ILR

I had my loop recorder inplanted yesterday. I was told I need to wait to shower for up to 10 days or until I go back for my wound check. Is this the norm?

3 Comments

shower

by lhogue - 2014-10-03 01:10:14

I was told the same thing. I think they have a valid reason. I washed my hair in the sink and then filled a tub with about 6 inches of water. Then carefully washed around the outside of the wound with special soap. I never got the wound area wet. But yes the doc told me " No showering for 11 days. You're not doing anything so you won't be dirty" Ha! But it's really important not to get water in the wound and you don't want to go thru surgery again. So...why chance it.

Showering

by golden_snitch - 2014-10-03 12:10:30

Where I had my pacemaker surgeries, they always put a waterproof dressing on the scar 12-14 hours later, and then I was allowed to shower. The dressing they use can stay on for at least a week, and the site stays dry, even if you shower everyday.

If I were you, I'd ask for this kind of dressing in a pharmacy.

Best wishes

Inga

Water bad

by Jess88 - 2014-10-05 01:10:49

I was told the same thing when I first got my loop recorder. It was a pain, but I ended up sitting in a few inches of water washing everything but near the implant site. It wasn't too bad. The time flies by and before you know it it's shower time.

They just told me the same thing when I had my loop removed and put in my pacemaker. Water has bacteria and they want to avoid getting it in the wound. At least that was my doctors concern that he told me, but I had steri-strips and not durabond to close the incision.

You know you're wired when...

Bad hair days can be blamed on your device shorting out.

Member Quotes

I had a pacemaker when I was 11. I never once thought I wasn't a 'normal kid' nor was I ever treated differently because of it. I could do everything all my friends were doing; I just happened to have a battery attached to my heart to help it work.