Packing a Wound? *Nurses Maybe??*

So I had surgery on Friday for a 10 cm breast abscess + staph Incision & Drainage. So I have to unpack/repack the wound every other day (it would normally be everyday, but I'm using a special packing derived from seaweed bc it's more absorbent and my wound is on the larger/deeper side). I change the gauze and bandage on top of the packing two to three times a day and the paper tape I'm using is really starting to irritate my skin....is there anything I can do to make the tape easier to pull off? I'm scared my skin will start to get raw and tear :/

TIA

My dad is 80 so the regular medical tape will literally rip his skin off. If you go to one of the medical stores or maybe even a Walgreens or CVS they have tape that is less abrasive to the skin.

I had one of those on my leg. It was one of the most painful things ever! I couldn't imagine having it near my breast!

What kind of tape is it? Use an alcohol wipe under the tape to loosen the adhesive before pulling it off.

ETA: I just realized you said paper tape.

alcohol wipe or vaseline

<blockquote><b>Quoting O ♥ G:</b>" So I had surgery on Friday for a 10 cm breast abscess + staph Incision & Drainage. So I have to unpack/repack ... [snip!] ... there anything I can do to make the tape easier to pull off? I'm scared my skin will start to get raw and tear :/ TIA"</blockquote>




You could go to a CVS or Walgreens and get something called paper tape! Also, when you're just laying around the house you could use Band Aids instead. Otherwise, we usually just make sure that most of the tape is on the gauze, leaving only a small edge touching your skin....

<blockquote><b>Quoting Smartass *TTC*:</b>" My dad is 80 so the regular medical tape will literally rip his skin off. If you go to one of the medical stores or maybe even a Walgreens or CVS they have tape that is less abrasive to the skin."</blockquote>



I'll check it out, thanks!

<blockquote><b>Quoting Bettinas:</b>" I had one of those on my leg. It was one of the most painful things ever! I couldn't imagine having it near my breast!"</blockquote>




It sucks   the first day of unpacking the wound was the worst experience of my life bc the doctor ripped it out before I had a chance to get pain meds. After he took it out, I got a dose of morphine AND dilaudid before I felt like I was able to get it repacked and I was still holding onto the bed crying.

It gets better and better everyday though. Today is my fourth day.

Thanks for the advice everyone!