Itching of the incision.

[Ovie]

My incision itches so bad, every day all day! Is the only thing I can do is just deal with it? or does anybody have some pointers?

Also, how do you know when your incision is healed and you can start using body wash and what not again? Ill be 9 weeks post op this Thursday.

Thanks.

 

[bocco]

Ovie,

I'm at 5 weeks and I don't worry about my incision in the shower any more. I just get in there and use the body wash my wife leaves in the shower. At 9 weeks you should be fine. Don't know about the itching. I haven't reached that stage yet. But my sternum has felt very tight the last couple of days.

Gary

 

[TheGymGuy]

Due to allergic reaction I had I have been washing my incision with soap since end of 1st week. Lately (week 4), I have just been showering and using my soap on all incisions as if they are not even there. You can also massage areas around incision towards it and slightly away from it, and even ice things down a little bit to improve circulation and that should really reduce itching.

 

[Ovie]

My main issue is the itching..it's killing me!

 

[Bill B]

Try some skin lotion/cream. Any kind.

 

[Bina]

The itching is extremely frustrating, I hear you.
It's best not to put random lotions, washes or soaps on it. The scar is healing, nerves are repairing, but an allegic reaction wouldn't be
fun either.
I used perfume-free Dove soap bars for sensitive skin. They are non drying and non irritating.

After washing, I applied a clear gel product called "NormL" Gel. You can Google it on line, but my daughter got it from the hospital
where she works. Great stuff.
Try to make sure also that when you wash your hair you use a super gentle shampoo because it will run down onto your scar area.
I used Johnson's Baby shampoo....sounds silly, but it's great.

 

[AgilityDog]

Give it another few weeks, but if the itching continues after about 4 - 6 months, check with a dermatologist. They can shoot up the scar with cortisone, which stops the itch.
At 9 weeks, absent any infection, you can probably start using mederma cream on it, too. Several times a day.

 

[Ovie]

Thanks all.

 

[Debbrn]

I have had the same problem after my 3rd OHS, but it was for the first 2-3 weeks. I took benadryl a couple times a day for a few days and then every night before bed for a couple of weeks. I was fine after that.

Debbie

 

[Eva]

Ovie,

If one's skin is sensitive, perfumed soap, long hot showers, and heated dry air may increase the itching. If your incision is healing well and is dry (no oozing, no infection, etc), you may try "Aquaphor"...I love it. You won't go wrong with the NormL which Bina recommended. I, too, am fond of the non-perfumed Dove for sensitive skin.

 

[Mentu]

The itching may also be hypersensitivity. As Bina said, the muscle and nerve tissues are continuing to heal. Sometimes several weeks after surgery, one can experience itching or pain where earlier there was none. This can be an indicator that the brain is reintegrating these areas. As it does so, it may at first "misinterpret" the signals from the nerves. I experienced this after surgery on my hand and later after the valve replacement in a circular area centered on my chest incision. The therapist who helped had me rub the area with a number of different textures and while in the shower different temperatures. It subsides in a few weeks when the brain has finished recalibrating the input from the nerves damaged during surgery. I used a soft cotton cloth, a piece of silk, nylon mesh, a smooth stone (later a rougher stone) and my hand and finger nails. One must avoid rubbing the skin so much it is irritated - just light rubbing. It is not how hard one rubs but the different textures that is important.

Larry

 

[TheGymGuy]

Bina and Mentu. These posts are awesome. I think someone also mentioned a hair brush as a textured object. Once I get more feeling back in my numb areas I will try to do things you guys suggested as well.

 

[DebbyA]

After four years, my scar still itches frequently. It's most noticeable when hiking because of my backpack chest strap. I tried Mederma and vitamin E and cocoa butter cream, all recommended by friends with surgical scars. I had cortisone shots after about a year, and they helped about six months. Another dermatologist gave (sold) me a cortisone cream, and that helps but doesn't prevent itching. Also the scar area seems to attract biting insects, so sometimes an intense itch turns out to be a bite. I wonder if the scar area is warmer (and therefore attracts insects) because of some kind of subtle process of either healing or inflamation?

I've never posted this before because I didn't want to be discouraging. People recommend what worked for them, but it may not work for everyone.

 

[Greg a]

As Bina and Larry/Mentu have outlined the skin is new and nerve endings confused anf hyper sensitive but also it could be agrivated by soap residue in clothes from a poorly operating washer/dryer there is an excellent soap that many europeans swear by PERSIL for allergies but the real reason they have so little problems is the wash temp of the machines or example a Meile washer to North American models and the water is almost boiling for a "sanitised" cycle ...I dont know enough about the new steam machines as to their capaabilities but we used to direct customers to Miele when thaey came in to buy Persil as the problem was not the soap but the machine.....these were people that had just come home from an overseas http://www.icdsupportgroup.org/acation where their clothes seemed softer and they wanted the soap they saw there but really needed a new machine

 

[Ovie]

I shower at about 68-70 degrees, I've only used soap twice in 9+ weeks and that was 2 of the days I was in the Hospital, on my incision that is.

I'll look into the creams, but I've been paranoid about putting anything on my scar, including soap.

The washing with different textures is defiantly new to me, but very intriguing!

...and as far as washer soap, I never thought about that, our washer and dryer is newish and updated so not to worry there.

But as most of you put it, I've assumed it was nerves and what not healing, my chest is very sensitive, I just figured at 9+ weeks out it'd settle down, so that's why I figured I'd ask if there was anything to help keep it calm.

 

[sarahsunshine]

Thanks for the update on the itching Ovie. How's the rehab going?

 

[Ovie]

I have my last day of Rehab today, and I'm excited, and sad..also a bit scared. I plan on making a topic on my experience with it. Thanks for asking