Extreme skin sensitivity across abdomen

CynMur

I had an open partial right nephrectomy on September 4.  My recovery has gone pretty smoothly and I will have my post-op visit with the surgeon next week.  This past weekend we had to make a 7 hour drive to attend a family funeral and then a day later 7 hours to get back home.  Initially I was mildly concerned the drive might exhaust me since my energy levels aren't back to normal yet, but that was not an issue.  But during both days of driving, as the day went on, the skin across my abdomen became hyper-sensitive.  It felt as if it were sunburn, but there was no visible redness or rash.  This wasn't really even very near the incision, but more centrally located and around my navel.  Overnight, the sensation went away.  I will ask my doctor about it, but thought I would see if anyone here ever dealt with something similar.  Thanks.

foxhd

Very common

Very common complaint. It's one of the top 5. Nerve endings are regenerating. They are new, and hyper active. Sensation will always be a bit strange. You will get used to it with time. I think the women have had more discomfort due to clothes irritating the area.

CynMur

foxhd said:

Very common

Very common complaint. It's one of the top 5. Nerve endings are regenerating. They are new, and hyper active. Sensation will always be a bit strange. You will get used to it with time. I think the women have had more discomfort due to clothes irritating the area.

I figured it had something to

I figured it had something to do with nerve endings but it seems odd that I don't feel it when lying down or standing.  Thanks.

donna_lee

CynMur said:

I figured it had something to

I figured it had something to do with nerve endings but it seems odd that I don't feel it when lying down or standing.  Thanks.

Fox is right

Nerve endings.  Here are some things you can do for yourself:

Avoid "tight" clothing, woven fabrics that can irritate, glitter and metalic.

Don't wear any fabrics that are a known irritant to you (I can't wear cashmere, wool, mohair anyway)

Gently apply a skin lotion to the entire area and outside the boundaries of the incision.  Remember, the skin was retracted, which causes stretching trauma.  No colognes or scented lotions.

When you shower, don't use hot water.  And finish off by slowly turning the water to cool- but not icy.  That will bring the hot/cold nerve endings down to body temp.

Wear knits or absorbant fabrics.  Sweat can aggravate the itching because of the salt in perspiration.

Use a small pillow under your shoulder-seat belt strap.  And as you found, prolonged sitting can be uncomfortable.  Get up and move around every 1/2 hour.

After 8 years, I still know where the incision is located, and it itches sometimes.  But the sensation has gotten better, slowly.

Donna

 

CynMur

donna_lee said:

Fox is right

Nerve endings.  Here are some things you can do for yourself:

Avoid "tight" clothing, woven fabrics that can irritate, glitter and metalic.

Don't wear any fabrics that are a known irritant to you (I can't wear cashmere, wool, mohair anyway)

Gently apply a skin lotion to the entire area and outside the boundaries of the incision.  Remember, the skin was retracted, which causes stretching trauma.  No colognes or scented lotions.

When you shower, don't use hot water.  And finish off by slowly turning the water to cool- but not icy.  That will bring the hot/cold nerve endings down to body temp.

Wear knits or absorbant fabrics.  Sweat can aggravate the itching because of the salt in perspiration.

Use a small pillow under your shoulder-seat belt strap.  And as you found, prolonged sitting can be uncomfortable.  Get up and move around every 1/2 hour.

After 8 years, I still know where the incision is located, and it itches sometimes.  But the sensation has gotten better, slowly.

Donna

 

I really appreciate your

I really appreciate your input on this matter.  I was very lucky, pain-wise, post surgery and used just tylenol after a couple of days (the narcotic made me sick).  So it was kind of upsetting to have this skin sensitivity flare up.  I also sent my surgeon an email (isn't it amazing, to be able to email your surgeon?!) and he replied that it was a "transient phenomenon and should settle down soon."  Boy, do I hope he is right!  Thanks again for taking the time to reply to my inquiry.

todd121

Skin Sensitivity on the Abdomen

I agree with everything that everybody else said. Just felt like making a "me too" post. 

I have permanent nerve damage on the surface of my lower right abdomen. It's 2 years out and I still have no feeling there, so I'm starting to be pretty sure it's permanent. It doesn't bother me much. I got used to it. It varies across the area from no feeling, to a very strange feeling when I touch it.

Supposing they cut some nerves going in. With 5 incisions, I suppose they would have a good chance of hitting something. I suppose this was a minor concern for them.

Todd

aamdsi

8 months out

and my incision still feels "fumky" from time to time.  From being numb, to "heavy", to pins and needles, to (the worse) feeling like it's beign ripped apart (after heavy exercise).  I frantically emailed (yes it is wonderful to be able to do) my surgeon who, after looking and such, reassured me that it could take a year or more for it to feel "normal"

"Normal?", I asked.  "Okay, a new normal." he stated. "after the surgery and all that the body has gone through, the healing will take time.  Even a year or more down the road, it will still remind you that "it" isn't the way it was in the beginning.  Just like patching a hole.  The job will hold forever and you will be fine, but it never will be perfect."

Made sense to me after that

Positive_Mental_Attitude

aamdsi said:

8 months out

and my incision still feels "fumky" from time to time.  From being numb, to "heavy", to pins and needles, to (the worse) feeling like it's beign ripped apart (after heavy exercise).  I frantically emailed (yes it is wonderful to be able to do) my surgeon who, after looking and such, reassured me that it could take a year or more for it to feel "normal"

"Normal?", I asked.  "Okay, a new normal." he stated. "after the surgery and all that the body has gone through, the healing will take time.  Even a year or more down the road, it will still remind you that "it" isn't the way it was in the beginning.  Just like patching a hole.  The job will hold forever and you will be fine, but it never will be perfect."

