Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Haven't heard this discussed much but I am getting really irritated from my band aids for the nipple dressings. I think it's not really an allergy but that it kind of pulls a teeny layer of skin up. I changed the orientation of the band aids. I could use other dressings. But the cloth tape does the same darn thing, and the paper tape doesn't hold. Dr G does not require a binder and I don't need to wear the ace bandage anymore. Though that thing is making me really itch.

Definitely not ready for uncovering them yet.

--Jay

You could try a really big piece of dressing and tape around that for a few days. Then the inner skin will have a chance to heal.

I suppose I could have it cover a LARGER area, hadn't thought about that. Cloth tape will do the same thing, I'm pretty sure. But it might be possible to just cover an area that isn't already sore. Not sure but might be worth a try. Paper tape doesn't irritate at all, but it doesn't stick very well either.

--Jay

I hear you.  Three weeks is a long time.  Alex has a good idea going bigger to give your skin a break.  I changed around from gauze/tape to large bandaids to gauze then bandaids again.  I finally decided on big bandaids and just rotated it as best I could to move away from the torn up skin.

Also, I did something else the last week before the end.  For about an hour before my shower each day, I removed the bandages and put antibiotic ointment all over the torn up skin.  I added antibiotic ointment to the top of the exposed square also, so that it wouldn't dry.  I would just sit still on the recliner and play online.  It really helped.  I don't know where you live, but hopefully not in a cold climate.  It was a bit of a challenge since the temperature has gotten cool here, so I was cold with my exposed chest!

It doesn't last forever. Fortunately, my skin was numb where the tearing was, so it actually didn't hurt, I just knew it wasn't good.

Quote from: Brett on November 18, 2013, 06:08:51 PM
I hear you.  Three weeks is a long time.  Alex has a good idea going bigger to give your skin a break.  I changed around from gauze/tape to large bandaids to gauze then bandaids again.  I finally decided on big bandaids and just rotated it as best I could to move away from the torn up skin.

Also, I did something else the last week before the end.  For about an hour before my shower each day, I removed the bandages and put antibiotic ointment all over the torn up skin.  I added antibiotic ointment to the top of the exposed square also, so that it wouldn't dry.  I would just sit still on the recliner and play online.  It really helped.  I don't know where you live, but hopefully not in a cold climate.  It was a bit of a challenge since the temperature has gotten cool here, so I was cold with my exposed chest!

It doesn't last forever. Fortunately, my skin was numb where the tearing was, so it actually didn't hurt, I just knew it wasn't good.

Yeah 3 weeks is a VERY long time for bandages/band aids, etc. I am sort of now reacting against anywhere regardless. Initially I put the big bandages today and it felt better, by now it just feels raw and tingly in a not pleasant way. I believe it's nerve pain or something.  I might try your little idea here. Sounds pleasant-- might have to kick up the heat just a little.


--Jay

1% Cortisol cream from the pharmacist may help.

I have an allergy like scratch my skin off with dressings

Quote from: Cindy on November 19, 2013, 03:21:19 AM
1% Cortisol cream from the pharmacist may help.

I have an allergy like scratch my skin off with dressings

I think if I try to say what it feels like it's like fire ants. I think the suggestion is good, but will have to see if it can go on skin that's already broken. I have some of this already. It's over the counter in the US. I called Dr. G's office and they said to send a picture.

--Jay

Quote from: Cindy on November 19, 2013, 03:21:19 AM
1% Cortisol cream from the pharmacist may help.

I have an allergy like scratch my skin off with dressings

Yes, the problem is that the nipple can never be without a bandage.  It cannot become dry.  Subsequently, one must always have antibiotic ointment and a bandage of some sort on the nipple.  The bandage won't stay, of course if you put any kind of cream on the broken skin.  Thus, the conundrum!  It is hard to explain.

Quote from: Brett on November 19, 2013, 06:20:58 PM
Yes, the problem is that the nipple can never be without a bandage.  It cannot become dry.  Subsequently, one must always have antibiotic ointment and a bandage of some sort on the nipple.  The bandage won't stay, of course if you put any kind of cream on the broken skin.  Thus, the conundrum!  It is hard to explain.

