Staples - after the surgery

janie1
janie1 Member Posts: 753 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1
I about freaked after liver surgery that I have about 70 staples. The last time (when the pump was placed in the abdomen), they used steri-strips and that worked fine. That was a large incision, too, but not as large.
I asked the nurse about numbing cream, she said, "no". Gave no rationale. I had staples after colon resection, small incision, and it hurt like heck. I'll probably take percocet.
Any advice?
Also, has anyone had a large incision and doc only used dissolvable sutures and steri-strips? I inquired and sounded like it's to each their own. Wish I had had a say-so in the matter. :/
Thanks.

Comments

  • tommycat
    tommycat Member Posts: 790 Member
    #2
    I had staples in my
    I had staples in my abdominal incision, 35 of them. Believe it or not, they don't hurt when the doc snips them out. It was freaky, but not painful. I took an Ativan beforehand to quiet my nerves, but there was absolutely no pain.
    Hope this helps~
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    #3
    Hi "Frankie"
    Sounds like you got the "Frankenstein" surgery, Joan:)

    When I had my rectal resection, I was stapled and it was ugly looking, puffy and inflamed, that kind of thing...took me a minute to get my head wrapped around that one.

    When I did liver surgery, they opened me for a "full procedure" - one of the surgeons told me that she had "quite a time" putting me back together....they "glued" me for that one.

    When I did my lung surgeries, they told me, no glue, no staples - as they will tear and rip...so they 'stitched me for that one.

    TC is right - when they pull the staples, it will pinch a little, but like a needle stick...the sound of it and what you are looking it is far worse than the removal.

    I'm sure you will be in some pain and hoping for a healing recovery:)

    -Craig
  • thingy45
    thingy45 Member Posts: 632 Member
    #4
    Sundanceh said:

    Hi "Frankie"
    Sounds like you got the "Frankenstein" surgery, Joan:)

    When I had my rectal resection, I was stapled and it was ugly looking, puffy and inflamed, that kind of thing...took me a minute to get my head wrapped around that one.

    When I did liver surgery, they opened me for a "full procedure" - one of the surgeons told me that she had "quite a time" putting me back together....they "glued" me for that one.

    When I did my lung surgeries, they told me, no glue, no staples - as they will tear and rip...so they 'stitched me for that one.

    TC is right - when they pull the staples, it will pinch a little, but like a needle stick...the sound of it and what you are looking it is far worse than the removal.

    I'm sure you will be in some pain and hoping for a healing recovery:)

    -Craig

    Staples
    Hi,
    When I had my surgery, (April 2011) I came out with 45 staples, 3 crossbars to keep staples and belly together and a flush pump.
    What hurt the most when taken out was the flush pump and hose. Staples and cross bars did not hurt at all, some of them pinched a little.
    In my opinion the ripping of a bandaid was more painfull.
    I wish you a speedy recovery
  • westie66
    westie66 Member Posts: 642
    #5
    thingy45 said:

    Staples
    Hi,
    When I had my surgery, (April 2011) I came out with 45 staples, 3 crossbars to keep staples and belly together and a flush pump.
    What hurt the most when taken out was the flush pump and hose. Staples and cross bars did not hurt at all, some of them pinched a little.
    In my opinion the ripping of a bandaid was more painfull.
    I wish you a speedy recovery

    Staples
    Yup, I agree - taking off a bandaid is much more painful! I clutched my doctor's arm the entire time but it was OK. A couple were even well imbedded into the flesh but nope, didn't hurt.
    Cheryl
  • janie1
    janie1 Member Posts: 753 Member
    #6
    westie66 said:

    Staples
    Yup, I agree - taking off a bandaid is much more painful! I clutched my doctor's arm the entire time but it was OK. A couple were even well imbedded into the flesh but nope, didn't hurt.
    Cheryl

    thanks Everyone!
    I feel better already. ( The bed sheet even causes irritation, but just one more more day of this stuff.)
  • pete43lost_at_sea
    pete43lost_at_sea Member Posts: 3,900 Member
    #7
    janie1 said:

    thanks Everyone!
    I feel better already. ( The bed sheet even causes irritation, but just one more more day of this stuff.)

    just hang in there
    the joys of crc.
    the disease that keeps on annoying us.
    i pray you will have a fast recovery.
    hugs,
    Pete
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #8
    Janie
    Yep, I had the staples too, the first time I had staples was for the C-Sections of my pregnancies (3 in total)and yes, I freaked out over the taking of them out, but when I looked and saw how many staples for the liver/colon/ureter incision, now that was something else to behold, I even took a picture of it with my hubby's cell phone.
    And yes, it isn't pleasant getting them out, feels like a nasty sharp pinch when they take them out, some not as bad as others. But nothing to make you scream, just "ouch! ouch! yikes! Jeez!, a few times. But compared to the surgery, not so bad, but do ask them to do it a little while after your pain med, that will make it seem painless.
    Winter Marie
  • maglets
    maglets Member Posts: 2,576 Member
    #9
    herdizziness said:

    Janie
    Yep, I had the staples too, the first time I had staples was for the C-Sections of my pregnancies (3 in total)and yes, I freaked out over the taking of them out, but when I looked and saw how many staples for the liver/colon/ureter incision, now that was something else to behold, I even took a picture of it with my hubby's cell phone.
    And yes, it isn't pleasant getting them out, feels like a nasty sharp pinch when they take them out, some not as bad as others. But nothing to make you scream, just "ouch! ouch! yikes! Jeez!, a few times. But compared to the surgery, not so bad, but do ask them to do it a little while after your pain med, that will make it seem painless.
    Winter Marie

    yup
    could not agree more.....I have had a belly full of staples after both resections. I found it depends when you get the staples out.....if they are just a tad grown in it is yikes and wowww and then you go and have a cup of coffee.....nothing like post surgical pain....

    I had a nurse do it.....and after every 10 or so I would say.....okay let's take a wee break...

    I think anticipating that it is going to hurt prolly made it worse...

    yes a little ativan would not be amiss

    mags

Discussion Boards