stitches, showering and dressing...

[northcountrymamma]

So I just had to have a large mole removed under my right breast...I'm pregnant and my belly and breasts are quite in contact (if that makes any sense). My doctor told me that I could put vitamin e on the sutures to help with healing and take the dressing off for sleep but she didn't mention (and I forgot to ask) if I can get it wet or not (ie. shower). I also don't know what kind of dressing to put on it, tight to not let air in, or lose to expose it to air for healing...

I plan to call tomorrow for more clarification, but as for the morning, just trying to think through what to do when getting ready for the day (work).

it's also quite sensitive and I'm not sure about sleeping tonight...everytime my skin rubs up against it (ie. my breast), it is a shocking painful feeling. Is there anything I can do for pain to ease my sleep...I'm already having a hard time sleeping as it is....

just looking for any advice you wise folks have?

[Otto]

Originally Posted by northcountrymamma

So I just had to have a large mole removed under my right breast...I'm pregnant and my belly and breasts are quite in contact (if that makes any sense). My doctor told me that I could put vitamin e on the sutures to help with healing and take the dressing off for sleep but she didn't mention (and I forgot to ask) if I can get it wet or not (ie. shower).

I've had a couple of minor but, ah, "delicate" dermatologic surgeries in the past two months, and the advice has been to keep them dry for 48 hours. The dressing routine has been to clean the areas twice daily with saline, apply petroleum jelly (vitamin E would probably be similar), and cover with Telfa and an appropriately sized adhesive bandage. No OTC topical antibiotics. (This was for absorbable sutures.)

[katelove]

Once it is more than 48hrs old you can get it wet in the shower. In fact you should get it wet. Wash it once a day with whatever you use to wash yourself normally and make sure you pat it dry thoroughly afterwards. Generally you can leave stitches open to the air after 48hrs as well but, as yours are rubbing, then I would suggest covering with a clean, dry dressing. Something which has adhesive around the edges and a non-stick pad in the middle is probably easiest. I don't know what the brands would be in the US but you should be able to get something at the chemist.

We don't normally recommend putting any creams or ointments on suture lines (the face is sometimes an exception to this) but, if your Dr has advised you to then I would do what I have suggested above plus whatever ointment regime has been prescribed.

Regarding the pain when sleeping, does it resolve if you cover the stitches with a dressing? If not then you could try rolling up a small towel and tucking it under your breast to separate the two surfaces.

All the best, I hope it's all healed up soon.

Kate