Please tell me about having stiches out...does it hurt?

[FrayedKnot]

I had an operation on my foot 12 days ago.

I asked to go in to have my dressing changed today as it had got a bit uncomfortable, although was not due to go back until Tues to have dressing removed and stitches out.

Having the dressing removed was fine, although it was stuck to my foot and really disgusting with dried blood etc.

Anyway while the nurse was out of the room I looked at the wound - I knew I shouldn;t but I did and then I started feeling really sick and dizzy just at the site of it.

I am petrified I am going to faint when I go back on Tuesday...esp if it hurts..I can;t explain how queasy the whole thing made me feel.

Please tell me the worst..

[MaureenMLove]

well, i am the biggest wuss around and i had stitches when i had dd, and you dont get much worse than stitches there! My advise is not to look when they do it. They will wash the wound first to soften the dressing I would imagine. They won't pull it off like a plaster on your knee! From memory, there was just a little tugging, but no pain. Remember, mine was a very sensitive place! I'm sure you'll be fine. Can you take someone with you to talk to you about something else when they are doing it?

[FrayedKnot]

I think I will tell them about feeling faint as the last thing I want is to nosedive off the couch.

But you see even the tugging description makes me feel sick

I'm not usually very squeamish.

Brave you for having stiches out from such a senstive spot. Mine were the disposbale sort when I had DS - thank god

aLSO, I didn;t look at anything "down there" for about 3 weeks incase I didn;t like what I saw.

[MaureenMLove]

Of course you feel ukky. Youv'e been nursing your foot for a few weeks and its sensitive! I'm sure the nurses will look after you and I know that really anything anyone says is not going to change how you feel, but just remember, big deep breaths, it'll will all be over within a couple of minutes.

[Bubbaloo]

I have always thought having stitches out would hurt BUT I had a mole removed from my leg a few months ago and ended up having 4 stitches.I was also petrified when I went to have them out but I honestly felt absolutely nothing and when I asked the nurse how long it would take,she said she's already done it.
Best of luck-I'm sure you'll be fine.

[SoupDragon]

It can prick a bit and the tugging is horrible. Simply ask if you can lie down to have them taken out as that sort of thing makes you feel faint, then stare fixedly at the ceiling. This kind of thing always makes me go white as a sheet, just from the very thought iof it rather than any sort of pain or discomfort. You'll be fine.

[FrayedKnot]

Yes, i will ask to lie down.

Oh god, jsut the word tug is bringing on palpitations.

Will drink a gallon of Rescue Remedy before I go in

Glad to hear it doesn;t really hurt tho..hope you're not all jsut being kind

[SoupDragon]

Worst one I had was an under-the-skin running stitch type one which slithered!

It's very quick anyway. Take deep breaths, lie back and think of England

[SherlockLGJ]

After DS, I had staples. LGJ faints clean away at the memory.And that is not envy.

They did not hurt when they were coming out, they just looked foul.

[FrayedKnot]

And not eat anything for 4 hours beforehand, clearly

[pelvicflawed]

I'd take it easy when you have the stitches out - if you can perhaps take someone along. I had a wrist/hand operation a few months ago - the operation was fine (I was awake) but when I had the stitches out I felt a bit yuck - dosen't hurt (honest - no lies!!!) its just the feeling. I'm normally pretty tough when it comes to needles/medical things but this made me feel a bit queasy - I had DS with me which made it worse as I couldn't just slope off and have a sit down for half an hour instead had to get him back into the car!!! (I'll know better next time). Hope it goes well.

[maisym]

had some stiches out - were staple type ones - no problem. didn't watch & felt better that they weren't there afterwards. Good luck xxx