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Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,112
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

I am having surgery next week. Instructions say starting 5 days before surgery I should shower Every NIGHT with a special soap, then sleep on clean sheets. I usually shower in the mornings because I sweat at night. I asked why At Night and she just told me to follow the directions.  Have to wash sheets every day will not be fun either  Does anyone know Why it should be At Night or can I just shower in the morning and be OK. She said it was so I don't get Mersa.

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,288
Registered: ‎01-04-2014

I suspect they want a clean body on the clean sheets.

Frequent Contributor
Posts: 77
Registered: ‎08-05-2013

I had lung cancer surgery in Dec.

I had to shower with special soap and sleep on clean sheets the night before

and shower with the left over soap in the morning. 5 days doesn't make sense.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,125
Registered: ‎06-25-2012

My dh is having surgery in two weeks. His instructions are to shower with this antiseptic soap, the last three showers he takes, prior to surgery.

"Pure Michigan"
Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,050
Registered: ‎03-15-2021

My husband had to shower the night before his surgery with a special soap. He had to pause his shower for five minutes to let the soap sit on his skin. Then he rinsed and slept on clean sheets. The morning of the surgery he took another shower with the special soap allowing it to sit on the skin for five minutes before rinsing. Then we were off to the hospital before dawn.

 

 

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,131
Registered: ‎03-11-2010

Re: Pre Admission Testing

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I hope everything goes well with your surgery. I encourge you to follow the pre and post surgical instructions. It is in your best interest even though it is not fun or something you want to do. You do not want an infection or complication. Wishing you the best recovery.

 

 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 13,768
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

@geegerbee wrote:

I am having surgery next week. Instructions say starting 5 days before surgery I should shower Every NIGHT with a special soap, then sleep on clean sheets. I usually shower in the mornings because I sweat at night. I asked why At Night and she just told me to follow the directions.  Have to wash sheets every day will not be fun either  Does anyone know Why it should be At Night or can I just shower in the morning and be OK. She said it was so I don't get Mersa.


 

Perhaps it takes time for the antibiotics in the soap to work. 

 

I had to do this before a knee replacement. It's 5 days and didn't kill me. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 32,613
Registered: ‎05-10-2010

Oh good grief, just do what they tell you.  It's for infection control.  Our bodies harbor all manner of germs and bacteria.  It's an antibacterial soap and it wouldn't make any sense to use it in the morning, kill the bacteria and germs and then let them fester all day.  And then jump into dirty sheets.  If you don't do this you are increasing your chances of acquiring a post op infection.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 23,835
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

@geegerbee  Just do as they say.  Infection is the biggest killer in hospital.

Super Contributor
Posts: 335
Registered: ‎10-28-2015

Some not so clean folks checkin in to the hospital. They've had to change routines to help assure they have a clean body to work on.