body wash after heart surgery returning home ..?

[G345]

Hiya maybe a silly question but will my son need a antibacterial , unperfumed or other type of wash to keep scar healthy and free from infection at home after his aortic valve replacement and any other things you might need to help recovery . Thank you hope you are all well

[Shar28]

Hiya, not a silly question at all and you won’t be the first to ask. I recall my husband was sent home with the bottle of Hibiscrub he’d been using on the ward and he just used that until it was finished. The hospital will give full details before/when they send you son home afterwards. Best wishes to you, your son and your loved ones.

[G345 in reply to Shar28]

Thank you that's good 🙂X

[Beatles1956]

Hi G345The "special" shower gel is just to be as clean as possible before the op. Post op, I used "Sanex" shower gel, unperfumed, from Aldi. Did the trick, not worried about any issues which may have arisen with,say, Radox. Used for several weeks, till nurse said it was ok to use regular stuff. Now that the wounds are nicely healed, I use a little bit of aloe Vera body lotion on the area, Aldi, keeps it soft.

[G345 in reply to Beatles1956]

Thank you I was thinking sanex might be nice to use and aloe Vera is lovely too , hope you are well , that's helpful 🙂

[Beatles1956 in reply to G345]

While I think of it, I used kitchen or toilet paper to dab dry my wound area, then be disposed of, so little chance of spreading any germs to or from the wound area.Also, make sure you have enough buttoned shirts, including PJ's, nothing over the head for a good few weeks.

[G345 in reply to Beatles1956]

Thank you the kitchen roll sounds a good idea , and hopefully il persuade my son to wear shirts though he won't be happy , he wears tshirts but if it's less painful and easier I think he , give in , he doesn't like me fussing

[Beatles1956 in reply to G345]

He'll thank you for it 🤪

[G345 in reply to Beatles1956]

Thanks , I hope so 🙂

[Chillydipper]

Unless the hospital specifically advise you to use something specific I wouldn't worry. As a nurse we have only used unscented soap or shower gel following surgery. Hygiene is the most important thing ... keeping a wound clean and dry being imperative. Normal showers are best as the water will wash downwards and away. If having a bath it is best not to lie and soak as this will not be beneficial to the wound. Dry thoroughly after washing ... pat dry gently. Hope this helps to alleviate any concerns.

[G345 in reply to Chillydipper]

Thank you much appreciated advice, your all so nice on here 🙂

[Hidden]

Hi. After my heart bypass surgery I showered daily and allowed water to indirectly run over my scar (I didn't let the water jet directly impact on my scar) then I gently pat dried it. I didn't wash it directly until it was well on its way to healing and all the scabs had gone. Other than that I did nothing else other than try to avoid clothing touch it as much as possible (I found the scar area very sensitive). My scar healed up OK with no infection.

Hope your sons op goes OK.

[G345 in reply to Hidden]

I was wondering about clothing , it will have to be soft , thank you for replying it ,s a big help to hear others experiences I hope you are well 🙂

[Hidden in reply to G345]

Im good thanks, I hope you all all well too. Soft clothing is really useful. The only issue I had with my chest was when it bled when I went out walking, I suspect due to my t shirt rubbing against it. When I was inside for the first few weeks I would just wear an open dressing gown or fleece top to avoid anything touching my scar.

[Blackcatsooty]

After my AVR I was given notes about what to do and what not to do. I don’t think you will need to buy in special soap until you have a chance to read any hospital recommendations. Coming home alone, (the pandemic was raging) I did miss having some one to check where I had stowed the paperwork !

Oh that wonderful feeling of getting home. Brings tears of joy to my eyes.

Colin

[G345 in reply to Blackcatsooty]

Ah that is so lovely to hear your joy of going home , I hope you are well , I can't wait for it to be over I'm a nervous wreck with worry 🙂 Gina

[Heather1957]

It will never hurt to use a scent free body wash. I also used bio oil on my scar for a long while after and I think it helped.

[G345 in reply to Heather1957]

Thank you heather im so glad of all this advice you are all so kind , I hope you are well 🙂

[Heather1957 in reply to G345]

We are all in the same boat (unfortunately) 😀

[Hidden]

HiUnless your son was specifically told to use something by the hospital, there no need for antibacterial washes.

I used Sanex Zero and Simple Shower Gel and had no problems. As someone previously said, good hygiene is the key. Good old soap and water with plenty of rinsing off with warm water. Dab dry and don’t rub.

When the scar has healed a moisturizer can be very soothing. I used, and still do, Epaderm which is perfume free and widely available.

Send him our best wishes

Maisie

[G345 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Maisie that's very kind of you I hope you are doing well and appreciate your reply🙂

[spinningjenny]

I carried on using the body wash I had been given pre-op until it ran out. Largely because I hate waste and it seemed like a good idea. My scar healed to a thin, barely visible line. The only problem I had was that it caught on my bra but this might not be a problem for your son.

[Handel in reply to spinningjenny]

😊 xxx

[G345 in reply to spinningjenny]

Lol no definately won't have the bra problem, thanks 😀

[Handel]

Hi G345. My hubby just showered with Sanex for a couple of months after his quad bypass and once those darned pressure stockings were off (and ceremoniously burned!!), he had long soaks in the bath but didn't over wet the chest scar. Dabbed that dry.He had no infection so that was good.

I'd tell him not to lift his arms over his head (hubby just wore button up soft shirts for three months and no T shirts).

