At 2-2 1/2 weeks post TAH- what do you have on your incision?

The gauze can't be helping to hold you together, so I think you're right in ditching it if it isn't helping you. I know what you mean about the tape. I hate tape.

I'm at 9 days. Staples out on 2nd day, then steri-strips. I figure they'll fall off when they're ready. After that I'd think you'd just treat it like any other cut or wound - keep it clean and dry.

If you are no longer having draining, and incision is closed, then the gauze is not necessary at all. Make sure you wear white panties (color if it should open up may end up giving you a tatoo???) and keep it clean. The gauze may avoid a rubbing feeling, but the binder will alleviate that too. My doc sent me home from the hospital with open wound and drainage. I asked him what I should keep under the binder, and he responded "It does not have to be sterile, just clean. Gauze is ok, but don't go out and buy any. Use a washcloth, hankie if the drainage is small. You had enough antibiotics in your IV to handle any bacteria you may pick up, don't worry so much." I used hankies for about 3 or 4 days until drainage completely stopped and scabs had formed. At that point I quit wearing the binder all the time, just used a very little bit of tape to hold a gauze in place to keep clothing from rubbing, and put the binder back on when I started to hurt or got tired abdominal muscles at the end of the day.

The doc said most of the drainage was fat cells that had been cut were leaking their contents, and the incision would stay open long enough for all of that to drain. Seems to have been true.

What is a binder? Sounds interesting.

Mine is a big, stretchy cotton and elastic band that velcros around the hips/lower abdomen. It's like having a tummy pillow permanently attached. I feel better with it on, especially walking, or when I rode home in the car, and I get tired & sore less quickly. Keeps the jiggling to a minimum. Mine was pretty junky, and the velcro started failing after a few days at home. My DH picked up one of those back brace things for me from the Home Depot, and it works well. Not as soft and comfy - I wouldn't want to wear it to bed, but it still does the trick for walking around. I'm planning to wear it at week 6 or so, when I get back to riding my horse, too.

I too had a TAH and bilateral oophorectomy and a bikini cut.

The incision was only covered till the next day. I had dissolving sutures outside and inside. I can't understand why doctors do the same procedure so differently.

Is your incision oozing that you still have it covered?