That quick yank is one to remember! I was told not to submerge the area for about 72 hours but that it was OK to shower immediately.

The issue that freaked me out was that the site began leaking on my way home even though the nurse had bandaged and taped the site with heavy gauze. No one told me not to drink carbonated soft drinks for 2 or 3 days and it seems that is what caused my problem while stopping for lunch on my way home from the hospital. Even so, the thing still leaked for a week to 10 days total and the wife and I stayed freaked even though the nurse we called at RO's office said not to worry. Right! Easy for her to say and she was not leaking her stomach contents into her pants! It did eventually heal and now, 11 months later, looks like a mini-navel just above and to my left of the real navel.

Bill D.