Lumpectomy incision care questions

Options
Strawberry8
Strawberry8 Member Posts: 35
edited April 2016 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

hello, I had surgery yesterday and per doctor's instructions took the bandage off after 24 hours and showered. I noticed a little bleeding and the steristrips were not completly adhered to my skin. I noticed part of the incision through the loose steristrip, it looked a little open. The incision is on the outer part of my breast right where the weight of my breast pulls the incision downward unfortunately.

I rinsed off quickly and patted the area dry and taped some guaze over the steristrips.

I find it odd that the steristrips were applied parallel to the incision instead of across the incision to keep it closed. Should I just get more steristrips and apply them myself? My follow up appt is the 29th and I was planning to go back to work this thursday.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited March 2016

    You might call your surgeon's office and ask what they would like for you to do, and if you have the ability to text or email them a photo, it might be helpful. If you have any open area in the incision you don't want to wait until your post-op.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Strawberry8
    Strawberry8 Member Posts: 35
    edited March 2016

    thanks SpecialK, I had my husband take a look and the steristrips readhered when I dried off. So we added another piece of gauze and I will call tomorrow, the office was closed and I wouldn't call this an emergency.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • acorporatecupcake
    acorporatecupcake Member Posts: 1
    edited March 2016

    I had the same problem, I tried butterfly strips and they helped a lot.  Good  luck!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • njnancy
    njnancy Member Posts: 45
    edited March 2016

    They didn't tell me what to do about the guaze bandage. I still have it on - should i be taking it off. I did shower once (surgury was on wednesday)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sonjac323
    sonjac323 Member Posts: 1
    edited April 2016

    I just had mine on March 30th and went back for followup on the 7th. They took off the steristrips but the internal sutures are sticking out the ends. They said they will just fall off in 45 days but I'm wondering why they left the sutures sticking out of the incision? Won't that affect how it will heal? When I had a C-section, everything was inside and I could even feel the little knot at the end. I'm worried this incision will not heal in a straight line.

    Additionally, approximately 9 days after the surgery, I have begun having pain under my breast close to my abdominal muscle. When I raise my arm up, I can see something under the skin pulling from the incision to the ab muscle and it is very tender. My ab muscle on that side is also swollen. Is this normal? I called and they said to put warm compresses on it and didn't seem too worried because it's not red or anything but it is definitely very tender and I find it odd that it didn't hurt when I originally had the surgery and is only hurting now? What could it be? I almost looks as if a "ligament or tendon" is attached to my muscle and is being pulled too tight or something. I can't raise my arm up too high above my head or stretch without it hurting. Am I being too active too soon??



    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • memetriker
    memetriker Member Posts: 2
    edited April 2016

    I had a lumpectomy yesterday and haven't been in to much pain. But this afternoon, I noticed a hard lump the size of a golfball just above the incision. It is hard and hurts when touched but has no discoloration. I have called the Doctors office but being Saturday I'm still waiting on them to call me back. Should I be worried?


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lind_z
    Lind_z Member Posts: 7
    edited April 2016

    Hi memetriker,

    I had my lumpectomy surgery on the 31st of March and a few days after surgery I had a large lump appear above my incision site where my lymph nodes were removed. It wasn't painful but it was very uncomfortable. I ended up getting it drained. It's fluid build up. The fluid came back within the next couple of days though. I started to gently massage the area several times throughout the day to help it heal and the fluid eventually went away. It took several weeks before it finally went down.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories