disolving stitches...

[bitofcheese]

i had a cyst cust out of my vagina (!) about three weeks ago. i casually mentioned to my friend today that i still had the stitches down there and that they hadn't disolved yet (i was told they would disolve). she said that they should have disolved by now and that this was a common mistake (they used the wrong 'thread' when stitching me up) and that i should go to the dr to have them taken out. what do you think?......i would have left it otherwise, i wasn't concerned

Are you sure there is still stitch thread there? It can feel quite "knobbly" where you've had stitches down there even after the thread has dissolved.

But I think it would certainly be worth a trip to the docs to have them check you over, and take out any stitches which are left behind, if there are any.

I'd have sworn there were stitches still left after my episiotomy, but the doc took a look and it was just the tightness and scar tissue.

the cyst was inside near the opening so i can see the stitches, black/grey & wirey!

Oh that's definitely stitches still there then! I think after 3 weeks they should be gone if they were going to, so you do need to get the doc to deal with them. Did you get given a contact number by the hospital with someone you could call if you had any questions? They should be able to tell you how long to expect the stitches to take to dissolve.

Mine took six weeks to come out!

fen - do you think i am being premature? i just had a bath and re-checked, definately still there, one bit of thread is hanging out :(

I have just had a vaginal repair and my stitches take 6 weeks or so to dissolve. There are ones that dissolve sooner - 10 days or so - but they often dissolve before the wound has healed properly, particularly if it's a deep one. The only alternative, as far as I know, is the 6 week ones. Don't think there's anything in between. I don't know what my thread looks like, so can't compare. Sorry!
If you are worried, or if it's causing you pain, then go back to the ward/etc and ask.