I had surgery on Friday and they used betadine to cleanse the skin of my chest beforehand. I had very tight bandages covering the stitched areas and the part of the adhesive that was over the betadine area started to blister and ooze. I was supposed to keep the binding and bandages on until this afternoon but last night I had to take them off and see what was burning.

The skin was blistering all along the edges that were taped on so I had to peel all the dressings off and deal with raw skin that felt like it had been burned with a hot iron.

I'm allergic to shellfish but I can have contrast in MRI without a problem. So is betadine more concentrated with iodine than MRI contrast? I also have a fine rash all over the upper chest area where there is still betadine. I'm not supposed to scrub this area at all. I suppose I will have to gently wash it with cotton balls and warm water today.

What a crazy reaction! I'll be so glad when this is all behind me!

Ok, I did some research and I found that being allergic to iodine and seafood has no relation to the ingredients of MRI contrast.

http://www.radiology.ucsf.edu/patien...iodine-allergy


"There is no reason to believe that iodine allergy based on skin reactions to topical antiseptics is of any specific relevance to the administration of IV contrast material."

Maybe it was the tape they used.

I thought that at first, but now there is a rash all over my chest where the betadine was. So the blisters might have been a combined reaction of the betadine and the tape? Though they knew about my latex sensitivity, unless someone goofed and used latex bandages? The bandages along the bottom where there was no betadine didn't blister.

What a weird reaction!

Maybe there was something mixed with the Betadine that you're sensitive to.

If it gets worse maybe you should go to the ER......if for no other reason than to have it documented in case you have problems down the road.

The ER means a $200 deductible, but I did take photos of it to show the doctor when I go for my two week checkup. I see my neuro tomorrow, I'll show him and it will be recorded there at least.

Sorry this happened, Wiz. If you can live with the situation as it is, getting it recorded at the neuro is a good idea.

You said an oozing rash; will there be scarring? Vitamin E oil on almost-healed pink skin helps lessen scarring.

Maybe the reaction was worse under the tape because the skin couldn't breathe.

I saw the neuro today and spoke to my surgeon's nurses as well. The neuro said I am probably at the end of a mild flare and steroids are optional. I opted out, of course.

He said that he considers my MS to be mild to moderately severe and I should continue on with the Copaxone and all of my other maintenance meds.

I got some hydrocortisone cream and benadryl pills at Walgreens though I can't take the pills until tonight because I work today.

The surgeon's nurses said they will put it in my chart that I am allergic to the betadine so for future surgeries (!!) they will not use it.

One nurse said that the adhesive tape usually causes more problems than the surgery so I think they need to start using something different!

The rash is pretty bad but I'm wearing a high necked blouse to work and hope that the hydrocortisone helps out.

Wiz.....I'm going to sound like "Dr. Mom" here but you NEED a day off! You work too hard!!

Did you have stitches, or staples to close any incisions? My aunt discovered the hard way after a back surgery that she was allergic to something in the stitches/staples that they closed her incision up with. (I can't remember if she had stitches or staples). She had to go and have the incision opened up and the stitches/staples removed.