Yeah that's right. I could take it off, not ready yet (sadly). I did carefully put some cortisone cream around though. Can't tell if it's helped yet. I does actually look a bit more like a rash (I sent a picture and it looks to be more of a rash than cuts.)

--Jay

I appreciate the problems in the coverings. An idea that may be worth following through.
As I said I get terrible itch and a full red rash from the adhesive cover used to cover my implants, when I get them (same problem different gender!). But I recently had some moles taken from my back, right between the shoulder blades, so I couldn't reach the dressing. I told the Doc about my problem and he used a seaweed derived dressing that stayed on for days and did not cause any irritation. I wonder if your surgeons may know of that product? The person who did the mole removal was a dermatologist so they must share knowledge with others that do surgery.

Just a thought and please I don't mean to intrude in a guys thread, particularly over a sensitive issue (no pun intended!)

Well I certainly don't mind anybody's input that might have one. I think nipple is a silly word. :) Actually I don't have any feeling in the nipples it's the skin surrounding them. Dr G covers the nipples with xeroform which is gauze soaked in petroleum jelly and then you put antibiotic over that. i think this is not the problem, but the adhesives might be.

Anyway, I believe it to be a common problem with surgery involving putting dressings on some area for extended periods. Not a guy or gal problem so much.

Just found this alginate dressing on google. They are used for some sort of grafts.


--Jay

Dr G told me to use hydrocortisone cream 2Xs a day.
Also told me the nipples look good, which well I'm glad he told me, as they just look weird to me. :)

--Jay

Hi, Cindy.  Thanks for responding to the thread, as all ideas are welcome.  Although I finished with the process two weeks ago, it is fresh in my mind!  I believe you are talking about a bandage that you put on and don't remove at all (or for a long time)? Our bandages have to be changed every day.  Each day after you take a shower you cut a new "square" of messy gauze (from a packet that he gives you) that you place over each nipple.  You place some sort of bandage over that (band aid, cotton square with tape, etc).  You do this every day for 21 days.  So, we are putting a bandaid/bandage tape over the same spot and leaving it there 24 hours a day for 21 days.  You rip the old one off and put a new one on immediately, so the nipple stays relatively moist.  Not so fun! 

Surgeons take different approaches.  This is the Garramone 3 week nipple recovery process.

But it works!  My (5 week old) nipples looks great!

Jay, does the tape still stick even though you put hydrocortisone cream on the skin?

Quote from: Brett on November 20, 2013, 09:24:38 PM
Hi, Cindy.  Thanks for responding to the thread, as all ideas are welcome.  Although I finished with the process two weeks ago, it is fresh in my mind!  I believe you are talking about a bandage that you put on and don't remove at all (or for a long time)? Our bandages have to be changed every day.  Each day after you take a shower you cut a new "square" of messy gauze (from a packet that he gives you) that you place over each nipple.  You place some sort of bandage over that (band aid, cotton square with tape, etc).  You do this every day for 21 days.  So, we are putting a bandaid/bandage tape over the same spot and leaving it there 24 hours a day for 21 days.  You rip the old one off and put a new one on immediately, so the nipple stays relatively moist.  Not so fun! 

Surgeons take different approaches.  This is the Garramone 3 week nipple recovery process.

But it works!  My (5 week old) nipples looks great!

Jay, does the tape still stick even though you put hydrocortisone cream on the skin?

I definitely appreciate Cindy's input!!!! Grafting is just a medical procedure, which I'm not particularly feeling "sensitive" about. I go to a couple support groups. One I go to has a lot of trans women and I am friends with lots of them. They all know I had top surgery (and I usually know if someone goes for SRS or other surgeries). I didn't show my chest like I did in the ftm group though. :)

Yeah the tape is sticking okay. The cream is helping a bit. Takes the "edge" off is what I think. It feels a bit less like fire ants.

He is supposed to be a master on the grafting so I'm sure this is a very good technique. I know it's temporary, so....


--Jay

Thanks guys

You have made me blush :embarrassed:

Quote from: Cindy on November 21, 2013, 02:20:09 AM
Thanks guys

You have made me blush :embarrassed:

Gee Cindy but you blush easily. :)

--Jay

Alcohol pads also help to remove naughty adhesive from tape or bandages although for obvious reason will want to moisturize in some way with hydrocortisone cream or topical antibiotic.

