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Original poster

To expect a waterproof dressing post surgery?

54 replies

EachandEveryone · 15/06/2018 13:47

Im in tears here. Full hysterectomy eight days ago. Was in for a week as my bladder has been damaged. Home with a catheter. I am a nurse.

Went to get the rest of my stitches out. Im moving slowly and painfully. Not once did the practice nurse offer her arm to get me on off the bed. I noticed this in hospital as well so it must be a thing these days.

Anyway, my dresssing was due to come off but she said there was a small area with steri strips on which still needs covering so i have two square dressings on. She said they arent waterproof so not to get showered. I could cry my hair is minging. I just wanted to try and get in the shower on my own and wash my hair. I asked why not water proof? She said they are too big. Err, whats wrong with scissors?

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 15/06/2018 13:49

Sorry, but I'd complain to the practice manager. It's not on to expect someone to not shower for days.

Unreasonableunreasonableness · 15/06/2018 13:50

Well if you cut them then they won't be waterproof anymore will they?
Sounds awful for you tho. I had an accident a few years ago and couldn't get up the stairs to shower. My husband washed my hair in the downstairs toilet sink. Wasn't great but better than nothing. Could someone help you do that?

Distractotron · 15/06/2018 13:52

How horrible for you. Can you sit on a chair for someone to wash your hair is a sink? Or, could you ask someone to get you a waterproof dressing to cover it? I know you shouldn’t have to.

Schmoop · 15/06/2018 13:53

I had surgery yesterday and have steristrips over the stitches. I was told I can shower after 24 hours and to pat the strips dry. I was given some extra dressings for if the steristrips come off before I see the practise nurse next Thursday.

FelixBrown · 15/06/2018 13:53

Cutting them down will introduce germs onto the dressing, and the whole point of the dressing is to try to keep the germs out. Yes they could use sterile scissors, but that would increase the cost, and the scissors wouldn't be worth it.

A waterproof dressing will mean that any moisture (sweat etc) that is inside can't get out, and this will mean that germs can breed easily. So it would increase infection risk.

ScattyCharly · 15/06/2018 13:55

Can you get to the hairdressers and just ask for a hair wash. I have done this myself. They did it very cheap as it was just a hair wash.

ScattyCharly · 15/06/2018 13:55

Oh I told them why

Flatpeaches · 15/06/2018 13:56

Whilst you manage to get some waterproof dressings you could try these I think you can get them from boots for a couple of quid

To expect a waterproof dressing post surgery?
adaline · 15/06/2018 13:57

Can someone wash your hair for you over the bath or if you sit in a chair? I really sympathise, it must be absolutely awful!

Sunflower8409 · 15/06/2018 14:00

Sorry but as a nurse you should know that no dressings are truly waterproof and some are just water resistant but not recommended to soak through in the shower or bath. Wound care basic is that wounds should be kept dry so complaining to the practice manager as suggested is ridiculous and would been seen as such by the practice.

Wash using a sink and flannel and get somebody to wash your hair in the sink?

FYI most GP practices don’t keep a large stock of dressings and only have what’s left over from previous patients who have been given a prescription for them so you could ask for a prescription and pay £8.40 for a different dressing if your not happy with the one you have.

Hope you feel better soon.

beepboop83 · 15/06/2018 14:01

I had the same dressings after my hysterectomy 6 months ago and was told the same as Schmoop - ok to shower but pat dressings dry afterwards.

You have my utmost sympathy for how you're feeling at the moment, I felt like I'd been hit by a train Flowers

Curlywurlywurly · 15/06/2018 14:03

OP, as a nurse you should know that for manual handling reasons they shouldn't offer you their hand/arm to get up incase you or they get hurt.

Re the dressing, the suggestions above are both good or can you buy a dressing and change it yourself? Maybe get a family member or friend to rinse your hair over the sink as a temporary measure?

Hope you feel better soon, try to take things easy.

MVLipwig · 15/06/2018 14:03

Just about the nurse not offering to help you out of bed, you’re told not to do this in moving and handling anymore, too dangerous to patient and staff member. I hope your recovery improves, and you can shower soon

Ollivander84 · 15/06/2018 14:10

Wash at hair dressers or kitchen sink
Wash in bathroom sink
It's shit but normal, I couldn't shower for over 10 days after my spinal op

Original poster
EachandEveryone · 15/06/2018 14:13

Can i just say it was a four hour operation and the fibroids weigjt 4.4kg. Im in no position to bend over anywhere just yet. I live alone. I was perfectly happy with the dressings i came home with from the hospital and was able to get showered with them on. The general feeling was that the practice nurse would remove them today and that woukd bebit. She said the steristrips from the drain havent been on a week so she needs to recover them. And that theres a little bit of wound still exposed so thats beem covered.

Ive got a scan for my bladder on monday appointment booked. But they havent been able to get me am appointment at the TWOC climic after so god knows what will happen there

OP posts:
Original poster
EachandEveryone · 15/06/2018 14:15

And im sorry my phone seems to run away and make it look like i cant spell

OP posts:
Taytotots · 15/06/2018 14:23

Sounds like you've had a hard time Flowers. Annoying they didn't give you a waterproof dressing. Can you just tape a plastic sandwich bag over the area while you shower? That's what nurses did for my arm dressing in hospital.

Original poster
EachandEveryone · 15/06/2018 14:24

Good idea about the haidressers just washing thanks for that

OP posts:
Singlebutmarried · 15/06/2018 14:26

I’d go for the sandwich bag taped over.

It should stay put for the duration of a shower and you’ll feel so much better afterwards.

Sidge · 15/06/2018 14:30

Oh come on, if you're really a nurse you must know that you shouldn't cut down adhesive waterproof dressings.

Also some water resistant dressings leave the wounds too moist, sometimes a dry dressing is better.

I'm a practice nurse - we don't hold stock of lots of different dressings; we have the basics and sometimes use 'leftovers' of dressings prescribed by us for a patient whose wound has healed.

If you want a waterproof dressing you can buy some in the pharmacy or get them on prescription.

Hopefully you won't need the wound dressed for long and it will heal quickly.

I do sympathise, I had a hysterectomy last year and felt like I'd been hit by a bus!

PeterPiperPickedSeaShells · 15/06/2018 14:31

You're a nurse. So am I.
I'm assuming these are a standard "dry dressing"? Can you not just order some for home delivery, shower & then immediately change the dressing yourself? The bacteria are hardly going to multiply to dangerous levels in the 10 mins before you apply a dry dressing yourself.
Apologies if I've misunderstood & this is actually a complex dressing

Ickyockycocky · 15/06/2018 14:32

There is no reason why you can’t shower, pat dry and apply a clean dressing. As a nurse surely you know this???

LoniceraJaponica · 15/06/2018 14:35

"Can you get to the hairdressers and just ask for a hair wash. I have done this myself. They did it very cheap as it was just a hair wash."

We did this with DD after a knee operation.

Is that what they removed from you? Wow! I hope you feel better soon Flowers

Original poster
EachandEveryone · 15/06/2018 14:52

I dont do adults. Or dressings.

OP posts:
wormery · 15/06/2018 14:59

You don't have to be a nurse to do dressings, just go to the chemist and buy some dry non adhesive ones, and ask for some sterile gauze pads to dry your wound with. I thought nurses in all branches knew how to change dressings.