Rash around my incisions

I seem to have some type of rash around my incisions.  It just started and it looks like big red welts around each of the incisions.  I don't have fever, and there is no discharge.  It itches and their are some smaller bumps around it.  I was very worried but now it looks like the rash has spead to my arms so I'm thinking its an allergy to a soap or maybe something else I'm using.  I went and bought some Benedryl and took some and applied this gel around the area as well.  I also bought some Aveeno oatmeal to soak in but he told me not to soak in water for four weeks so I have another couple of days to go.  Anyone else have something like this happen to them?

I had that too, but had relief using topical Benadryl.

You are probably having an allergic reaction to the steri strips or glue. You need to call your surgeon's office and let them know. I had the same thing and they let me take off the steri strips (but please ask first). Also if the Benedryl does not keep it under control your doc can prescribe stronger/better drugs. Good luck!

Hi, I had the same reaction in July, about 5-6 days post-op.  It is most likely an allergic reaction to the dissolvable sutures (google it and you will see how common it is).  I showed my doctor, and mine was severe enough and itchy enough that they he put me on cortisone pills to calm down the reaction.  I felt instantly better, but the pinkness around the incision sites lasted for several weeks, but they were not like welts and they did not itch.  You should let your doctor know - he may want to check you.  You should also find out what type of sutures he did use, and make sure you avoid having them in any future surgeries.

If the reaction is severe enough, it can cause "spitting sutures", where your body forms pus around them and "spits" them out, or rejects them.  So do get them checked.  No reason to be miserable if you don't have to be.

If you still have steristrips...remove them. I was allergic to the steristrips.

Ice is GREAT for killing the itchiness.

Call your surgeon... you also might have a reaction to the pain meds, if you have any.

I had the same thing. I thought I was allergic to the steristrips, so I went to see my allergist since I thought he was the best one to judge.  Thankfully I did since he said not only was I allergic to them but there was a slight infection since I had perfect circles around where every strip was - it wasnt' just a rash. The itching was unbearable.  I had tried on my own - cornstartch, bendryl cream, antihistamine pills and nothing worked.  So, he put me on steroid cream (can use if it is a rash but not if the skin is open) and antibiotic ointment plus strong antihistamine pills 2 times per day.  Within 4 days the rash was gone and the itching was gone.  Make sure you  see a doctor, you probably need some type of medication.

Mine was bad too.... while it was never confirmed in my case whether it was the steristrips or the lortab, it got very bad. no cream I tried, including an antihistamine cream helped. By the time the steristrips were removed, it was spiraling out of control, my throat was covered in hives and my airway was being compromised. Removing the steristrips wasn't enough. I had to go on oral steroids to get the reaction calmed down. My first two weeks postop had nothing to do with food, it was the battle of the ITCH! 

Wow, that sound really bad.  Thankfully mine wasn't that bad.  Mine actually  happened during my second surgery - exploratory when they found my 4 sets of adhesions and twisted intestines at 7months out. Luckily, my surgery the first time I didnt' react to the strips which is amazing since I am highly allergic to bandages and tape.  I guess I got lucky.

I decided not to CALL my surgeon, as I knew he would just say "it's normal healing".... instead I went in unannounced when they opened that monday morning...when the receptionist gave me grief for showing up without an appointment, I lifted my shirt. That shut her up, and got me to the head of the line. Surgeon's PA was very nonchalant until he saw the rash ( was solid bright red from my collar bone down to my groin, with red spots breaking out on my face, ears, scalp, etc.).... then he practically paraded EVERY doctor and PA in the entire practice into the room to see me. NONE of them had ever seen anything that bad. They took the steristrips off me and prescribed oral demerol for pain relief.... not sure i it was pain med Lortab or steristrips, but didn't want to pu**** either way. He didn't want to do steroids, as he felt it could inhibit healing of my new connections in my gut, and THAT was a bad thought. By the time I got home from the doctor's office, I could barely breathe and I was one solid red rash from my knees to my scalp. I called him back, and he ordered the steroids. They broke hte cycle. Benadryl didn't do anything to stop it. The next time I had surgery I asked for NO steristrips...and had no issues.

That is quite a reaction. First when you said they didnt' give you steroids, I was about to scream but thank goodness you got them afterall.  Sometimes even they have some bad side effects, they are necessary for allergic reactions when bad enough and yours certainly was bad enough.  It sounds to be yours was definitely a combination of the painmedication and the steristrips. Have you ever taken lortab since?