Steri- strip allergy?

I am 12 days post-op .. I was suppose to have my appointment for my first follow up yesterday but the snow pushed it to next week.   I am allergic to everything and I noticed over the past few days my incision areas are getting red, puffy and itching like crazy.  I think its the strips but it just might be healing itching.  I am going to call the Doctor in the morning, but did anyone else have a problem with these steri-strips.  They are stuck on pretty good , Trust me, I have no intention to pull them! 

Congrats on your surgery! Are they latex? you may be having an allergic reaction. not sure what you can do so far as removing them, but hopefully your doctor can give you an alternative - could you call and get advice over the phone before your appt? Good luck to you!

Momma, right before mine really started to heal mine got the same way very red puffy but I kept a very close eye on them and I did call my doc and he said as long as nothing is leaking out and you don't see infection coming out he said that is normal in some patients.

He said sometimes the glue they use can cause this reaction.  Now, I never had a real problem with it being itchy but red and puffy I did .

If it will make you feel better still call your doc, and see what he says but like I said as long as their is no infection coming out or you are not oozing anything you will be fine at least mine was.  they was like that for about a week and then the stuff starting to come off like the glue and stitches on my long one .

Also keep a eye out on red lines coming from the incisions.  That is a for sure sign of a infection starting or there is a infection then you really need to call your doc so he can get you on some meds

Hi Ocmomma, this happen to me 2 weeks after my surgery. I started putting Cortizone on the red area and then called my doctor to see if he would give me something stronger. He saw me and advised me to continue using the Cortizone. It took about a week and 1/2 before it left. Good luck!

 While I cannot advise you because I'm not a doctor....off the record:

YES. Pull those things off! I was highly allergic to them and suffered miserably for another 2 weeks (that it took the allergy to go away) because I didn't call my doctor immediately (thought the itching was normal part of healing) and once I did he said to take them off anyway. By that point it was too late and I had this nasty allergy thing going on. Nothing but bathing in cortisone cream worked to relieve the itching and even that only lasted a few minutes.  You should be able to pull them off with something like baby oil I think.  

I feel you.. I was itchy as heck for 2 weeks and I am bad.. I scratch like crazy around the incisions..for me I wonder if some of it wasn't anxiety after all the drama with me choosing to go to Mexico..

I had this problem and it was the adhesive they use during surgery to make the strips stick that caused the problem...it started when I took the strips of (per my doc's instructions) 10 days post-op.  This is what it looked like 3 weeks post-op.

I found that nothing worked very well for the itch.  Benadryl gel was the most soothing...but once you can, get into the shower and scrub the areas around the incisions with an exfoliating shower mitt.  This helped to remove the adhesive...still took about 4 weeks total to resolve completely.  I also put ice packs over my shirt several times per day when it made me too crazy.

Good luck...maybe your doctor has a better answer than mine did...time, lol.

wow mine isn't quite as bad.. but pretty close to this. OUCH>

Congrats on your surgery.It might not be the steri-strips,but might be the mastisol which is put on first.It helps the steri-strips stay on longer.It is a type of glue.Just remember to mention that you had a reaction to it,If you ever have surgery again,and they will not use them.Good luck with your weight loss.

OMG, I remember only too well what that was like. It spread for me to my elbows, knees, around my bra strap area, etc. The itching drove me nuts. I used Gold Bond Powder which helped some, and itch cream, I scrubbed like crazy in the shower with an exfoliating shower gel, I tried everything. I finally went to my regular Dr. and he gave me a cortizone shot. It sounded crazy to me but it worked and relieved my rash in a day or so. I absolutely have no idea what caused it but it drove me crazy!!! I'm terrified that it will come back...ugh Good luck, I really hope you get relief soon.