Bandages off tomorrow. What should i expect?

Posted , 9 users are following.

Hi all

I am having my bandages off tomorrow 13 days post op after bilateral bunion surgery. I am a little nervous about what my feet will look like and also am wondering if it hurts more to walk without the bandages. Another question I have is; what should I take to put on my feet?  I know I will still be wearing the special shoes but what about socks?  Do I need extra large ones? I tend to have the light cotton type of socks generally worn by ladies but can't imagine putting these on as they may be too tight or difficult to put on my feet.

Any tips or advice on this?

 

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  • Posted

    As it's quite hot you probably won't need socks.  When I had my bandages and stitches out the nurse put dressings on the scars and some tube bandage which worked fine for me. Good luck.  It feels very freeing having the heavy bandaging off but initially skin looks a bit horrible as it was covered in dry blood but this should be cleaned up a bit by the nurse.
  • Posted

    Sorry I can't help you as I am only day 6 but I will be most interested to hear from others who are just ahead of you. I asked a friend what happens at that stage and she said she thought she came away with bandages and stitches removed (and someone at the hosp said with a plaster cast on?!?) and used the special built up heel walking sandal with some of her own socks on?  Let's hope we hear what sort of sock before you head off! Maybe take what you have?  Let us know how it goes? Where are you by the way? Good luck!
  • Posted

    For me- the only pain I had was at this exact point and it lasted a few days. So I would recommend taking a pre-emptive tablet before the appointment.

    You will be in lightweight bandages and still your fashionable shoes so don't need socks.

    I will send you a link up photos on my blog of my first bandage change. Wasn't gross, no dried blood but bruising and yellow of the antiseptic from surgery.

    It felt like I'd gone backwards in my recovery but then after a day or so getting used to walking using my muscles rather than relying on bulky bandages for support I was back on track. My surgeon said that I would be sore for a few days and to ice and elevate. I did exactly as I was told!

    No stretching exercises just yet, but gentle wiggling will be good.

  • Posted

    Stitches! A tiny sting as he snipped each of the knots off. I was a little unlucky that my body had started absorbing one of the knots and he had to dig a little bit to get to it. Very stingy!!!!!! But this was the last toe of four so I just held my breath and then it was done!
  • Posted

    Hi Den, I loved getting rid of the huge bandages & dressings -,it was so easy & although I did have dry blood soaked through the dressing it didn't hurt one bit!! The nurse just jiggled the dressing a little and away it came. You will prob have a lot of bruising so be prepared to see all the colours of the rainbow & obviously swelling but it will feel lovely free your foot of all the heavy bandages. I had it replaced with gauze & tape then tubi bandages . My stitches came out a week later & that was just a little prickly but nothing really & over in few minutes! One stitch knot managed to stay put but worked its way out 2 weeks later. Once stitches were removed the surgeon just popped my sock on & my surgical shoe.  I bought a cheap pair of trainers couple of sizes larger than normal &'wore those from about 4 weeks. Good luck 
  • Posted

    Thanks so much to every that has responed to this post.  I am now very comfortable about my trip to see the consultant tomorrow.  I recommend Fabulousfeet's brilliant blog on the subject!
    • Posted

      Don't forget to let us know how you get on! X
  • Posted

    Back from the consultant and no more bandages! Feet look great already look narrower than before (I have extremely wide feet as well as bunions).  Not much bruising although scars look a bit crusty but nurse said that was more to do with glue residue.  Didn't have to have stitches out as they were dissolved all but one. The dressing had stuck but nurse took it really slow removing it and didn't hurt at all.

     I can shower from Monday onwards and have to wear the special shoes for another 2 weeks. Consultant said I can do as little or much walking as was comfortable and that if I got extra pain and swelling I was doing too much and to ease off.  Plenty of great and elevation in between exercise.

     He won't let me return to work for another 5 weeks but that is mainly because of the long commute into the city.  I can start working from home in another week.

    • Posted

      That's great news! So nothing we have to dread and home without bandages-yippee! Thanks for the info !
    • Posted

      Appreciated this reply as I have my bandages (both feet) next Wednesday 23/7. I'm not sure whether I have dissolving stitches or not.  I was wandering what I need to take in footwear Iv got a feeling Ill still be in the special shoes. Did you wear the surgical boots with just the lighter little dressing or do I need socks - & did you take some other shoes just incase you didn't have to wear the boot? Must have been great having a shower. 
    • Posted

      Hi there Karen, Jinny here! I can't answer your questions except to say that I have been given an appointment to have my stitches out which is 18 days after the op! I am not best pleased as the nurse said it should be 10-14 days otherwise the stitches could become imbedded! Aaahhhh! I have a small plaster on and the nurse said they put another one on once they have taken the stitches out?! So I guess it's back into these sexy sandals! Don't take your red high heels!   How's things with you? I am on my own now but can manage most things, bringing a mug of tea back upstairs this morning was a bit of a trick tho....... Coming up the stairs backwards one hand on the crutch the other on the bannister and each step meant moving the tea up a step as well, but hey! I made it! 
    • Posted

      Hi Karen

      Folling some replies I recieved I did not take in socks and in my case the nurse put a small dressing over the wound and a light bandage for the journey home.  He told me I could remove the bandage as soon as I got home.  My consultant told me that I had to wear the funny shoes for another 2 weels.  I fin te shoes are too uncomfortable without socks as the skin on my feet feels quite sensitive particularly around my toes.  I didnt feel like I wanted tight socks on and so I actually cut the feet out of an old pair of wooly tights and find that they make the sandles more comfortable.  Also my feet feld really chilly after being in a very thick bandage for nearly two weeks.

      Havnt had the shower yet as I have to wait until Monday sad

      I had a difficult journey into London for my appointement that meant I had been up and on my feet for much longer than I have been used to.  I think as a result of this I felt quite poorly that evening and actually passed out.  The following day I spent on the couch feeling like I was back at day 2 post op.  I think I had just overdone it as today I woke up after a good noght sleep and felt on top of the world.

      My advice to  you is take it easy on the day of the appointment and try and avoid walking if you can.  I felt fine at the time getting to and from the appointment but it hit me like a tone of bricks later that day.  I took more pain killers yesterday than I have since just after the op.  I think some of this is due to the fact that I have not been sleeping well and so my husband picked me up some mild sleeping pills from Boots yesterday and I slept all night through and feel amazing for it.

      Good luck with your appointment and remember everyone is different and so it is unlikely that you will go through what i did after.

    • Posted

      Hi jinny

      Maybe you have dissolvable stitches like mine were,  Having said that 18 days post op does sound a little long.  I would maybe complain and ask for a sooner appointment.  A sneaky way around would be to call up around day 10 and say you are worried that the wound is infected as it is hurting more.  Im sure that will hurry them up.  OK... sneaky but if they wont be reasonable.

    • Posted

      Thanks for advice/information  Deni!  I have been good using Bobs PIE method. So I have high expectations for next week seeing my new feet.  Sorry to hear of your bad experience but glad you had a good sleep it really does help. It's such a long journey for us all but we will get there successfully - take care! X

       

    • Posted

      Well I did ring my surgeons secretary re an earlier appointment , she listened to my concerns , took my number and it was the surgeon himself who rang back,saying he was sorry but they were fully booked and 18 days wasn't too long after op for stitches out!!! So that took the wind out of my sails! So mine don't come out until 26th so you gals will just have to tell me how your stitch removal goes! It also sounds as tho I will still have a plaster cast on that area, I asked if I could have the stitches removed at the local hospital and was told they didn't have a plaster dept!?!
    • Posted

      Yeah 18 days is awhile but guess they know what they are doing. Not long now then in a few more days or so. Hang in there. I took a panadol before getting stitches out. My surgeon was that quick I did not realise he had them out until only one sucker go stuck and it weeped abit. I had to go to another place to get my casts on and would you believe they don't have proper car parking spots....ridiculous but hubby manage to park in a 30 min zone. Luckily enough we did not get a fine. 
    • Posted

      Where do you live? Which hospital did you go to for stitches, plaster etc?
    • Posted

      I live in Hobart and went to the Hobart Private? You?
    • Posted

      England! No wonder things are slightly different! I live in the Lake District and had my operation in Whitehaven on the Cumbrian coast and will go to Carlisle for my follow up appointment. X

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