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Original poster

Anyone know anything about stitches? (Medical type!)

15 replies

itsgettingweird · 07/07/2022 20:57

I had a laparoscopic hysterectomy last week.

All healing well.

Wounds were glued.

Glue has come away today and it appears I also have stitches?

I'm assuming dissolvable?

The problem is 2 of the scars have sharp bits of what appears like plastic stitch sticking out of them.

Will they dissolve if not inside me?

If not - do I need to see the nurse or something?

OP posts:
BluesandClues · 07/07/2022 20:58

What, like the end of a knot?

Original poster
itsgettingweird · 07/07/2022 21:00

It's about 4mm long. Like a bit of fishing line - that's sharp!

OP posts:
KangarooKenny · 07/07/2022 21:03

My DD had surgery on her leg with dissolving stitches, but unfortunately they didn’t. When bits appeared out of the scar we VERY gently pulled and they popped out.

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PlayDohDots · 07/07/2022 21:06

If it's anything like a c-section stitch then the threads are dissolvable. Mine were two knotted loops of "fishing line" sticking out at both ends of the surgical incision. I was told the ends should be snipped off a few weeks after the surgery and you need to come back in for that. Luckily DH is a doctor so he did it at home...and honestly I think anyone could do it. It was just cutting the thread at skin level using some small sharp scissors. But obviously, you should call the hospital to double check!

Original poster
itsgettingweird · 07/07/2022 21:49

I gently tugged one - it's not budging!

It's so sharp it's scratching my arm through my night shirt!

Trimming sounds good but I'm not sure I'm confident enough to do that.

I'll see how it is tomorrow and try and get nurses appointment. My belly button is still weeping as well so worthwhile getting everything checked.

OP posts:
Sidge · 07/07/2022 22:03

Leave them alone for now, it’s too early to be pulling them out.

You’ve got soluble sutures, if they’re clear and stiff.

They dissolve in tissue fluid under the skin, so any bits poking out above the skin won’t dissolve or come away until the underneath bits have softened. This can take a couple of weeks. If they’re still there after 2-3 weeks your practice nurse can trim them, don’t do it yourself.

Cover them if they’re catching on clothing, simple fabric plasters will do.

(nurse practitioner in primary care who sees sutures etc most days 🙂)

Keepkondoing · 07/07/2022 22:07

They are dissolvable, you can help to dissolve the quicker by soaking in the bath if your wound has healed over.

Original poster
itsgettingweird · 07/07/2022 22:08

Sidge · 07/07/2022 22:03

Leave them alone for now, it’s too early to be pulling them out.

You’ve got soluble sutures, if they’re clear and stiff.

They dissolve in tissue fluid under the skin, so any bits poking out above the skin won’t dissolve or come away until the underneath bits have softened. This can take a couple of weeks. If they’re still there after 2-3 weeks your practice nurse can trim them, don’t do it yourself.

Cover them if they’re catching on clothing, simple fabric plasters will do.

(nurse practitioner in primary care who sees sutures etc most days 🙂)

Yes they are clear.

Thankyou for this very comprehensive answer and explanation.

This is why I love asking MN. Always someone to reassure and explain Flowers

OP posts:
Original poster
itsgettingweird · 07/07/2022 22:10

and why didn't I think about a plaster - so simple when it's said to you 🤦🏼‍♀️🤣

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 07/07/2022 22:16

Ring the ward and ask them to look in our notes to see if they are dissolvable. You can trim. The long ends.

Original poster
itsgettingweird · 07/07/2022 22:18

Toddlerteaplease · 07/07/2022 22:16

Ring the ward and ask them to look in our notes to see if they are dissolvable. You can trim. The long ends.

I'm waiting for call back because we don't know if my ovaries are in me or not 🤣🤣

I'll ask about stitches then as they are chasing my notes to clarify the above.

But they must be dissolvable because they didn't say to have them out and they were under glue.

OP posts:
1fluffydoodle · 07/07/2022 22:21

I had the practice nurse trim mine until they dissolved which took a few weeks, as they were catching on everything.

LittlestBaoBun · 07/07/2022 22:22

I had major surgery 8 weeks ago and my body keeps rejecting the kind of stitches you're describing. Just today I had to carefully tweezer out a knot.

I've also got two other areas where my body is doing this.

The nurses at my clinic showed me how they trimmed them, and talked me through it when I called with the same issue. I had figured out what I was probably meant to do, but waited for their say so.

Due to the nature of my surgery and the issue I've had, I've been using a particular dressing with a particular waterproof plaster dressing. It's expensive stuff but it's helped prevent my issue from wrecking the entirety of my surgical scars.

Definitely talk to your nurses/ clinic/ etc. Everything has to be sterile, when trimming. They know what they're doing. Some of us just don't absorb as well.

LittlestBaoBun · 07/07/2022 22:23

I haven't named what I'm using because whilst I've been using my dressings under the instruction of my clinic, it may be inappropriate for your own situation. But it's worth asking if they'd recommend anything.

breathcalmly · 07/07/2022 22:44

I am 7 weeks after gynaecological surgery and my stitches have just started becoming out, I’ve just left well alone down there to avoid risk of infection/disturbing the good work done 😊

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