Question:
I am 2 days Post-op and came home today. I am doing great except for one thing...
I am Itching like crazy. I just took my second shower of the day and still itching. Not at incision sites, but all over. It started where my binder was touching me and now it is spreading. Someone said it can be from the I.V.antibiotics. Has anyone else had this happen and how long did it last? — Dottie C. B. (posted on December 13, 2001)
December 13, 2001
I know that right after I had my surgery up to about the 4th day I itched
like crazy. They told me it was from the morphine. I know that once I
stopped it and started on other pain medicine, it stopped. I'm not for sure
if that's what is the matter with you but it might be something to think
about. Maybe your doctor could give you something. Good Luck and
congratulations on making it to the other side. Now it's time to start your
new and wonderful like.
— Amy E.
December 13, 2001
Yes, I itched all over too, but mostly where ever there had been surgical
tape applied. But, I also think it was the bed bath products they used.
Once I was home and had showered a couple of times and used my favorite
body moisturizer it started to go away. But, next look out for your
incision site to itch as it heals. Mine about drove me nuts until I had
the staples removed and then another one or two days. I was sure glad that
phase was over with. I am sure it will get better for you in a couple of
more days. Just hang in there. If it doesn't, maybe your Doctor can
prescribe a steroid for a few days to help aleviate the itching.
— Susan M.
December 13, 2001
hi dottie. when my honey had his kidney removed in oct he was fine the
first few days. on the 2 day at home he started getting this rash that
started at his ankle & steadily crept its way up his body to his neck.
& the itch!! he was on morphine in the hospital & levaquin at home.
the strange thing was that the rash was at its worst on his legs where the
surgical stockings had begun & ended. of course i ran to the pcp with
him. the diagnosis was he was allergic to the morphine to begin with &
the levaquin added insult to injury because it is a very potent antibiotic.
the rash being the worst on his legs was because the surgical stocking
didnt let his skin breath enuf. he started taking benadryl gel caps, no
dyes. & it all cleared up in 2 weeks but it stopped the itch overnite.
— sheryl titone
December 13, 2001
Jen, my wifes surgery was this monday and she is having the big itch
everywhere, I rember it bothering me too. I think its from the anthestics,
since I had asked my surgeons office about it.
— bob-haller
December 13, 2001
I itched like crazy in the hospital...nurse said it was from the morphine.
They gave me something for it...I can't remember what it was...sorry. If
it's that bad - call the doc. Congratulations to you and best of luck!
Open RNY 7/17/01.
— blee01
December 13, 2001
Hi Dottie... I had surgery on two other occasions and both times had that
itching. Part of it they thought was due to the morphine...the other which
you might check out was that I had an allergy to silk...which was in the
fibers of the stockings, in sutures, and in one particular tape had fibers
in it. All times Benedryl cleared it up but now I'm very cautious of silk
and I anticipate the problem with the morphine now. Best wishes to you.
— AJC750
December 13, 2001
Good chance it is your pain med...
are you taking a Codine based pain med
like Loritab..
that makes me itch like my skin is crawling
it this is happening to you..
cut down on the pain meds
instead of the 3 teaspoons try one every 4 hours
and try getting off of the pain med asap
call the doc and tell them your itching
try not using pain meds after the 4 hours is up and see if your
itching is as bad
try waiting 8 hours see how the itching is
if the itching goes away after about 5-6 hours its the pain med
good luck
Kathy
— Kathleen M.
December 13, 2001
The same thing happened to me and they figured after trial and error it was
the IV antibiotics (I had an epidural and no morphine)! I ended up on a
steroid pack and it cleared up in about a week...good luck!
— Meryl F.
December 13, 2001
Hi, dottie i had the same problem when i was in the hospital which was
11/04/01. it was due to the med they had me on, benadryl became my best
friend it stopped all the itching or it could be the dial soap.
— [Anonymous]
December 13, 2001
I had the same problem. It was from the pain medication. I went to the
store and bought some Gold Bond Anti-itch cream and used wherever I was
itching. It worked wonders. Good luck to you!
— Wendy H.
December 14, 2001
I have had itching since coming home from the hospital. Though mine was
not caused from medications or any such, it was however caused by very,
very, very, dry skin. Remember, our bodies now can not take in as much
water as quickly as it used to and our bodies use up what we take
in...leaving us susceptible to dry, itchy flaking skin. Just another
thought to add...
Good Luck.
— Mustang
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