Quote from: Flan on November 22, 2013, 01:00:30 PM
Alcohol pads also help to remove naughty adhesive from tape or bandages although for obvious reason will want to moisturize in some way with hydrocortisone cream or topical antibiotic.

Oy boy but would that sting right now!!!

--Jay

This is sort of related. the adhesive used on my bags is causing skin irritation. I wonder if the seaweed solution can somehow be used on colostomy wafers. I'm going to ask my doc when I see her Monday.

Quote from: LordKAT on November 22, 2013, 02:51:39 PM
This is sort of related. the adhesive used on my bags is causing skin irritation. I wonder if the seaweed solution can somehow be used on colostomy wafers. I'm going to ask my doc when I see her Monday.

It's probably something to get from the doctor. I ran out of xeroform (or saw that I would rather). The office said I could use bandaids or pads with lots of neosporin, but I decided to look for xeroform. They do sell this stuff at some Walgreens, etc in LARGE packages, but I was able to find some online (not quite identical). (Too bad I didn't get Jessica when I called pretty sure she would have mailed me some if I flirted with her a bit. LOL.) They call this alginate dressings. It's one of those things where you could probably find it around somewhere but it's not too available.

--Jay

This would have to be like medical adhesive stuff. gauze won't work. You are basically gluing a plastic circle to your skin. Unfortunately, it has to go in the same place every time. I don't know how people go through a lifetime of this.

Quote from: LordKAT on November 23, 2013, 01:40:45 AM
This would have to be like medical adhesive stuff. gauze won't work. You are basically gluing a plastic circle to your skin. Unfortunately, it has to go in the same place every time. I don't know how people go through a lifetime of this.

I don't think that the seaweed (alginate) is an adhesive. It self-adheres maybe, but it is more like a kind of gauze, afaik. I did look it up and you can find it by googling.

Sorry about that LK, must not be at all pleasant!

--Jay

Quote from: aleon515 on November 23, 2013, 01:31:44 AM
It's probably something to get from the doctor. I ran out of xeroform (or saw that I would rather). The office said I could use bandaids or pads with lots of neosporin, but I decided to look for xeroform. They do sell this stuff at some Walgreens, etc in LARGE packages, but I was able to find some online (not quite identical). (Too bad I didn't get Jessica when I called pretty sure she would have mailed me some if I flirted with her a bit. LOL.) They call this alginate dressings. It's one of those things where you could probably find it around somewhere but it's not too available.

--Jay

Yes, I was very, very careful with making sure I cut my squares just the right size.  I could see I would run out if I didn't.  Wasn't that stuff such a mess?  Horrid to work with.  Glad you found something online.

Quote from: LordKAT on November 23, 2013, 01:40:45 AM
This would have to be like medical adhesive stuff. gauze won't work. You are basically gluing a plastic circle to your skin. Unfortunately, it has to go in the same place every time. I don't know how people go through a lifetime of this.

Do you have a colostomy bag short term? I had a colon resection from colon cancer.  I was lucky that the tumor was in such a place that I didn't have to have a bag. Sorry you are having to deal with this.   :(

Quote from: Brett on November 23, 2013, 07:17:13 PM
Do you have a colostomy bag short term? I had a colon resection from colon cancer.  I was lucky that the tumor was in such a place that I didn't have to have a bag. Sorry you are having to deal with this.   :(

Perhaps in 2 years they can reconnect it. The surgeon says she doubts it, but it is a possibility.

Quote from: LordKAT on November 23, 2013, 09:47:05 PM
Perhaps in 2 years they can reconnect it. The surgeon says she doubts it, but it is a possibility.

When you said you don't know how people go through a lifetime of this, I assumed you meant you weren't going to have to.  I am sorry, that sucks.  Both my Aunt and Uncle's were able to be reconnected, but the surgeons knew that at the time of surgery. 

Quote from: Brett on November 24, 2013, 08:17:57 PM
When you said you don't know how people go through a lifetime of this, I assumed you meant you weren't going to have to.  I am sorry, that sucks.  Both my Aunt and Uncle's were able to be reconnected, but the surgeons knew that at the time of surgery.

I'm hanging on to the possibility.