Take care and sending love to you both. Jan xxx

[G345 in reply to Handel]

Oh wow socks as well as shirts he's 31 he's not going to like any of that 😀But the sanex is a good idea best wishes love to you too xxx gina

[Handel in reply to G345]

Hi Gina. It seemed the standard thing to put on the lower legs to keep blood flowing I think. Our GP just said that if you're walking around, circulation won't be a problem and he said my husband didn't need them on!I think these may be more for people who can't move or get out of bed.

Everything will be fine and it's only short term stuff.

Lots of love and hugs. Jan xxx

[G345 in reply to Handel]

Thank you it made me laugh I haven't done that in a while , been so worried , but all your replays have made me feel abit more hopefull xxx

[Handel in reply to G345]

Hello Gina, It's a job surgeons carry out every day. As my husband's cardio surgeon said before his bypass "I could do this op with one hand behind my back and with a blindfold on - but I won't"!!!!

Everything will be fine, honestly.

Love and hugs. Jan xxxx

[El-Tel1990]

You’ve got great advice so far. Dettol E45 wash is very good. DAB the wound dry and apply bio oil on it. This helps the wound heal nicely and is helpful against keloid scarring. Hope he is in good spirits!Take care

El-Tel

[G345 in reply to El-Tel1990]

Thank you I'm so happy with all this advice , yes today he had a pre op and seems fairly calm up to now much appreciated 🙂

[MickP1000]

I showered with sanex eventually but just water at the start. I had a mild surface infection post surgery but it cleared up in a week or so. Was on antibiotics as a precaution and the district nurse dressed it every few days

[G345 in reply to MickP1000]

Thanks mick , that's good to know there may be help out there with the dressing sounds like he, have to be extra careful with it . Take care

[MickP1000]

Should add in hospital a nurse showed me how to put on a t shirt without endangering my wound/ raising my arms so I managed with t shirts from day 1 at home

[G345 in reply to MickP1000]

Thanks hopefully he can soon get back in his t shirts 😀

[Janma123]

Hubby was told to just let water flow over both the chest and leg wounds and not use any soap or shower gel near them. His healed well with just a slight infection by his ankle. Ohh and pat dry with a clean towel.

[G345 in reply to Janma123]

Thank you much appreciated I hope he's well now

[Hidden]

Hi, My wife reckons I used all sorts of different stuff, basically whatever she bought in. Can't say I ever had any problems with T-shirts, we learnt first time around to get cheap larger sized ones that were more or less disposable.

At your sons age he should fly through the recovery stage and be itching to go within a few weeks.

I wish him well.

[G345 in reply to Hidden]

Ah thank you I wish he'd read some of these messages but he thinks I worry too much, bigger t shirts is a great idea 😀

[Barle]

I had AVR in December. Whilst the scar healed, I did NOT wash it at all (on hospital advice). I simply allowed water from the shower to wash over it and then gently patted it dry. I used a fresh towel every shower. I used a fresh button-up shirt and button-up pyjamas daily. It did look a bit messy for a while but the key is to let natural healing process run its course. I didn't have any problem with infection and it has now healed up well (as well as any scar can).

Like your son, I prefer T shirts - but for the 1st 6 weeks, button-up shirts/pyjamas are far more practical.

[G345 in reply to Barle]

Thank you so much for replying your all giving me good advice reall grateful hope you are well🙂

[Wellington19]

I had my aerotic valve surgery and and used ordinary body wash when returned home, no problem with infection

[G345 in reply to Wellington19]

Thank you I hope you are recovering well take care

[Harefieldfan]

Hi. They gave me hibiscrib before my angioplasty and I had lots left so used it afterwards when I got home.

[G345 in reply to Harefieldfan]

I'm hoping he might be given some of this thank you 🙂

[Cyprus12]

Hi,I used the hospital anti bac shower gel at home until it ran out. I carried on with my normal shower gel after that. I did cover my scar daily with valentine. A tip from the nurse who told me it heals quicker and better???

I'm very happy with my clean, discreet scar.

[G345 in reply to Cyprus12]

Oh that's good to hear , thank you hope you are doing well 🙂

[Cyprus12 in reply to G345]

Vaseline!!!

[G345 in reply to Cyprus12]

Ah yes Vaseline 🙂I was going to google valentine when I had a moment to spare as it puzzled me , yes it a good idea thanks 👍

[G345]

Ah thank you , you sound like you look after him really well , I hope he's better now and must be so happy to have you 😀

[Jazz100]

I got hubby Sanex. It’s good, he also sat on a shower stool which he found easier. I gave him a clean towel every day and then washed his towels in Napisan. That sterilises them.

On the days he didn’t feel up to a-shower, I bought bed bath wipes from Amazon. They freshened him up but didn’t wear him out as a shower can be tiring.

As for shirts…I bought him some polo shirts that buttoned down the front as lifting his arms to get into anything else was simply too hard.

[G345 in reply to Jazz100]

Hiya thank you I'm familiar with napisan it's a good idea and he has a lot of polo shirts so il get them all washed . I'm also planning on sneaking in a stool for the shower when he's in hospital as he,d go nuts if I suggested it before it's like walking on egg shells some days as he,s very self sufficient or maybe just a bit stubborn🙂But I'm sure he be glad of some of them

[Mariawatters]

My son had a valve replacement on Wednesday 29 th December . He was told NOT to use soap but everything else ok. His scar is healing nicely . Good luck with your boy , hard for us heart mums too ❤️

[G345]

Thank you I hope you son is recovering well , yes it's hard being a mum , I try not to worry but it's just impossible, hopefully he will have an easy time with nothing going wrong , I know that's a big ask but I'm trying to stay positive. 🙂