holy allergic reaction batman.

 was allergic to steri strips and started with an itchy little red dot rash all over my stomach when i got home on saturday afternoon (had surgery last thurs.).  it has gotten progressively worse.  called the dr. on tuesday, told me to take off steri strips.  felt a little better after that but rash as gotten more like hives and is not going away.  he saw me this past thurs. and said was bad allergic reaction to adhesive.  been taking benadryl, doesn't really help.  showers help temporarily.  going to primary next thursday however am thinking i may have to move up the appointment since this is driving me crazy!  i've been using benadryl/cortizone cream on outside of red area (not over incisions) and ice packs to calm it down.  anyone else have this problem and how long does it last?!   

I would insist on being seen. Keep taking the benedryl though, you don't want the reaction to go further out. Yes, I have an allergy to adhesive tape. I have to ask for special tapes when at the hospital. Make sure it is on all your medical records. A second application on the strips could be even worse.

How long does it last ? Too long. A couple weeks easy.

I am horribly allergic to the adhesive on bandages and any kind of tape. 1st rule: Never, ever scratch it. Makes it 10 times worse. 2nd rule: keep it dry! I would not use any cream or ointment as moisture seems to inflame my allergic reactive areas. Try powder maybe if you must? 3rd rule: do not leave uncovered if other skin is in contact with it. It it's in a fold, you must put some gauze or something over it to maintain dryness. 4th rule: Try not to think about it. It will make you crazy.

Can you tell I have had this problem my entire life? lol I hope this helps you.

I know your pain. I'm allergic to Latex. Found out the hard way - painted a room and broke out in hives. Even had them on my scalp, the palms of my hands, bottom of my feet. It sucked. My PCP said it was the worst case he'd ever seen.

I don't want to come across as a Nurse or Doc, because I'm not, but you might talk to your Doc about these things that work well for me.

Ask your doc about  Zyrtec (take it at night if it makes you sleepy) instead of Benadryl. It's time release and longer lasting and specifically works on skin irritation. I take it daily (I have very severe allergies) and have already been cleared by my doc to take it before, during and after surgery.

Ask your doc about using Benadryl cream (okay to use with Zyrtec). He/she might say no because of the surgey holes in your tummy, but it will cuts the skin itching pain.

I've had allergies for years, gotten shots for the past 3 years and skin reactions are horrible.

Good luck and see an Allergist if your surgeon doesn't handle it to your satisfaction.

I had a horrible reaction to some "hypoallergenic" tape I bough here when I did my first gauze change. The entire area became blistered and oozy. Probably one of the worst skin reactions I have had in a long time. I am 3 weeks post-op today and it is finally starting to look better(less red) but I think I may get some scaring from a few of the blister spots... It does get better thou...

 HI I haven't had my surgery yet, it is scheduled for the 11th of this month which I have 3 more days however, I did have an allergic reaction to a medication that my doctor put me on and  I too broke out in hives however just like you the benedryll did nothing for me nor the calamine lotion except for temporary relief what they did for me was change me to claritin and had me soaking and using an oatmeal bath that seemed to help a lil bit but I ended up going to a skin specialist who had to prescribe something for me but try the clairitin and oatmeal bath not sure if you can use that around your incisions though might want to ask before doing the oatmeal bath thing. Hope this gives you some help

after a friend of mine who is an RN seeing it, she suggested calling the surgeon just to let them know it's getting worse.  she also thinks it may be due to the lovenox or prilosec because it is widespread and not just around the incisions.  i talked to the resident surgeon on call (at least i could get ahold of someone within 5 minutes!)  and he said that it didn't seem like an immediate life threatening condition and to see the dr. on monday morning to see if it was still from steri strips or from medication.  either way, breathing is normal, incisions are closed and not leaking, so not emergency worthy, just annoying.  i tried some cortizone cream again around the incisions and it's helping a little bit.  the benadryl isn't touching it though, which is why i was curious. 

i feel much better after talking to the resident and will follow up with my dr. monday. 

 Well that is good news that it isn't a life threatening emergency but I am sure it doesn't help with the annoying itching. Hope you get better soon and that you can hold out until Monday.  Good Luck

I, too, had an allergic reaction to either the surgical glue or whatever they used to prep the incision site. I think it is the glue--doc told me once the glue dried I would not have a reaction to it so it must be the prep left under the glue. Apparently, he does not have skin allergies. Leave anything against my skin (glue OR prep) for 10 days, I'm going to develop an allergy to it.

My contact dermatitis (blisters/hives) started 10 days after surgery. My incisions were not completely closed, but were scabbed over. My first job was to scrub off the glue. Nail polish remover--kept away from the incision--removed some. The Benadryl lotion works better than the gel, IMO. Also works much better than hydrocortisone. Advil will reduce the inflammation some. An antihistamine also will help. I can tell you my surgeon didn't seem that concerned. Once I removed the glue, it went away after 5 or 6 days.