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Upcoming surgery

Posted , 6 users are following.

Preshus222
Preshus222

I am new to this group I have had this for as long as I can remember and I am tired of it.  It is so bad now I am having surgery in 1.5 weeks under my right arm.  I have a general surgeon and plastic surgeon doing the operation together.  I am scared.  Maybe I should not have looked at videos and photos of before during and after photos.  I already have a issue with me and now I feel like I will never be able to wear anything without sleeves again - havent all summer - any advice would be great

0 likes, 22 replies

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  • Nfonseca88
    Nfonseca88 Preshus222

    Posted

    Hey, it's definitely scary. I had the same surgery in the right arm and then we did the left side a few months later. You having a plastic surgeon is a great idea. The only recommendation that I would have is to go to a wound care Center afterwards for the healing process. They have access to stuff the surgeons and doctors don't know about to promote healing and minimal pain. My area wouldn't heal so the only thing that worked is prisma and hydrofera blue dressing. If your area doesn't heal as fast as ur doctors like def bring these up. Prisma dissolves on the wound so no painful pulling and packing. And hydrofera starts as blue and turns white when it needs to be changed. I changed mine two to three times a week which is alot better than packing and changing dressings three times a day. When removing just add saline and it comes right off. At the wound clinic if they have to debride the wound tell them to put lidocaine gel and leave on for 8-10 minutes and it will be so numb u will not feel it. Please let me know if you have any further questions. Don't be super scared because the cases you see online are the really bad cases. Just let the surgeons do their job and request a great wound clinic. Do your research and pick the best in your area. Check the reviews.

  • MsPrincess213
    MsPrincess213 Preshus222

    Posted

    I have been suffering with HS for 3 years. I am having surgery in 6 days under both arms at the same time. I am nervous, but ready. I have watched the videos too and yes it looks painful. Good luck to us!!!
    • Nfonseca88
      Nfonseca88 MsPrincess213

      Posted

      Let me know if you have any question ladies. This surgery works. I haven't had a bump in my underarm ever since. It's totally worth it!!

    • Panda25
      Panda25 Nfonseca88

      Posted

      How was it the first few days after the surgery? I have my surgery on the 30th. I have no clue what to expect?
    • Nfonseca88
      Nfonseca88 Panda25

      Posted

      Well I'm not going to lie, it hurts and sometimes it could take a long time to heal. However, ur surgeon will give you some meds to keep you comfortable. Take them and make sure to rest and let the meds work.. just try and relax. I will stress to try and see if u could get to the wound clinic if possible as soon as u can. They will be able to help the healing process alot better than a surgeon. Here's a way of looking at it. Surgeons operate on people asleep.. they aren't the gentlest people. Wound care experts help people awake who r in pain and discomfort. They are alot gentler and have techniques that work better and are less painful. I went a year with opened wounds because I saw the surgeon most of the time. As soon as I went to the wound clinic my wounds healed and it wasn't as painful. I could live a normal life while going to wound clinic because I felt better. Surgeons use the packing method and they use gauze that hurt the wounds and irritate them every time you change them. The wound clinic gave me dressing that dissolves on its own so u don't have to pull off a dressing that sticks to the wound. My only regret is not going to the clinic sooner. I went thru a lot of unnecessary pain and I log on these blogs and try to help people so they don't have to go thru what I went thru. Unnecessary pain. After the surgery you will have pain like any other surgery. However, shortening the healing time is crucial for the least pain and the fastest recovery. I hope this information helps you ladies. Keep us all updated. I'm here if you guys have any questions.

      Oh and I would ask your surgeon for a script for a liter of saline with refills. Pour saline when removing any type of dressing unless otherwise instructed. It helps remove it easier.

    • Nfonseca88
      Nfonseca88

      Posted

      Even though the saline isn't covered by insurance you can use your hsa card and it's cheaper than over the counter one. Also easier to pour because over the counter saline you can only spray on. Pouring is gentler feeling.

  • Panda25
    Panda25 Preshus222

    Posted

    I am having surgery on both arms on the 30th, we will be fine. I am just ready for this to be over with. Good luck and keep us updated when you can.
    • MsPrincess213
      MsPrincess213 Panda25

      Posted

      My surgery is on the 16th, which is in 6 days. I am having it done on both arms too.
    • Nfonseca88
      Nfonseca88 MsPrincess213

      Posted

      How are you doing girl? Let me know if u have any questions.. praying for a speedy recovery.
  • MsPrincess213
    MsPrincess213 Preshus222

    Posted

    Will the wound be closed using skin grafts or skin flaps? Or perhaps left opened?
    • Nfonseca88
      Nfonseca88 MsPrincess213

      Posted

      Mine was closed but it opened back up. They tried then skin graft in another surgery. That failed so they left it opened after. I had a wound vac for a while. That didn't work. Then I went to a wound clinic and I healed. I'm so thankful for them. I should have gone sooner.

    • MsPrincess213
      MsPrincess213 Nfonseca88

      Posted

      You endured a horrible time. I had to go to a wound clinic twice a week and wear a wound vac after having my child via c-section.
    • Nfonseca88
      Nfonseca88 MsPrincess213

      Posted

      It was horrible for sure. I wish I would have gone to wound clinic sooner. But oh well, now I have all this advice to give to everyone because I've tried it all lol

    • MsPrincess213
      MsPrincess213 Nfonseca88

      Posted

      I really do appreciate the advice. My surgeon is not going to use skin grafts, so how will the wound be sutured? What I am basically asking you is how your incisiob was closed? I have heard of a primary closure and skin flaps, but I do not know much about the primary closure and how it is closed.
    • Nfonseca88
      Nfonseca88 MsPrincess213

      Posted

      He just stitched it back up initially. Idk the technique used. They just stitched it up like any surgery and then it opened so then they did the skin graft which also failed. Then they just left it open to heal.
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