Question:
Anyone allergice to adhesives?
I had to have a 24 hour heart monitor on and now I have had an allergice reaction to the adhesives. I have several round read blisters where they were attached. I'm so itchy. My surgery is in 5 days will I have to postpone? Has anyone else had this happen? — Janine W. (posted on April 25, 2003)
April 25, 2003
Yes. I also experience this. I have very fair skin and recently discovered
that I am allergic to the normal adhesive that the hospital uses. When you
go in for surgery, REQUEST PAPER TAPE. It will make all the difference.
Best of luck. April
— April S.
April 25, 2003
I had a bad reaction to tape.Make sure they post your file for paper tape
only.My skin was cut and bleeding,I still have scars on stomach and neck
from the Iv site.When your sleeping,if you have a family member ask them to
tell each nurse paper tape only.Even with the blisters,if I was asleep
nurses that were not aware would put it on me.They will not cancel surgery
due to this.This is a very common problem on surgical floors.Good luck it
is the best decision you could ever make.
— Lisa B.
April 25, 2003
I am severly allergic to adhesives. My surgeon uses tape the day of the
surgery. The next morning, they remove the bandages, the pateint showers,
and then there is never tape put back on. The bandages are held in place
by the binder. If a nurse uses tape on one of his patients, she is removed
from the surgical floor - he believes that it can cause a real risk of
infection where the skin breaks down. When I had my tummy tuck in
February, I had to remove the steri strips early because my skin was
totally blistered under them - but everything healed nicely.
Good luck with your surgery.
— Patty_Butler
April 25, 2003
I am allergic to all tape. Silk tape, paper tape, and even Bandaids. When
you arrive at the hospital they will ask what you are allergic to, tell
them about the reaction you had to the adhesive. They will most likely go
easy on the tape when doing your IV and they should use paper tape on you
for that, if not, request it! They all have a hard time with me because
they need to use tape for IVs and stuff but I'm allergic to it all, so they
put as little as possible on me and stack the tape on top of each other
when securing the IV. If you get a good nurse, they'll care enough to make
it as comfortable for you as possible. Good luck to you!!<br>
Lap-RNY 1/13/03 -100lbs & Counting!
— thumpiez
April 25, 2003
I too am allergic to the regular adhesive. I ahve to have the paper tape.
You should not have any problem at all with the blisters being gone within
a day or so!
— cathywalden
April 25, 2003
Boy I tought I was the only one, that was the worst part of my surgery. I
always knew I had sensitive skin, but I had a reaction to what they believe
was the binding around my stomach and the tape. I ended up getting golf
ball size blisters between my fingers, and a real bad rash up my arms and
on my stomach. My reaction lasted almost 3 months and they tried evry
medicine on me. It finaly went away on its own. Make sure you tell them I
wish I knew. Take care. RNY 213/135.
— April G.
April 26, 2003
I have a sensitivity to adhesives. I told them at the hospital when asked
about allergies. I even told them that specifically techaderms cause my
skin to blister. Well the anestesiaologist started an IV in my neck, even
though I have a mediport...while he was gone getting something the nurse
leaned down and told me the doctor would be using a techaderm and
apologized in advanced for the blisters which I did get! Why do they even
ask!!!!
— Sarahlicious
April 27, 2003
I have only reacted this way to my 2 surgeries. After my hernia repair it
was horrific. I am definetly allergic to something. My surgeon wasn't
wondering if it was whatever was used to clean my skin. I personally don't
think so because I would have thought it would have washed off with soap. I
actually had to have mild steroid cream to get the red, itchy bumps to go
away. That truly was the worst part of both of my surgeries!
— Linda M.
April 29, 2003
Don't ignore this problem. I started having the same kind of reaction to
adhesives and after testing learned that I am allergic to latex. This can
be a very serious allergy and can become life-threatening after repeated
exposure (allergies progress with exposure to the allergen). I recommend
getting tested by a dermatologist, and telling every healthcare worker you
encounter. If you do test positive for latex sensitivity, get a MedicAlert
bracelet and carry an epinephrine pen. I had an anaphylactic episode and
believe me, you don't want to go there. Now, I have to use paper tape,
latex-free bandaids, even have to be careful about the types of shoes I
wear, but it's worth it to avoid the awful reaction.
— gamboge
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