staples

It does not hurt to get your staples out, in fact you will probably feel better when they are gone.  I found that they tugged on my skin and made sitting in a car very uncomfortable because of all the bumps in the roads.  Once I had them removed I felt quite a bit of relief.  A word of warning though: make sure they are in for at least 10 days if you have been taking prednisone.  I had been on prednisone for 9 months when I had my surgery and even though my surgeon thought they looked ready to come out after 7 days she was VERY wrong!  My stomach opened up and it was horror and chaos as the surgeon was called immediately back up to my room.  She had to freeze my stomach with local anesthetic and then staple it closed again while I was awake.  I do not mean to scare you, only to make you aware of what can happen if you've been on steroids for a while.  They weaken your skin and slow down the healing process.  The second time mine were kept in for 2 weeks and everything was fine.  Good luck with your surgery and I hope you feel better soon.

earthgirl

I was released from the hospital on day 4 after APR surgery - saw surgeon on day 10 for follow up and staple removal.  He checked me, front and back, and left the room.  The nurse got ready to remove my 17 belly staples ... I closed my eyes, clinched my fists, and bit my lip.  Nothing was happening, so I looked around to see about the delay.  Staples were OUT, I hadn't felt anything at all, the nurse was giggling.  Don't worry about staple removal!

Earthgirl's post was an eyeopener - that must have been awful - something to consider if you've been on meds.  I had no symptoms at all, was only taking meds for blood pressure and diabetes.  My rectal cancer was found during routine colonscopy

Good Luck!

  Martha 

Hi Pat-

I am 17 days post (permanent) ileostomy surgery.  I just got my staples taken out Friday.  That was 15 days post op, and I had called my surgeon's office because the staples were itching so much I wanted to know if I could put something topical on them.  The nurse told me to just come in and have the staples removed.  (I had an appointment for tomorrow to have them out.)  When I got to the docs office she looked at my tummy and said, "Oh yeah, those need to come out today while I can still get them out."  So evidently you don't want them in too long either!  I have to admit that I felt each one come out, but it was not much more than a pin prick each time.  I think mine hurt coming out because they had been there too long.  That's my guess anyway.  The nurse then put betadine all over my incision and covered it with steri strips of tape.  She said to leave the strips on until they fall off.  She said that would happen in 4-5 days.  I am able to shower as normal.  It is so much more comfortable now that the staples are gone.  I have been able to wear more "normal" clothing because those things aren't poking!

Margy

Thanks for asking, Pat.  Things are coming along for me.  The last few days I have felt very good!  I think that it tempts me to overdo, so I have to be careful.  I lifted my little one year old today, and immediately realized it was too soon for that.  I just felt a twinge, nothing too bad, but when I saw the doc today he said wait 2 more weeks to lift.  So I need to be careful still.  But I am getting accustomed to the ileostomy.  I am even feeling like it's ok that mine is permanent.  I made that choice with my surgeon, and it was the right thing for me.  But I think it is normal to still grieve this whole thing as a "loss."  For a little while...  I am thinking of and praying for you in your surgery coming up.  This discussion board is a great place to be at a time like this, isn't it?  So many supportive people here.

Margy