Performing simple daily activities in an instant can become difficult and frustrating if you are recovering from a surgical procedure, including bathing. Most surgical incisions must be kept dry, so bathe following the doctor's special instructions. These instructions may require you to wait a while before being allowed to shower, cover the incision carefully, or both. Depending on the type of surgery underwent, a regular bathing routine may now be complicated due to limited mobility, plus the difficulty of moving freely in a small shower cubicle. Make sure you shower in a safe way to prevent infection and injury.
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Part 1 of 4: Washing the Incision Area Safely
Step 1. Take a shower as directed by the surgeon
Doctors know the intricacies of the surgery performed, and how best to take the next steps in the healing process.
- Each doctor has clear instructions that you should follow for a few days after surgery, including instructions on when it's safe to start bathing. These instructions depend largely on the type of surgery performed and how the incision was closed during the surgical process.
- Instructions for bathing are usually given when you are discharged from the hospital. Call your doctor immediately if you forget where to put the information in order to prevent infection, avoid injury and the healing process can continue.
Step 2. Understand how your incision is closed
Knowing more about the methods used to close the incision can help prevent injury and infection.
- The four most common ways to close surgical incisions are: using surgical sutures; staples (incisions are attached using staples); wound closure strips, sometimes called butterfly Band-Aids or steri-strips (a type of tape in the form of long, small sheets); and liquid tissue glue (liquid tissue glue).
- Many surgeons will also apply a waterproof bandage over the incision so you can shower normally, if you feel strong enough, of course.
- In most cases, the incision covered with tissue glue may be exposed to a slow running stream of water 24 hours after surgery.
- The sutures may have to be removed after the incision has healed, or they may be absorbed by the skin, and will dissolve into the skin without needing to be removed manually.
- Caring for an incision that is closed with manually removed sutures, staples, or a band-aid-like band-aid, may require you to keep it dry for a longer period of time. That way, you should wash the body with a sponge / washcloth, or cover the incision area when bathing.
Step 3. Wash the incision area carefully
If the incision doesn't need to be covered, make sure you don't brush or scrub the area with a washcloth.
- Clean the incision area with mild soap and water, but try not to get soap or other bath products directly into the incision. Just run clean water in the area.
- Most surgeons recommend using soaps and hair care products that you normally use.
Step 4. Carefully dry the incision area
After bathing, remove the dressing used to protect the incision (such as gauze or Band-Aid, but do not remove the bandage covering the wound), and make sure the incision area is dry.
- Dry the incision area carefully with a clean towel or gauze pad.
- Do not rub too hard and do not remove any stitches, staples, or bandages that are still in place.
- Avoid the urge to open the incision and allow the scab to remain in place until it falls off on its own, as the scab prevents the incision from bleeding further.
Step 5. Apply only the prescribed cream or ointment
Avoid applying any topical products (products that are applied to the skin) on the incision, unless your doctor has specifically instructed you to do so.
Changing the dressing, as directed by the doctor, may require the use of a topical product. Antibiotic creams or ointments may need to be used as part of the dressing change process, but topical products should only be used if you have been instructed by your doctor
Step 6. Leave the butterfly tape/wound cover in place, don't tamper with it
Once the time limit for keeping the incision area dry has passed, it doesn't matter if the tape is wet. However, the plaster should not be removed until the plaster comes off on its own.
Carefully dry the incision area, including the band-aid, as long as the bandage does not shift
Part 2 of 4: Keeping the Incision Dry
Step 1. Keep the incision area dry according to the doctor's instructions
Keeping the incision area dry may mean you shouldn't shower until 24-72 hours after surgery, this is to prevent infection and speed up the healing process.
- Follow the doctor's instructions. Many variables are involved in surgery, and the risk of developing an infection or damaging the incision can be avoided by carefully following the doctor's specific instructions.
- Keep a clean gauze pad at home to dry the incision area throughout the day if necessary, even if you are not near water.
Step 2. Cover the incision
Depending on your doctor's instructions, you may be allowed to take a shower if the incision is in a part of your body that can be carefully closed with a waterproof material.
- Most surgeons will give clear instructions regarding the method they choose to close the incision while you shower.
- Use clear plastic wrap, trash bags, or wrappers that can be wrapped tightly. Use medical tape around the edges of the tape to prevent water from seeping into the covered area.
