Seams in clothing are bothering abdominal skin

Tamlen
Tamlen Member Posts: 343 Member
in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1

Ever since my hysterectomy (a year ago) and chemo (ended 6 months ago), the skin on my abdomen has been hypersensitive to the rubbing from seams in underpants, the back of the metal button in the waist of my jeans, and spots the seams on pant waists touch my skin directly. It's so annoying I actually started wearing underpants inside out to stop the seams from touching my skin (my husband has strict instructions to notify emergency room nurses that I do not have dementia, should such a situation arise, LOL).

The sensation isn't really pain per se, more like a really annoying scratchy feeling, like when the label of a blouse scratches the back of your neck. I'm assuming this is a weird side effect of nerve damage during robotic surgery.

It's driving me so nuts that all I can think of all day is the chance to get home and put my inside out sweatpants on!

Has anyone else experienced this? Have you found relief somehow?

Thanks!

Comments

  • zsazsa1
    zsazsa1 Member Posts: 568 Member
    #2
    Would a smooth tight

    Would a smooth tight undergarment, like Spanxs, help?  That way, the seams would not be rubbing directly on your skin - you'd have constant firm pressure on the skin, with no movement of anything over the skin, directly touching it.

  • CheeseQueen57
    CheeseQueen57 Member Posts: 933 Member
    #3
    Commando

    You could always go commando (he he)

  • Tamlen
    Tamlen Member Posts: 343 Member
    #4
    CheeseQueen57 said:

    Commando

    You could always go commando (he he)

    Yeah, but then

    But then I'd have the seams of the pants rubbing instead. It's all fabric, any type, any type of seam or slight edge to the fabric.

  • Tamlen
    Tamlen Member Posts: 343 Member
    #5
    zsazsa1 said:

    Would a smooth tight

    Would a smooth tight undergarment, like Spanxs, help?  That way, the seams would not be rubbing directly on your skin - you'd have constant firm pressure on the skin, with no movement of anything over the skin, directly touching it.

    If I get lymphedema

    ...I'm doomed. I cannot. stand. tight. clothes. I stopped wearing dresses to work years ago because I just refused to wear pantyhose anymore. Pathetic, I know. It wasn't about the oversensitive skin then, I just hate restrictive clothing. Just a quirk, I guess.

  • zsazsa1
    zsazsa1 Member Posts: 568 Member
    #6
    Well, I can tell you that I

    Well, I can tell you that I had a myomectomy with a lower abdominal incision about 30 yrs ago.  The incision site felt strange for a couple of years, then the nerves calmed down, and it didn't bother me any more.  I think that is what will happen for you, that it will improve with time.

  • cmb
    cmb Member Posts: 1,001 Member
    #7
    Seamless Underwear?

    Have you looked at seam free underwear? My days of wearing bikini style underpants are long over, but perhaps a low rise style like that in a seamless, microfiber fabric might be more tolerable for you if the panties end below the area of your abdomen where you are most sensitive and there aren't as many seams in the fabric. Or perhaps a seamless, full brief might work better to provide a fabric barrier between your stomach and any irritation caused by your dress pants or jeans.

    I haven't had the same type of skin sensitivity after treatment, so I can't vouch for this as a solution and you may have already tried this style of underpants without getting relief. I hope that others can offer additional suggestions. I can understand it must be incredibly irritating.

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer Member Posts: 3,486 Member
    #8
    cmb said:

    Seamless Underwear?

    Have you looked at seam free underwear? My days of wearing bikini style underpants are long over, but perhaps a low rise style like that in a seamless, microfiber fabric might be more tolerable for you if the panties end below the area of your abdomen where you are most sensitive and there aren't as many seams in the fabric. Or perhaps a seamless, full brief might work better to provide a fabric barrier between your stomach and any irritation caused by your dress pants or jeans.

    I haven't had the same type of skin sensitivity after treatment, so I can't vouch for this as a solution and you may have already tried this style of underpants without getting relief. I hope that others can offer additional suggestions. I can understand it must be incredibly irritating.

    I had a coupon for a store

    I had a coupon for a store and got a pair like you talk about, cmb, to wear under white pants.  I have to say they ARE completely smooth - it is amazing. 

    Also, what about loose dresses, Tamlen?   When I had radiation, I was concerned about a radiation burn, that is what I wore.  Of course, if you are in the part of the country where winter just doesn't end, that could be a drawback.  I hope you find some relief.

  • MugsBugs
    MugsBugs Member Posts: 111 Member
    #9
    Very Wierd

    I didn't associate the sensation with hysterectomy or seamed underwear.  I have been experiencing a similar sensation. I have 2 types one without seams and one with seams.  I get an itchy sensations where the seams of the underwear our - I never put the correlation of itchy hip bones with seamed underwear.  The seamless ones are Bali seamless and I get them off of Amazon.

  • Forherself
    Forherself Member Posts: 1,013 Member
    #10
    zsazsa1 said:

    Well, I can tell you that I

    Well, I can tell you that I had a myomectomy with a lower abdominal incision about 30 yrs ago.  The incision site felt strange for a couple of years, then the nerves calmed down, and it didn't bother me any more.  I think that is what will happen for you, that it will improve with time.

    I agree

    I have strange sensations around my abdominal skin too.  And I attibute it to nerves being cut during surgery.  I think the skin surface is actually numb, with strange sensations just below the skin.  I also had a myomectomy 30 years ago, and again, my skin was numb for a few years after.  Normal sensation did return though.

     

     

  • Tamlen
    Tamlen Member Posts: 343 Member
    #11
    Thanks everyone! I have a

    Thanks everyone! I have a number of seamless panties, etc, which help some, but sometimes the scratchy/itchy sensation won't go away. I guess I was looking for advice about lotions or something like that from anyone who'd had a similar experience.

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