Made sense to me after that

3 months after my open

3 months after my open partial nephrectomy, it still feels numb and strange when I twist or bend on the side of my incision.  My incision scar is still a dark red/purple, and I am wondering if the scar will blend back in with my skin tone.  I have several abdominal scars from a surgery on my intestines when I was a newborn, and the scars blend in with my skin tone.  So, a question is does the incision scar lose it's dark color over time?

Positive25

Positive_Mental_Attitude said:

3 months after my open

3 months after my open partial nephrectomy, it still feels numb and strange when I twist or bend on the side of my incision.  My incision scar is still a dark red/purple, and I am wondering if the scar will blend back in with my skin tone.  I have several abdominal scars from a surgery on my intestines when I was a newborn, and the scars blend in with my skin tone.  So, a question is does the incision scar lose it's dark color over time?

scar

Have you looked into silicone scar sheets for scar therapy? Cosmetic Surgeons use them for Cesarean and Tummy Tuck scars. They are prescription,  but you can ask your doctor for a prescription.  There are several brands and they are not cheap, but I have heard about great results. 

Alexandra

Positive25 said:

scar

Have you looked into silicone scar sheets for scar therapy? Cosmetic Surgeons use them for Cesarean and Tummy Tuck scars. They are prescription,  but you can ask your doctor for a prescription.  There are several brands and they are not cheap, but I have heard about great results. 

Silicon

Like you I bought into glowing reviews on the internet. I used Mepiform and Scaraway sheets and Kelocote silicone gel daily for months from the second the staples came out. In my experience doctors don't give prescriptions for them, not even my plastic surgeon. For a year I literally marinated scars in Bio-Oil. To be honest with you all the $$$ spent didn't change a thing. It takes years for the scars to fade. I didn't have the patience, so I tattooed over my scars.

Positive_Mental_Attitude

Alexandra said:

Silicon

Like you I bought into glowing reviews on the internet. I used Mepiform and Scaraway sheets and Kelocote silicone gel daily for months from the second the staples came out. In my experience doctors don't give prescriptions for them, not even my plastic surgeon. For a year I literally marinated scars in Bio-Oil. To be honest with you all the $$$ spent didn't change a thing. It takes years for the scars to fade. I didn't have the patience, so I tattooed over my scars.

Tattoo, that's a good idea! 

Tattoo, that's a good idea!  I have so many scars across my abdomen from prior surgeries, I could do a tatto of a tic tac toe board across my abdomen.  But I will have to consider something more fun and interesting.  

Ree_Maryland

itching

my stomach itched like crazy for several weeks after my surgery, Had my surgery on April 21st so far so good . but my creatinine is high.,anybody out there have any suggestions on how to lower it would be appreaciated .

GSRon

Ree_Maryland said:

itching

my stomach itched like crazy for several weeks after my surgery, Had my surgery on April 21st so far so good . but my creatinine is high.,anybody out there have any suggestions on how to lower it would be appreaciated .

Ree what do you consider high..? And what type of surgery..?

Ron

donna_lee

GSRon said:

Ree what do you consider high..? And what type of surgery..?

Ron

Creatinine

Is a waste product of muscle use, i.e. excercise.  The more physically active you are, the higher the Creat. level will be.

And conversely, the lower your eGFR (Glomuralar Filtration Rate is).  And that is how well your kidney(s) filter protein and waste out of the fluids they/it processes.  Your eGFR goes down slowly as you age; and abruptly with removal of a kidney.  For my age (71), the Docs would like it to be at a reading on CMP's as 60.  The best it's ever been since a kidney removal is 38-43; and everyone is happy.

Unless your readings are totally off the chart abnormanl, and the Dr. will tell you. don't stress a lot over those two lab results.

Eat balance meals, don't overeat, stay hydrated, maintain safe blood pressure and get on with living.

You'll do fine.

Donna

Ree_Maryland

GSRon said:

Ree what do you consider high..? And what type of surgery..?

Ron

type of surgery

Right kidney nep.  and that was April 21st  my creatinine is 1.18 now i am so to see a kidney speicailist , 

Ree_Maryland

donna_lee said:

Creatinine

Is a waste product of muscle use, i.e. excercise.  The more physically active you are, the higher the Creat. level will be.

And conversely, the lower your eGFR (Glomuralar Filtration Rate is).  And that is how well your kidney(s) filter protein and waste out of the fluids they/it processes.  Your eGFR goes down slowly as you age; and abruptly with removal of a kidney.  For my age (71), the Docs would like it to be at a reading on CMP's as 60.  The best it's ever been since a kidney removal is 38-43; and everyone is happy.

Unless your readings are totally off the chart abnormanl, and the Dr. will tell you. don't stress a lot over those two lab results.

Eat balance meals, don't overeat, stay hydrated, maintain safe blood pressure and get on with living.

You'll do fine.

Donna

creat

Thank you Donna for answering me . it really helps to talk to people on here . I will keep  all the suggestions in mind. 

todd121

Ree_Maryland said:

type of surgery

Right kidney nep.  and that was April 21st  my creatinine is 1.18 now i am so to see a kidney speicailist , 

Creatinine?

That's not a high creatinine reading. Are you sure that you put the correct number in? 1.18 is within normal range. Or did you mean 1.81?

Todd