Issues removing wound dressing at home (due to pandemic)

Hi Polar Bear

I am a nurse and I change dressings all the time ( not mastectomy ones though) 

Sorry to hear you have had this operation and at such a time as well. Removing the dressing yourself and in your own home has reduced the risk of infection to almost nothing. 

My advice is to leave the steri strips alone, they will soak/ wear off and the whole area will look more tidy and settled day by day. Just have your usual shower /bath and clean soft tee shirt and you will be fine.

well done for doing this alone, not an easy thing to do...you have done great xxx

Thank you, Snowys Mum. I’ll leave what’s left of the strip attached. I have an appointment next Thursday to find out the treatment I’m going to need so no doubt they will take a look at the wound then. It was very good for you to contact me. I feel a little bit more in control. It’s very discombobulating being told you have cancer. You think you know how you’ll react then, wham, your body and mind react almost involuntarily! 
Best wishes x

Polar Bear I hope your next treatment is doable. Rads and tablets were not too hard for me 5 years ago.

I well remember the dressing coming off and it was only a lumpectomy. Not an easy time. But I am all back in the swing of things now working and the BC is just something in the past. You will get there xxx

Polar Bear I had to remove my dressings too after mastectomy, scary but fine in the end. I had a couple of steri strips attached too but as  Snowys Mum has said they do eventually disappear. x

That’s good to know. Thank you, Bramble22. It was kind of you to contact me. x

Thanks for the encouragement! Waiting to hear is stressful. I’m glad you’ve come out the other side and things are going well for you. x

Polar Bear

Just wanted to say well done in removing the bandages yourself, its not to be underestimated.  I was lucky that my ops snuck in pre cv nonsense so didn't have to fanny around with bandage removal at an early stage as you are...and am very grateful too.  So am impressed by any one who has to do this now as with what's gone on in that area, numbness, goo and the like it takes a brave person....and I'm a tough northerner (though think lockdown down south is starting to erode that....).

Good luck with recovery.

Sam

Thank you Yorkshire_defector! Dealing with this in lockdown is weird and I’m happy to do whatever I need to at home. The nurses have been fab. I think they find it very hard to see their patients go home so soon after an operation. 
BTW I’m born and bred in Yorkshire. Plenty of Yorkshire clout but starting to realise that folk are all too eager to help, which is wonderful. I hope you are staying safe. Best wishes,  x