Wondering if anyone had chemical sensitivities prior to surgery

Mine are also more along the contact types, bleach is a big one. But I am also allergic to tape bandages,,,even the "hypoallergenic" type cause a reaction. PAPER tape even causes issues.

Titanium, thankfully is NOT an issue...as I have titanium rods and screws holding my back together and in my jaw.

I have a sensitivity to nickel, no doubt from having my ears pierced when I was younger.

Just a few problems with cleaning items, now. No issues with the staples after surgery.

I have rejected titanium surgical clips, and staples after plastic surgery. Also Vicryl and Monocryl sutures. the dyed ones since they were blue. Yes, these items are absorbable, but my body rejects it and forms a pocket and pushes them to the surface causing a sterile abscess that needs surgical intervention and then packed for weeks to heal.

Also I reject the non-absorbable sutures, with the same results. Thankfully, the staples used on my actual stomach and pouch haven't given me any obvious trouble, maybe due to tissue type where they were used.

I've had 5 absorbable sutures cut out, 2 surgical clips used to clip off little bleeders during surgery, 3 titanium sutures, and 4 non-absorbable sutures.

So when people say it can't happen, I know it can. Probably won't, especially those used on the stomach and intestines. Those used on muscle and skin may do anything. If you have a reaction right away, you will know it, the sutures will cause a weeping around them, and may have to be removed. This isn't a sign of infection, unless something grows from a culture done on the tissues. All of my cultures grew nothing so I had sterile abscesses that were treated as I mentioned above with no need for antibiotics.

Best wishes, and please know that I am only trying to educate, not to make you afraid. 99% or more  of people have no sensitivities to the modern materials used for sutures.

I am so glad that you responded. I was and still am concerned about the titanium stitches because of my chemical sensitivities. People just don't get it.  I'm not a typical individual and am sort of a canary in a coal mine. So what I'm hearing is that you did fine with the staples internally on stomach but on muscle and skin there were problems. The funny thing about these type of allergies sometimes the symptoms are not typical. What I meant by this is that someone can be allergic to titanium or a chemical and begin to have sensitivity to perfumes and paints and not realize that all along it was the titanium or some other substance that caused it. This happens with a lot of folks who have amalgams in their mouth. They get joint pain or becomes sensitive to fragrances etc but have no clue it's from what they have in their mouth. Once the amalgam is removed it all goes away.  I think I'm going to go get tested to see if I'm allergic to titanium. 

As far as plastic surgery. What do you find is safest as far as far stitches and whatever else is used during surgery. 

What type of weight loss surgery did you have-if you don't mind my asking? What did they use to close you up? I will need to talk to my surgeon ahead of time about this.

Thank you sooooo very much for replying...

MC

I forgot to mention that you can buy " Skin Prep" which is a barrier type fluid in a wipe that keeps the paper tape from peeling your skin off. I always use it.

Hi,
Have you had your surgery yet? I did a search for surgical staple sensitivity and found your post. I too have multiple chemical sensitivity, too numerous to list, but particularly to metals, nickel since I was young. I don't wear any metals anymore, not even my wedding band. I too was concerned about my surgery (total hip replacement). I worried about the reaction to the sedation, hospital gowns (brought my own), and especially the titanium and plastic that are used to replace the hip joint. I told the doctor about my concerns yet he used surgical staples on my incision. The surgery was less than 2 weeks ago and I'm either reacting to the staples (which btw probably have some nickel in them), or the dressing/tape. I think it's the staples. I have redness, irritation and pain around the incision that are not going away despite antibiotic cream, do not have a bacterial infection, have deep muscle pain that is getting worse each day. Staples out tomorrow so we'll see if that helps. Lori.

Hey I have not yet had my surgery yet. It's lousy having MCS and going into these things blindly. I never know what I am going to react to.  How are you feeling now? Did you have bariatric surgery? 

My son and I sensitive to chemicals the same way u are.  Allergy shots helped a lot