How do we remove this very very sticky plaster from extreemely terrified ds?

[geraldinetheluckygoat]

DS1 had a small op on his belly button on friday, to remove some irritated tissues and some stitches that had been put in last year which he turned out to be allergic to.
The wound is closed with paper stitches and doesnt look too bad - looks to be healing up well. As of a couple of days ago he was allowed to get it wet in the bath, which he has done.

My problem is that they have put one of those very stretchy very sticky see through plasters over the whole thing, it is quite big. DS is a VERY nervous patient, he is absolutely terrified of removing this plaster, which doesnt seem to be coming lose in the water of the bath, and i think will eventually need to be peeled off.

Having managed to get hold of a corner of it, much to the distress of ds, I can see that it is not going to peel off very easily, it appears to be very very sticky. He cries, gets very paniky and gets all sweaty and scared when we try to peel it off at all. Im worried that the wound underneath will become infected if the plaster is left on too long, is this likely to be the case? I mean, presumably, plasters cant be left on for ever?!

How do I approach this? Is there anything that we can to to make the plaster come of easier? WE have been trying to get ds used to just having us touch areas of his tummy close to the plaster and him just touching the edges andso on to try and de sensitise him a bit, but at the rate were going, it could take weeks!!!

Help please, any bright ideas gratefully received!!

If he can get it properly wet I would go for in the bath and peeling it off while its under water or maybe if he is brave enough, let him try and do it at his own pace. Hope it goes well. Definitely have a being brave treat at the ready.

Zoff plaster remover, available in any large Boots, is a godsend. My DCs use insulin pumps and the plaster has to be really sticky to hold the metal needle in place, but Zoff works every time

well, you could take him to a walk-in clinic or even treatment room and I am sure they will oblige, he might be OK for an expert to handle him

Yes, Zoff plaster remover (also good to get some for future occasions) or let practice nurse do it. I wouldn't just pull it off as you say it is very large and no point traumatising your dc even more with this.

Thank you, I will try the Zoff plaster remover, that sounds like it could do the trick. I don't think, from watching how he is with nurses and doctors when they've had to do things with him before, that he will be any better with them, tbh. He had a nice experience this time in hospital (because he was sedated, and the staff were lovely), and I would like to keep that positive, in an effort for him not to be scared of hospitals, etc in the future.

Ok don't want to be difficult but zoff on tegaderm dressings will leave you with a very sticky mess they work great on Mepore and stuff but not on plastic type dressings..... Quickest way to remove tegaderm is to stretch it don't pull it I would pop into the gp or ward where op was done and let them do it... Sometimes it is best to step back and let someone else do the horrible bits xxxxx

I would try to avoid taking him to see someone. If he's already upset it's going to make him worse. He is going to associate something as simple as removing a plaster (or not so simple in your case) with the ordeal of clinical surroundings and thats not what you want. Maybe you could try this Zoff stuff and get him involved in it? It might help to be in control and then he can gage whats hurting and how slowly he wants to do it, and he can do it himself using the "magic wipes". Poor little one!

Thanks everyone for the advice. We bit the bullet and did it at the weekend, soaked him in the bath and used the stretching techique to pull it off, which did mean it came off a lot easier! Did have to hold his hands away from it and he did have a scream about it, but once it was off, he was quite pleased about it. Tummy button is looking lovely, and he's proud of that! Thanks for all the advice

well done geraldine, and well done ds [bsmile].