Blue stitches, dissolvable? Not dissolving

[Anonymoususer456]

I had my DD last Wednesday, I had a tear that required 3 stitches, between my urethra and my clitoris. With my first I had an episiotomy and the dissolvable stitches were a white/cream colour, these has started to dissolve by this point.

this time the stitches are blue? No signs yet of starting to dissolve, I’ve had them checked by the midwife last week (on day 5pp) who just said the area was looking good, no one has mentioned them needing removing but also I don’t recall anyone actually telling me they are dissolvable.

anyone any experience with stitches and their colours. I’m panicking they’re the wrong stitches and their not gonna dissolve 😂 thanks.

Hi OP

Midwife here-do they feel soft or are they quite wiry? If they're wiry then they may need removing but it's unusual to use non dissolvable nowadays.

Having said that, all non dissolvable sutures I've ever seen/removed have been coloured in order to be able to see them better

@USaYwHatNow i can’t understand why they would use non dissolvable and not say anything in regards to it, I’ll have a look and see if I can feel.
I have an appointment tomorrow and I’ll mention it then as it’s starting to worry me

I had ‘dissolvable’ stitches after I had an episiotomy but had to have them removed as the knots were so thick they didn’t actually dissolve! Still makes my eyes water at the thought!

Hello! I had some stitches on my stomach that were supposed to dissolve but didn't. Definitely worth asking if in doubt.x

Will deffo be asking tomorrow now!

@USaYwHatNow Going by looks, they’re thin and look wirey, don’t know if I have the courage to feel

@Anonymoususer456 no you're right it does seem a bit weird to not let you know/put it on your discharge summary for your GP to have a look/remove them 🤔

I had some, few years ago now, I had 14 😱, and they didn’t all dissolve the midwife just took them out, it didn’t hurt more embarrassing than anything 🙄

@USaYwHatNow All it says is “non-perineal tear (sutured)”
that’s it

Not childbirth related but had hand surgery last year and they used soluble stitches to close. Advised 2-3 weeks to dissolve. Most did but had several 'ends' removed by physiotherapist 5 weeks after operation, and two more on next visit 3 weeks later.
Definitely raise your concerns at next available opportunity, probably not an issue but will settle your mind

Thank you all, I have an appointment today so will mention this

Hi, does it say what suture type they used as in material- if it says monocryl or vicryl they are dissolvable. If they are ethilon or nylon they are not but it would be very unusual if they used this type. They can take 2 weeks to dissolve but mention it at your appointment today and hopefully they can clarify this for you.

Mine didn't dissolve either n I ended up pulling them out 😬😬😬

@Nursemumma92 doesn’t say anywhere about what type they are, I mentioned it today, the lady looking said everything looks fine no signs of infection but didn’t answer my question. I’ll keep an eye on them and hopefully they do just dissolve, if not I’ll be taking a trip to the GP I think…..

@ploopypleepy oh my! How 🫣 the thought makes me cringe 😂

@USaYwHatNow @Nursemumma92
One has come out. Have attached a picture!

Stitches showing no signs of dissolving. The tear they were there for has healed together nicely, one of the stitches has come undone, starting to get sore where they are now.

Mine were exactly like this. I think they’re meant to be dissolvable but not many of them did. Some of them fell out as the skin healed, midwife suggest picking them out if they were hanging out.

Sorry it’s a bit grim.

On the plus side everything healed great and was back to normal after a few months.

Completely different area of the body obviously but I had my ears pinned back over fifteen years ago and still have some of the blue stitches behind both my ears that haven’t dissolved! They are even a bit tender sometimes.

@PinkPlantCase I’ve tried to look myself but obviously it’s slightly difficult but I can’t bring myself to try see if they have come loose on the one that’s undone. I was thinking about seeing the GP to make sure they’re definitely dissolvable ones.

@Canthinkofaname58 I’ve been fine since they’ve been in but they’re starting to get tender and sore where they are now. The tear they were there for is healed.

When we used to do out of hours emergencies ( dentist) the most common problem was infection around dissolvable sutures. Frequently removed them.
Most dissolvable sutures take weeks to actually dissolve which is ok when they are subcutaneous but when they are exposed to the air they stiffen and often cause inflammation.
Ask your midwife to remove them if they are irritating you.

@Angrymum22 Unfortunately don’t get to see a midwife anymore as I’ve been discharged. I’ve managed to get a doctors appointment but not until Tuesday next week. I’ve had to move the one that’s come undone with a cotton bud as it felt like it was stabbing me.

Contacted a midwife over a messaging service today, she agreed they should be starting/started to come away by now

It depends on the type of suture. Vicryl rapide 3.0 is used for labial, peri urethral and clitoral tears as it is thinner and can take up to 12weeks to dissolve. I found this out recently (as a midwife) at my perineal appt a few weeks ago re previous 3rd degree tear and being pregnant again. I mentioned my sutures didn’t all dissolve for 3months and was like a sharp stabbing. She confirmed that is normal and similar can happen with the 3.0 which is used as explained above

Hiya, update!!!

I can’t remember if I put this above but two the knots came undone so I removed them, one fell out, one was removed by the gp and the last one that was on my clitoris I had to go to hospital to have removed by a midwife with what essentially looked like a blade (stitch remover) which made me bleed, and now my clit constantly feels painful.