DM - just leaving it is not an option, the boobie is glued to my post surgical bra (which now needs a washing which is another whole kettle of fish).
Lulu - I think eucy might be a bit harsh. Also it's a very big area & there's nearly 30 cms of suture lines involved. I would usually try it but not this time.
Starrysky - baby oil's probably a really good idea. The nurse today was saying something about non-soap washes and I've got some that has a parrafin oil component along with a small amount of lavender - that might do the trick...if not I'll give baby oil proper a shot (just don't have any in the house right now).
Trill I'm going to try the sorbolene first...not sure the bicarb would work so well without a scrubbing effect. Maybe the sorbolene will help soften it up
ETA
MG - just saw that you use eucy at work - is it diluted at all or just neat from the bottle? Do you think that is gentler than alcohol or is alcohol gentler?
There's a product that they use to remove surgical adhesive - it comes in little individually wrapped swabs - can't remember what it's called but you should be able to get it from a pharmacy. I remember getting an awful reaction (ie: blisters) from the adhesive in the surgical dressings after my c/s, I wouldn't usually use products like this on my skin but the longer the adhesive stayed on my skin the worse the reaction. It stung on the blistered areas (not surprisingly) but was quite gentle on the rest of my skin.
I'd be cautious with eucalyptus oil neat on the skin at the best of times, but on sensitive post surgery tissue you might be inviting irritation.
Actually, that reminds me - my grandma had breast cancer and had a mastectomy - I'm not sure if she also had chemo or radiotherapy, but I think she did. Since then she's had incredibly sensitive skin and can't use anything but hypoallergenic products on her skin. She can't use anything fragranced, whether synthetically or with essential oils. Apparently this is quite common with oncology patients who've undergone radiotherapy or chemo, so it might be something to be careful of.
Suse - I know the sachets you are talking about - the nurse that came out the other day had one she kept stashed in her baggie - but I've had a good rummage around in the bag of dressings etc they left and no more in there. I'm not sure my local pharmacy will have them. Good point about the skin sensitivity - I think that has more to do with the radiotherapy which in my case was avoided by having the mast.
Last edited by AnyDream; December 22nd, 2009 at 06:55 PM.
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