United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi Everyone,

Thanks to all who prayed for James and all your good wishes. We have returned from TX and James is doing fine after the TT.

I need some advice as to how to remove the bandages with ease and without pain. James' skin has become sensitive and the alcholic swabs are burning. He is not tolerating this very well. Last night was the first time we had to change the dressing and we only managed to remove one of 3 bandages. It took 1 hour to do this.

Thank you for all your help,
Mary Jane

try putting some vitamin E oil over it to soften the bandage and skin (also good scar healing) Get the bandage good and saturated with it and let it soak in before you try to remove it. If you have neosporin ointment handy and not V-E, you could try that too and use it instead of rubbing alcohol.

I hope Jeame's skin becomes less sensitive and all heals well!

Peggy

Hi Mary Jane.

Sarah had the TT two weeks ago and we are facing the same dilema. We took her to the pediatrician for the first dressing change, and it was a nightmare!!!!

We bought some hypoallergnic tape at the drug store. It's like paper, but it does hold the bandages on. It's not as hard to get off, but she still does fight it. Our pediatrician also gave us some adhesive remover swabs that have helped some. Perhaps you could ask James' doctor for some of those, or pick them up pretty inexpensively at any medical supply store.

How did surgery go? Please feel free to email me if you'd like to commiserate! We are in the exact situation!

Cherie
chohertz@udallas.edu

Hi Mary Jane,

Peyton had the TT surgery 4 weeks ago and this was very painful for him as well. We had a really hard time with it. Like Cherie said, I would ask the dr for some adhesive remover swabs. I did'nt know they had these or would have gotten some myself. Hang in there, you all will get through this!!

Marnie

Mary Jane- glad to hear all went well. You could also try mineral oil.Does nothing for the scarring like the vitamin E, though. We used Mederma for KIDS on JAvier and it has worked wonderfully. He has sensitive skin, excema too. Best of luck for a great recovery.

MArlyn

Hi, Mary Jane. Here's some advice from another mom:

"when we taped the gauze down, a nurse at TCH told us just to put one strip down the middle with very little on the skin...it caused the least amount of pain.. worked well, too - kept it clean"

Hope this helps.

~Tina

I can so relate to what you're talking about! Our son, Chase (age 7 LTBPI) has been seriously traumatized with his EMGs, surgery and dressing removals, etc. This last time, our OT taped his shoulder to try helping his subluxation (since the sling has done some damage), and to change that tape was a nightmare! He actually left some risidual tape near his neck for 2 wks post-surgery because he didn't want anyone touching him. To take all the tape of from his shoulder, I got so desperate after trying every type of oil, that I used goo gone! Perhaps a little caustic, but sometimes you do what you have to and he just couldn't take anymore. It took us a good hour to get everything off even with goo gone - as if they haven't gone through enough! FYI, he didn't react negatively to the goo gone.

Hi Mary Jane,

We too had the same nightmare after the TT - I did buy the paper tape after I got the original bandage off and like the other poster said, I put as little as possible on the skin, but made sure it stayed on. She was so much happier the second dressing change!

Good luck,

Jody

Thank you all for your suggestions and hepful hints. James is doing much better now with minimal taping.

Mary Jane

Be careful with the adhesive remover swab from the doctor/ hospital. Because my son has sensitive skin many things break him out. Even the tegaderm cover they put on the incision after surgery (found this all out with his first surgery at 4 months old). I had the best luck with putting a little vaseline on a q-tip and rubbing gently edge by edge. Takes a long time but no skin breakout and no crying! Even polysporn and neosporn breaks him out.