TAH Incision care

Hello, for those of you ladies with larger abdominal incisions, how long until you washed the incisions? At my preop app't, my doc said that he wanted me to use peroxide daily to clean the incision. But I am still inpatient and my 1st shift nurse said that was not in the doctors orders. Earlier today he was here and said showers, no baths. (that's it!) he did tell me and the nurse to press a pad onto the incision. So I just went to rest room, and got blood all over, I think it is from incision, not from my vag. Any of you have no bleeding from vag? Thanks so much for letting me ask any question, however personal and maybe gross. Please answer. Thanks.

My doctor wanted the incision to stay dry for 48 hours. I didn't shower the first day after the operation due to nausea issues. The second day, the nurse put tegaderm (sticky plastic sheet) over the incision before my shower and then took it off after. Then after that, I was to simply shower and let the soapy water run over it. I was not to scrub or touch it in any other way except to dry it well after the shower. I had subcutaneous stitches and steristrips to close the incision. The steristrips mostly came off after 3 weeks. Hope this helps.

Yes Danni, thank you so much. The Resident asked to have my dressings removed early this am. No tagaderm, but I did have that for a spinal surgery before. Interesting stuff that is.

I have a bikini line incision and had staples. My instructions were to wash with soap and water when I showered but to pat, not rub, the area. Also pat dry with a towel. Doc had me remove my bandage in the shower and I showered the first day after surgery. My staples were removed and glue and steri strips were applied and I was told to continue to wash as I had been. Dr. said the strips should start coming off in 7 days and if any were left on the 10th day to soap them up really well and gently remove them. I think I had about 12 steri-strips and had to remove 5 of them.