Changing a Dressing (way not pretty)

Is there anything special I should know about changing a dressing after surgery?

In particular, is there anything special I should know about changing a dressing on my scrotum after surgery?

Underwater.

You know, you used to hear so much about how a lot of weirdo websites are, in fact, set up by the FBI to entrap citizens with certain orientations. There may be a site somewhere called, say, Travis Bickle Central, but all the serious log ons are typing straight into a government database. So, this is a S.C.U.M. stakeout right? I mean, if anyone would get off on your “below the waist” posts it would be the Society for Cutting Up Men. You’re trying to clean all the S.C.U.M. off the streets, right?

Well, I wouldn’t use a scrub brush and bleach.

The folks who did the surgery, if they had any competence, should have sent home a short list of instructions.

My fading memory says that you don’t scrub the area for the first day or three*, giving the actual wound time to close before introducing (potentially contaminated) soap and water. Simply remove the bandage and replace it with another without touching the wound. Application of Neosporin® (or store brand “triple antibiotic”) might be advised.

After the initial “do not touch” phase, you can simply wash it gently with warm, soapy water and rinse it thoroughly. (Once the wound has closed to a certain degree, washing removes bacteria from the region without the danger that a bit of soap scum will enter the wound and bring its own little nasties with it.)

With the introduction of “anti-bacterial” soap in the last few years, some of these instructions might have altered, but it won’t hurt to follow the ones I provided.

*The duration for which one avoids touching the wound, even with soap, is one of the instruction points that they should provide.

Don’t ask us, call your doctor, or the local ER. Are you reddened or swollen? Is the site painful or do you have discharge? If you are at all concerned, call your doctor! A lot of people can’t remember what they are told about dressing changes----look what you’ve been through. When you were instructed, it might not have been a real “teachable moment”!

No advice on changing dressings…but to keep the swelling and pain under control try bags of frozen peas or frozen blueberries.

Right now you couldn’t even squeeze a dime between my clenched kneecaps…

I should have been a bit more clear, but for perhaps obvious reasons that’s more difficult than usual. I’ve now followed the three-day rule, and was told that if everything is cool (no fresh blood for 24 hours and no discharge) I can shower and apply a new bandage then.

I’m just particularly concerned that there might be… potential complications that may result from the particular area on which the surgery was performed. For example, I want to dry the area thoroughly, probably with a hair dryer with the heat off, so that jock itch doesn’t set in.

And yes, it does suck. Worse than I ever would have dreamed. Suicide would have been a valid option had I known what the experience would be like beforehand, but now that I’ve saved the damned kids I might as well finish what I’ve started. Yes, I’m going to see a psychologist tomorrow, so fret not for me. Thanks for your help.