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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
RadicalFern · 15/06/2018 15:02

If it were me I’d definitely go to the hairdressers. That way you can feel clean and you don’t have to worry about taping anything (and someone will massage your head and maybe even dry your hair for you nicely).

Original poster
EachandEveryone · 15/06/2018 15:05

Thats not the whole of what they removed. Besides that the bladder thing is getting me down. No one showed me how to attach this bag properly and the straps are coming undone all rhe time and wafting everywhere. The oractice nurse says she never sees them so cant help.

OP posts:
Mountainsoutofmolehills · 15/06/2018 15:07

can you get a home hairdresser to come over?

LoniceraJaponica · 15/06/2018 15:15

"can you get a home hairdresser to come over?"

The OP can't bend over. How would a hairdresser be able to wash her hair at home? A sink at the hairdresser's with a neck support that she can lean her head back in sounds like the most practical solution.

Ollivander84 · 15/06/2018 15:16

Ok, is it the catheter bag? PM me if you want and I will try to help

Hairdresser did mine for me after surgery in my armpit and wouldn't charge me

JJS888 · 15/06/2018 15:20

Pop to the chemist and spend about 75p on a few opsites? Or ask someone else to? Or buy on Amazon?

wormery · 15/06/2018 15:24

They should have taught you how to care for your catheter, how long have you got to keep it in. I'm surprised the practice nurse doesn't know about them, maybe a district nurse would be more helpful. Would it be worth calling the hospital surgical nurse practitioner or the urology nurse specialist to ask advice about both the wound care and catheter care. Have you got a follow up appointment booked with the surgeon, I am not surprised you feel so low, surgery takes a long time to recover from.Flowers

agedknees · 15/06/2018 15:36

You shouldn’t be catapulting yourself from a lying position to an upright one in one go. Lie on your side and use your arms to take the weight and lever yourself up. It’s dangerous for patient and staff to use arms to pull yourself up.

Original poster
EachandEveryone · 15/06/2018 15:48

I rang urology they have no clinics today so no nurses in. Even my taxi driver said should those straps be cut to size! They just sent me with one night bag and two day bags. Do i need to clean them? Im sorry but im surprised neither practice nurse could get out a pair of scissors and fasten the straps for me properly. I thought they knew abit about everything.

Im back next week they will put the dye in and see if its healed

OP posts:
amicissimma · 15/06/2018 15:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DwangelaForever · 15/06/2018 16:01

@expatinscotland you don't have to shower Hmm OP could easily wash herself with sponge and soap etc so it's not unreasonable to expect someone not to shower for a few days.

I had an op on my neck and couldn't shower until I got my stitches out, just had to suck it up and use dry shampoo. Unpleasant yes but not the end of the world!

IIIustriousIyIIlogical · 15/06/2018 16:18

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

Absolute bollocks.

You can cut one down, put it on, have the shower & take it off if required. It's what I did after an Op I had & I'm still here....

Or gaffa tape a bag over it OP that'll keep enough out for you to have a shower.

TheOriginalEmu · 15/06/2018 16:27

i never had a waterproof dressing after mine. i just bought some.

Sidge · 15/06/2018 16:35

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

Absolute bollocks.

No it's not.
If you cut an adhesive dressing it isn't waterproof any more and you might as well not bother. Most adhesives have a central 'pad' and adhesive all around the edges. if you cut them in half or reduce the size they're no longer adhesive and also the central 'pad' is compromised and can shed fibres/lose it's integrity.

I'm a practice nurse - we don't deal with catheters or catheter bags. It's not really my job to cut straps and attach your bag - of course I can advise you what might be worth trying but that's all. You need to get in touch with the hospital, the problem here is that you've been discharged with insufficient advice or support.

Elementtree · 15/06/2018 16:42

Why do posters come running onto a thread just to be a cunt?

I can't think of one reason why the op would lie about being a nurse, can you?

So what purpose does it serve to say such a thing? Except to make her feel like a tit?

Talk about kicking someone when they are down.

rupertpenryswife · 15/06/2018 17:09

When i discharge someone with a catheter I always refer to the community nursing team for back up even if they have a TWOC appointment the following week. You should not need to cut catheter straps down.

Agree with people you can get water resistant dressings at a pharmacy no dressing is truly waterproof. Can you phone the ward you were discharged from they can give advice and refer to community team also. I have done this if a patient has been discharged from us and phoned up. Sounds like a poor discharge. Did you see the physio? I understand you have had major surgery and I care for patients who have major bowel/gynae surgery and I would not discharge the if they could not get themselves out of bed or bend. Is your pain well controlled? I'm sure you know this but keep drinking well. Also day bags can be left in place for 7 days and night bags 3 days, so hopefully you will have enough supplies.

Fwiw I hate catheter straps they never fit well so I send my patients with a g strap.

Hope you feel better soon.

Original poster
EachandEveryone · 15/06/2018 18:07

No community im too young apparently. No physio because of the catheter. I just got told to refer to the leaflets. Im sure thkbgs were different when a gynae ward was a gynae ward.

OP posts:
BigMamaTee · 15/06/2018 18:15

I have no advice for you OP but would like to wish you a speedy recovery. People are being a bit harsh with the 'you're a nurse, you should know better' approach. If you knew better, you wouldn't have asked the question! Can you get an appointment with your gp? As someone who used to work in medicine I know that they absolutely wouldn't mind you booking an appointment to discuss this and for them to hopefully provide you with advice. Sounds like you haven't had very good aftercare. Wishing you all the best. Hopefully onwards and upwards from here! Thanks

Lifeofa · 15/06/2018 18:22

I’d have thought district nurses would have a role here, is it worth callling GP out of hours and explaining the catheter difficulty? I’ve previously bought my own waterproof dressing and taken them to appointments but obviously you didn’t know this would happen. COuld you ring 111 for advice on what is available to you locally? I used to go to a minor injuries unit at weekends for dressing changes.

FrancisCrawford · 15/06/2018 18:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

rupertpenryswife · 15/06/2018 18:30

That can't be right even with catheters with that sort of surgery physios still see you. Also you are not too young for community nurse as what happens if you have problems with your catheter out of hours, who are you supposed to get help from? I don't know how old you are but I have referred patients in their 20's to community nurses for catheter care.

Original poster
EachandEveryone · 15/06/2018 18:32

Thanks but i was at the GP’s today the nurse went in to see her about it but the gp didnt have a clue said catheters are surgical. Im thinking of changing tbh. Her office was right next door and i know she was busy but it was her that emailed the surgeon when i was climbing the walls two weeks ago, i was operated on within three days of that email. No ones got the time for a “how are you?” anymore so the only time i will be seeing a gp is for my sick note.

Anyway if all goes well on Monday this will be the end of it.

Some of your comments remind me of the nurse on the ward. Everytime i asked a question she woukd answer me with “oh come on each, you should know you are a nurse” not helpful when you are an emotional and physical wreck.

OP posts:
niccyb · 15/06/2018 18:33

The only waterproof dressing that is used is tegaderm but usually they use the one you have on which is standard but surely you knew this?
Did you mention how upset you felt and that you were desperate for a shower.

Lifeofa · 15/06/2018 18:38

Many years ago my sister was in hospital for a mastectomy, she was a nurse at the same hospital. The words of the nurse have stayed with me that she talks to everyone the same because it is such a traumatic time whether you are a nurse/consultant/non medical you will not take in the same information as you would if it was someone else and you can still have questions to ask. It’s ridiculous to expect a nurse to know everything!

Original poster
EachandEveryone · 15/06/2018 18:41

Thats the one

OP posts: