Taking dressing off what will it reveal

Hi, very odd that you have to do this yourself, it is usually done by your hospital or a practice nurse, so I am guessing you are not in the UK?  What to expect, well I am only one week in so have not had to do this yet, but on past experience it will depend on the type of dressing you have on at the moment.  If it is just a breatherable dressing it should all be dry and fine, if it is a water proof, it could be a little sweaty and wet.  Either way the most important thing is to steralise everything you use.  If you don't have surgical gloves make sure you scrub your hands and have some clean wipes to clean the area.  The steri strips should come off very easily and without discomfort, the stinging and pulling you feel is probably stitching and nerves below the skin so shouldn't cause you a problem.  The scar could still be a little weepy in places, if so cover with a light breathable dressing for 24 hours.  I took my own stitches out following my knee debridment, and it didn't hurt at all.  Good luck and do let us know how it goes.

Don't know the answer but just wanted you to know I'll be thinking about you and wishing you well.

Kind regards,

Gill 

A little scary to start with when you see the wound for the 1st time. The knee will probably be red, some slight draining or seeping and the knee will be rather warm to hot. I imagine there will be some residue from the sterilization liquid, either red or brown. I think most people are a little surprised at the size of the incision but after 1st glance it isn't particuarily disturbing. 18 yrs ago my wife had breast cancer and had to have a mastectomy. They showed us pictures of incision and healing process. I thought I was ready for the 1st post surgery look.........I wasn't... The unwrapping of the knee was much easier to take and the familiarrization process much easier. You will be fine, no need to be anxious.

Forgot to add, give your knee a good iceing first, it will help to numb it and make you less stressed.  Bet it will be really easy, don't worry.

I have had my post op appointment after 2 weeks where they took the staples out and put steri strips on and put a dressing on over the top. They said leave it on for about a week then take it off.

i am worried it won't be joined back together and that I'll keep bashing it. There are some funny feelings coming from the wound bit sore and I have needle like sensation.. Will have a look tomorrow and let you know 

I know how you feel. I am in uk and changed my dressing yesterday. Luckily dry but very long scar. I am dreading having clips removed this Thursday. I will be like you I am sure. I think you might be pleasantly surprised when you remove dressing. Let's hope you are. Will be thinking about you xx

The surgeon's assistant took my steristrips off at 2 weeks, and by then my wound was completely sealed over. It was a bit of a sticky mess, but he said the glue on the steristrips didn't usually get sticky like that so you may not have that to deal with. In one spot where they had had an instrument stuck on my skin, there was a scab that partly pulled off with the steristrip and he just stuck a bandaid over it.