The days after Fibroadenoma removal surgery?

Alexandra101

Hi again!

I'm two days out of surgery and I just have some questions that maybe anyone can relate to? First off, surgery went great. He said I'd be able to lift after the weekend and my trip in 8 days would be no problem. I'm only concern is the nurse gave my after care instructions verbally and I can't really remember them all?

She said leave the bandage in place for 48hrs then you can shower. Today marks 48hrs so I took off my bandage to see 4-5 steri strips neatly placed on and half of them soaked in dry brown blood. I called my surgeons office to make sure that I don't remove them and she confirmed. She said its my choice if I want to cover the wound after my shower again? Honestly I worried about bleeding but the hospital never gave me any other bandages? It's not a problem to pick them up I just wish the nurse explained to me more on how long I should keep covering the wound up. I managed not to get the steri strips wet, just a couple drops and I am leaving them in place. How long was it before anyone steri strips fall off? I'm assuming you just let them fall off? I also have dissolveable stitches, how long did it take for them to dissolve for anyone? I should clean off then brown dry blood right? Just leave it be?

plumster1

I am not sure if this is quite the same. But, for my biopsy, they said just leave the steri strips on for 5 days...ok to get wet. Then I could take them off.

ironmagnolia

Alexandra101--I was a postpartum nurse for years and steri-strips are OK to get wet, they usually start to fall off themselves in about 5-7 days. Its good to allow the warm soapy water to flow over the wound. After you shower, pat the area dry, and you can also use your blow dryer to dry the wound more if you want. It's most likely OK to allow the incision to be exposed to the air, it will aid in healing. Report any redness, swelling, or pain at the site which is new, red streaks from the incision,or fever over 100.4.

Hope this helps.

Sandra

Alexandra101

Thank-you! That makes sense. I just just nervous to see the dry brown blood over them. When I shower in a couple days again I'll won't be so nervous to get them wet!

Anonymous

they told me to just let the steri strips fall off by themselves in 7-10 days. Just to let the water run over them, not to scrub the area. I ended up putting a little gauze pad over the area, just for comfort, so the edge of the bra wouldn't irritate the incision. My surgeon saw me for follow-up on day 10, and had to remove a stitch that didn't dissolve on it's own.

Anne

Anonymous

they told me to just let the steri strips fall off by themselves in 7-10 days. Just to let the water run over them, not to scrub the area. I ended up putting a little gauze pad over the area, just for comfort, so the edge of the bra wouldn't irritate the incision. My surgeon saw me for follow-up on day 10, and had to remove a stitch that didn't dissolve on it's own.

Anne