Steri Strips and Cotton balls

[Guest guest]

Hi All,Thank you so much to all that helped out with my previous question re: constipation and fussy eating post surgery. Things are great in that area now. ;)My 4 year old daughter is recovering nicely. It's amazing actually. Now for my next questions/concerns:We are now 12 days post surgery and neither her steri strips on the back of her ear or her cotton swab have come out on there own. I talked to the nurse and she said to go ahead and take them out/off myself. I have been so diligent about not getting any water near her ear that I think they haven't really had a chance to come off (the dried blood is holding them in place) She mentioned to use water and peroxide to help. I have managed to get the cotton ball out of her ear by using the peroxide (I'm scared to use water) and then inserted a clean one with vaseline on it as directed by the nurse (so it won't stick next time). But the steri strips on the back of her ear look like they aren't coming off anytime soon. Anyone have any suggestions on how to do this without traumatizing my 4 year old? They are holding on tight. Any advice appreciated. (Even to say just leave them alone, but I got the impression from the nurse I should be removing them now). When my son had stitches last year I remember waiting a few weeks and then still having to rip them off one by one..... just seems cruel. Regards, Kim Krogan Mother of: Dalton (Oct. '03) & Shayla (Jan. '07) San Francisco, California

[Guest guest]

Kim,

If I'm remembering correctly, I used a clean washcloth wetted with

peroxide to very gently dab the wound in the first couple days after

surgery. It knocked off all of the crust and began to moisten and loosen

the steri strips. A couple of days after surgery, I was allowed to

shower (being careful not to get water in my ear). I would use a clean

wet washcloth (no soap) to dab around the wound and then washed

everything else as normally as I could. After the shower I would use a

second clean washcloth with peroxide on the wound. It healed quite

nicely and the steri strip came off on its own after just a couple of

days. So, with just dabbing and blotting the area without rubbing it ...

it actually felt pretty good. It shouldn't be scary thing. Maybe doing

it with a reassuring voice will help.

Matt

Krogan wrote:

>

> Hi All,

>

> Thank you so much to all that helped out with my previous question re:

> constipation and fussy eating post surgery. Things are great in that

> area now.

>

> My 4 year old daughter is recovering nicely. It's amazing actually.

>

> Now for my next questions/concerns:

> We are now 12 days post surgery and neither her steri strips on the

> back of her ear or her cotton swab have come out on there own. I

> talked to the nurse and she said to go ahead and take them out/off

> myself. I have been so diligent about not getting any water near her

> ear that I think they haven't really had a chance to come off (the

> dried blood is holding them in place) She mentioned to use water and

> peroxide to help. I have managed to get the cotton ball out of her ear

> by using the peroxide (I'm scared to use water) and then inserted a

> clean one with vaseline on it as directed by the nurse (so it won't

> stick next time). But the steri strips on the back of her ear look

> like they aren't coming off anytime soon. Anyone have any suggestions

> on how to do this without traumatizing my 4 year old? They are holding

> on tight. Any advice appreciated. (Even to say just leave them alone,

> but I got the impression from the nurse I should be removing them now).

>

> When my son had stitches last year I remember waiting a few weeks and

> then still having to rip them off one by one..... just seems cruel.

>

> Regards,

> Kim Krogan

>

> Mother of: Dalton (Oct. '03) & Shayla (Jan. '07)

> San Francisco, California

>

--

[Guest guest]

We always just let the steristrips work their way off. I trimmed any loose bits with clean scissors. The Dr. removed whatever was left at the checkup with a stinky solvent that dissolves the glue.

On Wed, Jul 27, 2011 at 5:59 PM,