I actually didn't remove them because she called me in to the office and removed them herself. I would call the dr on that though because you don't want to take them off too soon.

The swelling....I think it lasts for awhile unfortunately I had an abdominal hyst and I was swollen and the dr told me she was surprised I wasnt more swollen than I was. So I think just the inflammation inside, all the stitches and the trapped gas just makes it swell up. Reading some of the other ladies posts, it takes a couple months!