reaction to tape used to cover incision??

Okay I am at a loss for an explaination for this rash. It is not a yeast infection as it doesn't itch and would be on the other thigh/groin area as well.

I keep the area clean and dry, so the only explaination I can come to is it is a reaction to the adhesive on the tape that was covering my incision. It is on the right side of my scar area and the tape was difficult to say the least to remove.

Has anyone else had this type of reaction? Normally, when I give blood or have blood tests I tell the attendee not to put on a bandaid or tape of any kind as I end up with red, sore skin from the adhesive, so I am wondering if this is the same thing?

I have to call my doctor's office in the morning, yes I know this is positing in the wee hours of the morning, but I am having trouble getting to sleep tonight.

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks

Tina

I had according to my docotr a severe allergic reaction to the gauze over my incision. He put little 2x2 gauze pads over it when he took off the steri stips. I never could figure out why. Anyway I had such a bad reaction.....I was a deep red all around the incision....and it took using a prescription creme 2 weeks to heal it up. I'v used gauze before so don't understand it. I know it wasn't the tape as I only had the tape at the ends and this was all over. Call your doctor for some kind of creme.

I had a reaction to the steri strips they put on after they removed the staples. 6 hours after they put the strips on they turned gumming and blistered. It hurt and itched really bad.

Bonnie

I understand completely. Our family has allergic reactions to adhesives. My sister had a TAH last year and she had a horrible time with the blisters, she didn't tell the doctor! I made sure when I had mine that they didn't use anything but a non-allergic type tape. Same for the blood center and for my gall bladder surgery last year. It is most painful, I have had that happen many times. When they did a stress test and a 24 hour monitor for my heart they hooked up those adhesive pads and they did nasty things to my skin. It took several days to heal up. :hair:

Glad my ob-gyn listened. He only left the gauze on for one day and he did not steri-strip at all. He glues you together and there is no need for strips or staples. It works great. Thankfully

I can't say what would be helpful for your situation, I know what the doctors have told me to use. So I would ask your ob-gyn or gp for a solution.

Good luck with your healing.

I can tell you the sleeping ordeal does change. I am not sure if it is the discomfort or the hormones, stress....but I do take an anti-anxiety to help, not cure, but help. The doctor said it would be good to do so, I am high strung and this staying in bed is a difficult thing. You are use to going and doing all day everyday, now you are to lay down or recline. Well, ask the doctor about that too.

Let us know how you are doing with this!

Queena

TAH BSO AP APPIE adeno/acute appie @ time of surgery
Jan 26, 2001

Thank you all for your advise and kind words. I called my doctor this morning and have an appointment at 11 am tomorrow. I told the nurse that the area is raw and tender to the touch. It almost looks like poision ivy but is not oozing or blistering. After I got out of the shower I took another look lifting my baby flap and you can see a perfect rectangel where the tape had been placed over my staples and gauze bandages. And the skin is still a little sticky from the adhesive. And of course my underpants rubs right on the enflamed area.

And since my ob/gyn is also my primary physician I have other things I need for him to look at as well. In the past I have had trouble with my left wrist, having a ganglion cyst removed 2x, well the IV was put into my left hand and now, it is still a little swollen-to be expected-but as I was taking my BP while waiting for my Rx to be filled my wrist swelled up and had stinging pains shooting in it. It swelled up so much that I had to take my watch off and put on my right hand. So something else to tell him as well as the trouble sleeping part.

Will let all of you know how it goes at the doctor tomorrow.

Hi Tina,
I had a bad reaction too. They took my dressing off the day after my surgery, but the two strips of tape had already burned vertical stripes on my skin. They actually hurt worse than the incision. I've been treating them with over the counter pain relieving antiseptic salve, a generic Neosporin, and one is about gone, but I believe the other is going to be a permanent scar. Thank goodness they didn't leave the tape on for 2-3 days. That stuff is horrible. Hang in there!
Kim
TAH 12/19/00

I had burns under the adhesive used to anchor my iv, and broke out and swelled up from the tournequet, it is latex, often, a new and very dangerous allergy, it is everywhere, so be careful, ladies, and tell your health care providers about your allergic reactions to tape, they can use other items, what ever happened to plain old cotton, anyway?

I am bumping this up in the hope that it helps others who are going through this.
I have six large blisters on my belly from the tape. My first shower they stung like mad, hurt more than the incision.
If you have these burns, first call your doctor for advice or to see what to put on them. Here is what I did for them:
1. DON'T WEAR ANY UNDERPANTS!! I say this because I was wearing them everyday, the blisters would stick to the underpants and then when I'd take them off, they would pull off the scab (sorry, I know this is gross subject but it is necessary). Wear a very loose nightgown or loose cotton pajama pants.
2. Try (with your doctor's permission!) some Bacitracin, lots of it, on each blister every day after showering. And be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before and after.
3. Gauze sticks to it too (see#1), so I wouldn't bother putting any on.
4. Tell anyone in the future who asks about allergies that you are sensitive to tape.

I had staples out 3 days ago, are was all red from sensitivity to staples, too, and couldn't even put steri strips on them. The doc put gauze on the incision, but of course it wouldn't stay on, so I am just keeping an eye on the incision.
Best of luck to all.

I had the same awful blistering and itching from surgical tape after a laproscopic surgery in 1998. This time I made it clear to each and every medical person I talked to that I was allergic to that tape. My DD used glue on the incision, so she didn't have to use the strips or tape at all. The nurses used a different type of tape to hold the IV in. My allergy is getting pretty bad - I can't even use bandaids any more. I suggest that if you still have adhesive left on you, use alchohol to get it off (very carefully). It will probably sting, but you have the irritant still on you and it isn't going to get better till its gone.

I also suspect I have a latex allergy. I had ended up with a horrible yeast infection type burning in my vagina after all the pre-op pelvic exams and the vaginal ultrasounds I went through - finally figured out it was probably the latex gloves, because it never actually turned into a yeast infection. Also had what looked like poison ivy welts around my "poking" arm from the latex tournicut they use to draw blood. The day of surgery, I asked the anesthesiolgist to change out the surgery setup to the non-latex equipment and this time when I woke up I wasn't raw and burning in my throat, and didn't cough up lung cookies for hours. Same anesthesia, same length of surgery, totally different reaction to it this time. I think it may have helped not having latex gloves in use inside of me too - less inflamation?

Has anyone else had this kind of problem? How do you handle it?

jenine

My kids and I have had numerous allergy problems. We've been on medicines, allergy shots and so forth. I heard about an acupuncturist that does allergy elimination treatments. What a help!!!!! It might be something you would be interested in getting more information on. I would suggest looking up NAET on the internet. Also the main website should direct you to well qualified people that are in yor area. When I had my surgery I didn't have the usual problems with tape or the electrodes they put on to monitor your heart.