Showering (hair) post-op with staples in the neck

Apologies if I have posted this on the wrong thread

NewDawn said:

Apologies if I have posted this on the wrong thread

Do t worry you’re fine. 
You can shower 24 hours after surgery just don’t soak the area too much and just pat dry. 
How are you feeling? 

I managed it over 4 years ago - can't really remember how.  I think I stuck my head under the shower so I did not get water on my neck. I seem to recall using some clingfilm around my neck to reduce splashing on the dressing.  I is not totally waterproof but helped.

I then showered from the shoulders down with a showerhead on a hose. 

The problem I had was I did not have any replacement dressings so getting them soaking wet was not the best thing to do.  

I got round this by washing my hair over the bath with a hand held shower rather than getting into the shower…and keeping the shower flow low-ish to avoid splashes. Took a bit longer but it worked.

Good evening Dawn, i used to kneel on the bathroom floor andput my head over the side of the bath and then using a jug to wash away the shampoo suds, this way you can wrap a towel around your neck to keep the area a bit drier. I know what you mean with the hair it feels so uncomfortable so it must be worse if you have long hair. Good luck.

                                                                                                          Chris x

Hi Dawn

I used to get my husband to help me. I used to put my head over the hand basin with a towel around my neck and then he would do the rest with the water. I didn't shower for a couple of weeks so had a wash standing in front of the hand basin. That worked well and I was just as clean as if I had a shower. It's amazing what little water we need to keep clean.

Best wishes

Lyn

Hi NewDawn, I sat in the bath with a towel round my neck and got my daughter to jug water on my head as I couldn't lift my arms up after my op. I since heard of some people use the tegaderm film dressings. I actually use them over my HRT patch but never thought of using them for that. Not sure how I'd feel about peeling them off though!! Glad you're doing ok.

Such a long time ago now I honestly don't remember, but you've got lots of good advice already...and also given me the excuse to post the picture I have of my neck on a t-shirt (apologies to Mr Warhol). As a wise man said (actually, unsurprisingly, it was a woman), “scars are tattoos with better stories.”

Hey Dani,

I managed to have a shower - and wash my hair #winning.  Feeling rough this morning though, my Frankie scar is very tight, but I guess that is part of the healing process.

I taking the drugs and pushing through

Hi Liz111

This method worked for me