Shave and a Bath

[JESUS IS GREAT]

Hi, folks! Happy holidays.

I'm heading to surgery for button Bentall procedure on Tuesday, July 8th. I'm to show up at hospital at 5:30am.

Question #1. The nurse said to scrub myself from head to toe the night before with Hibiciens. But I'm wondering if I shouldn't instead be doing it early in the morning before heading out...just to be more sanitary. Getting up earlier is no fun...but I don't want to take any risks. What did you all do?

Here's why I ask!
I still will have all sorts of jobs to do like walking the dog.
I will have all sorts of jobs of my own to do because of taking the Dulcolax at 7:00pm that night.


Question #2. My 2nd question is....my wife is gung ho about taking a razor to me. She wants to do the shaving of my chest. I think I may do it myself so she'll quit bugging me....but she's acting hurt that I won't let her do it. Anyway....she tells me all husbands would WANT their wives to do this. I'm thinking....no way. I guess that is more of a vent than a question...but I still would like some input to cheer me up.

 

[Bina]

I never had a chance to use the "special" soap because they called me in 3 days early. They just had me use the cream in my nose.
My thinking is that you just need to take your shower the night before and don't worry about anything else.
They will shave what they see as necessary. Leave it at that.

 

[cp172]

Hi,

I did not have to use any special soap prior to surgery so I can not be of any help on this issue.

As far as your wife goes my advice is to let her shave you. She is going to need to feel helpful and I recommend you let her pamper you as much as she wants. Surgery is tough on the spouse.They see and remember lots of things those of us being cut on thankfully don't. If it made my wife happy I let her have her way after surgery and now during my recovery. Frankly its nice to know someone cares.

 

[Superbob]

Seems to me it would be fine if you wanted to scrub with the special soap very early in the morning instead of the night before. I enlisted my daughter to walk and take care of the dog for me, so I didn't have dog-walking duties the morning of surgery.

As for shaving, I don't remember that being an issue. As I recall, a hospital orderly did all necessary shaving. I think it might be best to leave it to them -- for the sake of peace in the family as well.

Wishing you all the best for Tuesday -- Godspeed!

 

[dtread]

My hospital specifically indicated that I was not to shave the chest area - to leave that to them.

Regarding the scrub soap (Chlorhexidine Gluconate 2 %), they indicated that I should follow the instructions on the bottle of scrub soap, and to use it the night before the surgery and then again just before leaving for the hospital. The instructions say to use a sterile towel, but don't worry about that (just use a clean towel). They will scrub you real good prior to the surgery and make sure you're sterile.

Good luck!

 

[JCSydney]

My wife was asked by the hospital on the afternoon that I was admitted if she wanted to shave me, and she did a great job. I didn't shower with the special soap until the morning of the surgery.

Jeff.

 

[JESUS IS GREAT]

Shave and a Bath

Thanks to all!

 

[ponygirlmom]

Yes, you are right that they want to reduce the bacterial count on your skin (although they do the bulk of that themselves in the OR) and that if you are going to be active between sleep and surgery you are better off showering in the morning.

Is your wife talking about an electric or blade razor? I don't think they will be happy about possible nicks or razor burns on your chest before surgery. Someone skilled at the hospital will shave your chest -- and maybe your legs-- with an electric razor before surgery. As a woman, I don't have a hairy chest, but a nurse checked to see if my legs were hairless pre-surgery. That's in case they have to do an emergency procedure.

 

[Dina]

I was already in the hospital the night before my surgery and they had me
shower with the germicidal soap the night before and the next morning.
What was so upsetting was the packaged soap scrubber they gave me,
I kept dropping on the shower floor, So the next morning they
brought me a few,kinda like saying,this one is a REAL klutz

 

[khawkk]

I was excited about having my chest shaved. I was hoping

I might then look like one of those young body builders.

wrong

I ended up looking like a Tiny Buddha.

Oh well............sigh!

 

[Cooker]

They will shave you, and more than your chest....groin and maybe legs....I think you can shower when you want...thay just want you clean.

 

[Jkm7]

I was instructed to shower with the anti-bacterial soap the evening before my surgery. I followed their instructions. If they wanted me to shower in the morning with that soap, that would have said so.

When I arrived at the hospital in the morning, they painted me from chin to ankles with betadine.....what a fine mess that was. Betadine is the orange color anti-bacterial wash. I was laying in bed when they did it and I kept thinking to myself......Happy I don't have to launder these sheets!

Do as they instruct is my opinion.

Good luck.

 

[Phyllis]

I don't know how we missed this, but you are on the calendar now and I will start your best wishes thread.

 

[PairoDocs]

My husband could not use the special soap due to the emergent circumstances. They did shave his neck, chest, abdomen, groin, and a few parts of his legs, but left some in the armpits and "down under". He was very grateful, and viewed these as "sprouts" to regrow his hair. They were very exuberant with the scrub, because it as EVERYWHERE! They gave him a bath the first night in the ICU (our cute nurse and a cute attendant) while he was still intubated and got all of it off! They even washed his hair and shaved his face where they could. It's pretty darn hard to do this with an intubated patient, but I was impressed. They also brushed his teeth and cleaned his mouth every 6 hours or so. He smelled good and never had that antiseptic odor, either. He said his hair felt like "clean dog hair" but had no other complaints. I did have to shave him the first time after surgery, so your wife will be able to do that, if she wants to. She'll also be able to wash your hair as much as she wants. The one thing you might do is get a shorter haircut, to make it easier to clean. Maybe your wife can do that?

I would recommend avoiding a shave of the body hair before surgery. Even if they nick you in the hospital, there won't be adequate time to develop an infection, and the good ol' scrub will prevent it.

Breezy Day in Idaho,
-Laura

 

[MNmom]

dont sweat the small stuff

dont sweat the small stuff

I was instructed to use the soap the night before and the morning of surgery. I would do what works for you, as others have mentioned. They will certainly take care of the extra antibacterial measures the day of surgery. As for shaving, I would say leave it to the pros. That way your wife doesnt feel as bad if you dont want her to do it and then do it yourself. This way, neither of you do it and it is done at the hospital. There will be plenty of things your wife can do for you after surgery. Maybe she can take the dog out, too! I have managed not to take our 89 lb bulldog out yet!
Take care, and lots of luck!
Ingrid

 

[Brookwood]

My husband was admitted to hospital the day before the surgery. They had him shower with three special soaps three times-twice the night before and once the next morning. As for shaving, a pro of hospital shaved him from head to toe one hour before surgery. Good luck!