- For hard-to-reach areas, ask a family member or friend to cut a plastic bag or plastic wrap to cover the incision area and tape it down so it doesn't slide.
- For the shoulder and upper back area, apart from attaching a cover that is placed over the incision, a garbage bag draped over the shoulder like a robe can help keep water, soap, and shampoo out of the incision area while you shower. For the incision in the chest, attach a garbage bag such as a saliva cistern.
Step 3. Wash the body with a sponge/washcloth
If your doctor's instructions don't allow you to take a shower, try washing your body with a washcloth to feel refreshed while keeping the incision area dry and undisturbed.
Use a sponge or washcloth dipped in water and mixed with a few drops of mild soap. Dry the body with a clean towel
Step 4. Avoid bathing
Most surgeons recommend taking a shower under the shower after the time required to keep the incision area dry has passed, and you feel up to it.
Do not soak the incision area, soak in a tub filled with water, relax in a hot tub, or swim for at least three weeks or until your doctor permits
Step 5. Take a quick shower
Most surgeons recommend taking short showers, no more than five minutes, until you are stronger and the incision has healed.
Step 6. Ensure your safety
Ask someone to accompany you in the shower for the first few occasions.
- Depending on the type of surgery performed, you may need to use a shower chair, chair, or hand brace to keep you stable and prevent you from falling.
- Surgeries performed on your knees, legs, ankles, feet, and back may make it difficult for you to maintain balance in a tight cubicle. Using a stool, chair or support, can help provide additional support.
Step 7. Position yourself so that the incision is not exposed to the jet of water
Avoid strong jets of water that directly hit the incision.
Regulate the flow of water before entering the shower cubicle to produce a comfortable temperature of water and adjust the power of the jet to protect the incision
Part 3 of 4: Preventing Infection
Step 1. Recognize the symptoms of infection
Infection is the most common complication that develops after surgery.
- Call your doctor right away if you think the surgical incision has an infection.
- Symptoms of infection include body temperature reaching 38.3 °C or higher, nausea and vomiting, unbearable pain, new redness appears at the incision site, the incision feels soft when pressed, and warm to the touch, discharge that smells or is greenish or green in color. yellowish, and new swelling occurs.
- According to research conducted in the United States, about 300,000 people who undergo surgery each year have the potential to develop an infection. And, sadly, about 10,000 of those people died from the infection.
Step 2. Find out if you are at high risk of infection
Some conditions and situations make people more likely to develop an infection, or have the incision reopened, than others.
Some of the risk factors include being overweight, having diabetes or having a weak immune system, malnutrition, taking corticosteroids, or smoking
Step 3. Take preventive measures by applying basic hygiene
Common steps you can take at home include washing your hands frequently and thoroughly and using clean utensils during changing dressings or after bathing and drying the incision area.
- Always wash your hands after using the bathroom, handling trash, touching pets, handling dirty laundry, touching anything that comes from the outside, and after handling used bandages/plasters used to cover incisions.
- Take the precaution of telling family members and guests to wash their hands before coming into contact with people who have recently had surgery.
- Quit smoking at least two weeks before surgery if possible, although four to six weeks is preferable. Smoking slows the healing process, reduces oxygen in healing tissues and can potentially lead to infection.
Part 4 of 4: Knowing When to Call the Doctor
Step 1. Call your doctor if you have a fever
A low-grade fever after major surgery is common, but a body temperature of 38.3 °C or higher can be an indication of infection.
Other clues that may indicate infection and require you to call your doctor include new redness around the incision site, discharge of pus from the incision, foul-smelling or dark colored discharge, tenderness to the incision area when pressed, warm to the touch, or new swelling around the incision site. incision area
Step 2. Call the doctor if the incision bleeds
Wash your hands thoroughly, and gently press the incision area with a clean gauze pad or clean towel. Call the doctor immediately.
Do not press the incision firmly. Gently apply pressure and cover the incision area with clean, dry gauze until you can reach a doctor or other medical facility for examination
Step 3. Seek medical help if you experience any other unusual symptoms
If you have stomach pain, nausea or vomiting, or have jaundice (a condition that causes your skin or eyes to turn yellow), see your doctor as soon as possible.
