Post laparoscopic surgery Q's

[AnyDream]

MG I don't think it's a reaction to the dressings, because I'm allergic to sticking plasters and it usually welts up right underneath/next to the particular bandaid/plaster and not elsewhere, kwim?

Amy, I'm guessing they would swab down a larger area - I think they use chlorhexidine rather than iodine-based thingies in surgery - but it's possible there's something iodiney underneath the steristrips as they are all brown. But I'd expect that would result in a rash nearer the wound like yours was.

I'm only taking codeine, paracetamol and a tiny bit of voltaren, highly unlikely to be one of them...have noticed it's started itching on my back again, so I'm thinking I'll have to take myself to the Drs tomorrow, just for advice on best anti-histamine or what to use with the other stuff I'm taking. Getting nervous now, I'll want to take more codeine for a comfy night (still can't lie down with any great ease) and I'd hate to think it's just going to make me itchier! It's a comfort that it would probably welt up if it was an allergic thing. No other symptoms, but I had horribly itchy/weepy eyes for the first couple of day which I put down to a morphine-histamine reaction. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

[Mother Goose]

What they use as a prep in theatre depends on the surgeon more than anything. The most common is still the brown wash. A lot are using a big sheet like a sheet of contact.

MD - you don't by any chance get hayfever do you?

[AnyDream]

Not usually. But my eyes were a shocker in hospy. What's the hayfever connection with surgery?

I'm actually wondering if it might be something latex-related now, isn't there a bit of latex dust floating around in surgery...?

[Trillian]

Hey MD, it was probably a full 2wks before I stopped looking bloated - the gas was gone within the first week, but I was still quite bloated. drinking lots of water helped with that. As for the rash hun, I can't help you with that, but I hope it's just a completely innocent rash.

[Mother Goose]

hayfever because of your eyes - you're in Vic and with all the smoke and other crap hanging around at the moment... hope the doc has an answer today for you.

There is a lot of latex in hospitals. Almost everything has latex. But if it were a latex allergy, I would anticipate it would have been instantaneous and not a heat rash type rash. Usually allergy reactions look really nasty and aggressive.

[AnyDream]

Thanks MG for your reassurance. Not in Vic, in SA.

[Mother Goose]

Have you seen the Dr? What did they say? I wonder why I thought you were in Vic?! LOL.