Incisions itching

I had RNY on 10/26.   I woke this morning with itching all over my incisions.  When I had the drain taken out, the PA put tape over my incisions.  I took the tape off this morning and one puffed up a little.  Tonight the itching seems  to be increasing.   Anyone else have this problem?

This is completely normal. It means you are healing and growing new skin to cover those incisions. Just try not to scratch too hard, keep lotion on your tummy so the dry skin issue isn't compounding the healing issue... and just try to endure the discomfort until it passes. 

Thank you!  Wasn't sure it was normal with RNY or if it meant something else..

Not scratching, just patting my belly.

Actually, this is not just a WLS specific issue. It's ANY surgery where you have healing incisions. My boss recently had bladder surgery and she itched for a couple weeks after her surgery. It's just a healing thing, not a WLS thing. :-) 

 

I used an antibiotic ointment on the incisions and drain site and lotion all around the belly.  The surgeon's nurse practitioner told me to be sure to keep the incisions moist with the antibiotic ointment so that I don't scratch and take a chance of getting an infection.  I healed nicely! 

Janet

Also around 14 days after surgery the largest incision has a possibility of sharp pain. They tend to do some fancy stitch work to  prevent hernias... I was sitting in a meeting thinking I was going to check myself into an ER, luckily the woman next to me used to manage the WLS portfolio for US Surgical and knew the ins and outs 100%. She talked me off the wall; and by the next day I was 100% fine.

Just as the others stated above i agree ..it usually means you are healing...try using Aloe Vera gel  or Cerave to help soften and keep the skin moist. Rita

Some people are also sensitive to the tape adhesive and that reaction can cause redness and itching.

Lora

I had this issue and was told that it was an allergic reaction to the steri strips.  It will go away...but makes you want to rip your skin off. 

I don't remember my incisions being painful or itching but I do remember periodic spells where my abdominal area itched like crazy.  I attributed it to the change of skin texture with the loss of fat cells.  It still happens on a lesser scale than early on.