Question:
Any ideas for how to stop itching of recent incision?

I'm 11 days postop from an open RNY and, due to some other reasons, have a rather large incision of about 10 inches. It was closed with steri-strips and is healing well. The steri strips are all still there. My problem is that the itching of the incision is driving me crazy today. Really crazy. I know I can't scratch it so I need some ideas for how to reduce this maddening itch! Any/all ideas are most welcome. thanks!    — Diane M. (posted on February 25, 2003)

February 24, 2003
I too have a 10 inch incision. It too did itch, I used a cocobutter lotion on it. I think the steri strips cause the itching. Talk to your doctor's office, maybe they can suggest an anti itch med to help. You can buy the cocobutter at any drugstore.`
   — barbara A.

February 24, 2003
I am 3 weeks post op and mine itches too. It is the skin healing and the nerves are growing back together. I don't know of any cream that would make it better. I just sort of rub mine gently. Take care!
   — SarahC

February 24, 2003
I had an 8 inch incision and itching nearly drove me crazy - but my doctor told me I had to live with it. PLEASE call your surgeon's office and ask before you put anything (lotion, cream, etc.) on it. My surgeon absolutely forbade that because of the increased risk of infection. I did take benadryl at his nurse's suggestion.
   — Patty_Butler

February 24, 2003
I had a large vertical incision of about 12 inches, and boy did it itch. I had staples in for 2 wks but even after that it continued to itch for months! What helped me the most was Bactine spray. It's also antibacterial so I felt safe using it. I think it also has a pain relief agent in it also. It's really marketed towards the scrapes, cuts, and bug bites that kids get, but who cares as long as it stops that Itch!!!
   — karenrose

February 25, 2003
I had open rny also and a 8 inch incison that about drove me nuts itching. I tried everything I could think of. I used some cortizone close to the edges of my incision but not on. I did ask my Dr. first. I tightened my binder and believe it or not that seemed to help. Call your Dr. and see what they suggest for you to do.
   — Sandy T.

February 25, 2003
I had this problem after my RNY. It plauged me for 3 months until I went to my PCP. I had also developed a rash between my legs that wasn't respondiong to antifungal powders. He gave me a steroid shot, and both have cleared right up. I would have your PCP try this. This is pretty common after this surgery.
   — dkinson

February 25, 2003
I found out that I am allergic to the steristrips. I took them off about 10 days after surgery. I had a horrible rash but it has slowly gone away. I still wore my binder so that there was not too much stress on my scar. I found that my scar was pretty well healed at that point anyway.
   — Kim H.

February 26, 2003
My incision itself didn't neccessarily itch, but I broke out in a really annyoing rash at about 4 weeks post op and just kind of suffered. THEN, I broke out in a really, really bad rash at about three weeks post op from my PS. Both times the rash was all over AROUND the area of my incisions. This last rash was even worse because my incision went around my entire body. I think it may be from the steri strips too. It was so horrible this time that I walked down the street to CVS in the middle of the massive blizzard we had last week here in NYC. I had to get Benadryl - and it worked. They make me really sleepy though. Good Luck!
   — PaulaM

February 27, 2003
I put an ice pack on it, it was so itchy I was going crazy.
   — **willow**

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