Allergic to steri-strips??

Sandra M.
on 2/23/08 10:17 am
I am a little over 1 week post lap rny.  Monday when they called to check on me, I told them I thought I was having a local reaction to my steri-strips.  I was told this would pass and I would start to feel better.  The rash along the strips kept getting more red and I started getting small blisters.  Yesterday, I finally took them off because I could not stand it anymore.  The skin is so dry and itchy now and there are still tiny blisters.  Has anyone else experienced this?  If so, what did you do to make it feel better?

phyxias
on 2/23/08 10:24 am - Augusta, GA
That happened to me.  I took mine off too.  Mine was so bad it looked like a big burn where all of the strips were.  I put some neosporin on it and it helped a lot.  They're right it will go away now that you have removed the offending strips.
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SophieGrace
on 2/23/08 10:25 am - IL

I am allergic to virtually every adhesive, including those on bandaids.

The skin on our stomachs tends to be rather sensitive.  I have had major problems there as well.

Have you had other issues with any other products like medical tape?  I can only use paper tape. I removed my steri-strips early and currently have a mess on my stomach from having part of my sutures open and having to use tape and large bandaids over that area.  I've been using hydrocortisone cream to try to reduce the irritation.  That's all I know to do. Good luck, and if you find something better, let me know!!

SophieGrace 

(deactivated member)
on 2/23/08 10:26 am, edited 2/23/08 10:27 am - Somewhere Else
I'm very allergic to them. To the point of developing blood blisters. After my belt lipectomy, I got 2 blisters so bad, they were over an inch in diameter and well, scarred some. This latest surgery, I only got 3 small ones on my arms, none on the breasts so far (fingers crossed, I have to keep those tapes on for another week). The doctor had me remove the ones on my arms though, as they were causing me such problems. I put vitamin E oil (or pure ointment) on the incision line, and sometimes use an anti-itch cream around the area, being careful not to get that on the incision itself. I'd take an antihistamine too, but not while I'm on antibiotics and pain pills. Be careful not to scratch close to your incisions of course, but sometimes just lightly rubbing the area, or scratching about an inch away from it, helps a lot! Hope you feel better soon....and congrats on your surgery!
sharpierce
on 2/23/08 10:28 am - chas., SC
I am allergic to all of that type of stuff also, tape, bandaids, latex, I got red and itchy also, I didn't put any thing on it just kept it clean and dry, my body even started spitting the stitches that they sewed my little holes with, I had to go in and have them removed. I thought at first that it was loose skin, and i tried to pull on them and after they wouldn't come off i realized they were stitches, I could then see they were causing little holes!!!!! oh, well??  Good luck with that , I would keep it dry.  sharon
Michelle R.
on 2/23/08 10:56 am
I had the same problem a few weeks ago.  I think its what they use to make the strips stick because the firey red area was not just where the strips were.  I look like someone tatooed a red striped flag over my belly button.  Talk about itching and swollen...until I pulled the strips off.  I used anti itch cream everywhere but on the opened area.   and neosporin on the incision area not at the same times.  I hope you feel better soon.  
Dave Chambers
on 2/23/08 10:57 am - Mira Loma, CA
No, you're not alone. I had RNY in May 2006, and I had no problem. My wife had same surgery in July, 07 and she had a rash where those strips were too.

Dave Chambers, 6'3" tall, 365 before RNY, 185 low, 200 currently. My profile page: product reviews, tips for your journey, hi protein snacks, hi potency delicious green tea, and personal web site.
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Sandra M.
on 2/23/08 11:11 am
I am glad I am not alone in this.  This reactions are not fun.  They itch and burn and are not fun.  It looks like I have bad sunburn circles on my stomach.  Thanks for the tips.  I think I will try some benedryl cream.

kevphill
on 2/23/08 11:27 am - MI
I have a latex allergy and the strip adhesive would have caused a problem so they used the other stuff and it worked well. I found out about the allergy when I had my original surgery. It was open and the JP drain was secured with tape. It felt like it was burning me on the second day and when they checked on it they took it off and it was a mess. Get back with the office and tell them to change. All you need to do is start scratching and get an infection. kp
"Go sell crazy somewhere else; we're all stocked up here."
Susan M.
on 2/23/08 1:00 pm - Dallas, TX
This is going to sound very weird, but this was the recommendation of my OB-GYN doctor.  I had a really bad reaction to steri-strips after my hysterectomy.  She told me to put malox on the blisters twice a day.  I poured some into a cup and let it settle out, and put the chalky part on my blisters 2x a day.  It really dried them up, and they were better within 3-4 days. 

Susan            280/264/190/135              
             Consult/Preop/Current/Goal  5' tall

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