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Original poster

Eek! Last night I pulled a 6-inch blue plastic thread from my 17-month-old caesarean scar....

20 replies

merrily · 22/08/2006 08:55

I am still cringing about this!!

I had my first and only caesarean 17 months ago. They stitched me up using a continuous thread - supposedly after 5 days they cut off the bead at either end and painlessly pull the stitch out. However for me it wasn't painless, it hurt like hell when they pulled it because it had healed into the wound. To cut a long story short, I ended up back in a delivery room when my daughter was 5 days old, under gas and air, while I they re-opened the scar and removed the thread (or so I thought).

The scar has never quite healed up properly - there has always been a small scabby section which goes a bit weepy from time to time. I was looking at it last night, and saw what I thought was an ingrowing hair. I thought if I pulled out the hair maybe that would help the scar heal properly. So I got my tweezers and pulled..... but what came out was a loop of blue plastic thread!! it didn't hurt and there was no blood, so I kept pulling.... and eventually ended up with a 6-inch long piece of blue plastic thread. It felt like I was in a David Croneneberg movie or something!! Obviously the doctor never removed the thread while I was under gas and air 17 months ago.

I'm not really sure what to do next. Should I go to my GP? the scar doesn't really hurt - just feels slightly tender. It hasn't gone red and there's no blood.

I know it's not a major cock-up in the grand scheme of things but I would like to make a complaint to the hospital - if only to make the point that they should be using dissolvable stitches for these sorts of operations. I have kept the thread so I can produce it for evidence!!

Has anyone else experienced anything similar? Can anyone suggest what I should do next??

OP posts:

Twiglett · 22/08/2006 08:57

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SherlockLGJ · 22/08/2006 08:57

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southeastastra · 22/08/2006 08:58

blimey go to the doctor or the hospital and complain that is so bad. poor you !!

LIZS · 22/08/2006 08:59

eugh . Definitely complain and have it checkd by GP.

KBear · 22/08/2006 09:00

And after 17 months your scar should be healed anyway so they need to check it's okay. Shuddering at the thought of what you found.

Nemo1977 · 22/08/2006 09:02

Agree contact hospital and gp get gp to note where you pulled it from and take pictures.

That is disgraceful

Original poster

merrily · 22/08/2006 09:06

thanks everyone - hope I didn't put you off your breakfast!!

good idea about taking pictures, I'll go and do that now.

OP posts:

biglips · 22/08/2006 09:06

edam · 22/08/2006 09:12

Oh my giddy aunt that must have been a shock. Do go to your GP and get the scar checked - and tell the hospital about it.

Carmenere · 22/08/2006 09:16

Bizzarely enough merrily I do have experience of this. I had a keyhole surgery to remove my gall bladder and there was a thread hanging out of one of the scars when I removed the dressings. I went to the gp who cut it right down abd said 'oh I would have thought they would use dissolvable thread' about 6 months afterwards I pulled a long thread out of my stomach. Revolting, I know and I was quite upset about it but in truth, the scar was healed and there was nothing I could do about it then.
So my advice to you would be to not worry about it too much and go to the gp if you want the scar checked over.HTH

kid · 22/08/2006 09:24

Reading that had made me come over all faint!
I'd phone and speak to a Dr if you could just for some advice.

Papillon · 22/08/2006 09:28

i had abit of black thread still in my shoulder after the doctor supposedly pulled it all out.... it all works it way out of the body eventually. Mine was like a big pimple! I did not go to the doctor to get it checked.

LadyTophamHatt · 22/08/2006 09:39

I had to pull a peice of blue thread out of DH's head once.

He'd had stitches in several gashes because 3 bastard bouncers beat him up. The doctor took the stitches out but DH could still feel one.
I got my tweezers and pulled it out.

I'm embarrassed to say I found it quite satifying...abit like squeezing a huge spot

hunkermunker · 22/08/2006 09:41

I've pulled loads of stitches out of myself. I like doing it too [weirdo] Dissolvable stitches often don't in me for some reason.

But it's not good the hospital left it in you that long - hope you heal now.

Ellaroo · 22/08/2006 09:45

Poor you Merrily - that sounds grim. I really think you should complain, it is so lucky that you have actually got it out now, but that doesn't make their lack of care any better and do feel things like that should be brought to their attention. Hope the scar starts getting better now. x

pinkpyjamas · 22/08/2006 09:45

I had a black thread come out of my scar after my appendix was removed, but this was about 25 years ago, and somehow I thought standards would have improved! You've been very brave, Merrily, as I expect it was terrifying for you. My DS2 is reading over my shoulder, and has decided that your finding is "cool!". My cue to stop MNing, and go and spend some time with him. . I agree that you should mention it to the hospital, and I hope your scar heals completely now.

Original poster

merrily · 22/08/2006 12:23

I've just been to see the GP and he said it all looks okay, though he has given me some antibiotic cream to put on it to stop it getting infected.

I was a bit worried about it because we are going to start trying for baby no.2 soon and I was concerned it might have weakened the scar or something. But the GP says it shouldn't be a problem - the scar is basically healed, it is just the surface skin that has got a bit inflamed. I'm glad this has all happened now and not when I am pregnant - that would have been seriously stressful!!

Right I'm off to draft a letter of complaint to the hospital!

OP posts:

Furball · 22/08/2006 12:26

sorry no help but this is not a good thread to read whilst eating your lunch.

Papillon · 22/08/2006 12:30

LOL ladyhatt I enjoyed "removing" my stitches too

Flossam · 22/08/2006 12:40

Sounds horrible!! Only thing I can think of is that sometimes when the wound originally heals the stitch is hidden, so while they may have removed what they thought was all your stitch in the theatre, without opening up your wound again and putting you back to square one it appeared as though your wound was free of stitches. Also I suspect you would have noticed something before now too! The skin won't have healed properly because what has probably been happening is that the skin has been trying to 'push out' this foreign body, which is what has now happened. I would go and see your Gp to make sure your wound was ok. Next time if you feel you wound isn't healing well I would reccomend you make the appointment to see your doctor as this is always a possibility. HTH and sorry you had such a scare!

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