Question:
Did anyone break out in a rash after surgery and have itching also with it?

I am 4 weeks postop today. 1 week after surgery I broke out with a rash on my chest and itching almost all over my body. Went to the dr. and they gave me 2 prescriptions for the itching. They don't know what is causing the rash or itchng problem. Before I went to the dr. I tried Benadryl tablets, Benadryl cream, and Aveno lotion for dry, itchy skin and it didn't help much at all. My back is very itchy. My rash on my chest is fading away but I still have it. Did anyone else have this, and if so, what was it from and what did you take to relieve it? Thanks.    — TL (posted on April 2, 2004)

April 2, 2004
I was about 10 days post op when I broke out with a rash. I am not even sure what caused it. My doctor sent me home with a prescription of Phenergan. Those pills were a tremendous help to the rash and it went away shortly thereafter. Good luck!!!
   — Mimi S.

April 2, 2004
Are you on pain meds? May be an allergic reaction to the pain meds
   — DIANNA W.

April 2, 2004
I work in Derm, and in our clinic we would obtain a biopsy on a rash to diagnois it. Go to a dermatologist if it continues. Good Luck!
   — ZZ S.

April 3, 2004
Before I had WLS I came off some of my meds. They were prednisone, methotrexate and humira. This was like in september 2003. I had surgery in february 2004. About a week after I stopped the meds this rash appeared and itching started whenever I would take a bath and get wet or when I started to sweat. I called my doctor and they told me to take benedril for the itching and cortisone cream. It got better and started to clear up, but then in february when I had WLS it reappeared the week after I had surgery. I still have the rash and the itching has just about stopped. My skin is peeling in spots where the rash is. I use a lot of vaseline and I put it wherever the rash is and it helps. It was even on my face, back, neck, shoulders, hands, arms, feet and all over my stomach. It seemed to be worse wherever I was losing the most weight. Irish Fowler
   — mspisces

April 3, 2004
I had the same reaction with Percocet (pain killer) after my surgery. Once the pills wore off the itching did too. Unfortunately, I was taking them every 4-6hrs depending on the level of pain I had. So, it felt like as the itchin was easing it was time for another dosage and more itching.
   — Niobe

April 3, 2004
yep, the pain meds did it to me......
   — carpediem

April 3, 2004
The pain meds did the same thing to me......
   — carpediem

April 4, 2004
Many WLS doctors put you on something for the stomach after surgery. I was put on Zantac once a day and developed the horrid itchy rash about 7 days after I went home....turns out I was allergic to the Zantac. Good luck to you.!
   — Lynette B.