TMI picture warning. Stitches were removed but now oozing ?

[Ama9332]

Hello,

I posted a few weeks ago as my stitches were itchy and painful ( I am an anxious person and pregnant too so extra worried)

i had them removed from my lower leg today and they instantly bled and looked a bit open. Nurse told me all is ok and to completely leave them uncovered now and wash in the shower as normal and E45 them twice a day.

since coming home they have been oozing a clear fluid and they have become more red. I haven’t moisturised or washed them yet but I’m wondering if this looks concerning?

sorry for the gross photo!

I'd follow the nurses advice but keep an eye on them

@TheLovleyChebbyMcGee yes I asked pharmacist On my way home they told me not to moisturise them at all just around if they have been bleeding. They didn’t see them though I have only just had a good look at them when I got home

The nurse that said it was okay, was it the same nurse that stitched you up? That looks to me like you've not been stitched correctly, or is it because it's a super close photo? What was the wound from?

@CrazyRatLover No I had the stitches done at the hospital I had a biopsy on my leg. 3 internal and 3 external. It is a close photo but it does look like there is some flesh and it’s also higher on one side and lower on the other so it’s like a ‘dip’. The nurse who took them out today was at my GP surgery

I'm not sure really tbh, I'm no expert but, I would expect it to look a bit better healed than that. What about popping to a pharmacy to get their opinion?

@CrazyRatLover yes I thought the same ...this was it last night before removal.

Yes that's surprising after seeing that.

They should've either not have been removed yet or stitched very badly. It shouldn't be oozing like that. It still looks open.

How many days since the op. Looks like they could have done with being in a bit longer. I deal with pets but skin is skin

@Amicompletelyinsane 13 days. She said when I went in they look ready to come out as I was a bit worried. Then they bled and it instantly looked open, I asked if that was normal it looks like it’s opening and she told me yes it’s fine .... by the time I got home they were oozing slightly and scabbed over. Unsure what I should do now 😐 she told me to keep them uncovered and wash and moisturise even when she saw it was bleeding I just don’t feel comfortable doing that as it looks like it’s not healed

Not sure if that has healed completely, I would ask the nurse if they need looking at.

I think the nurse needs to clean it and apply steristrips.

Contact the surgical ward and ask for advice, that does not look right.

It looks like it’s gapped as the stitches were removed, I’d suggest some butterfly plasters to keep it together and possibly ring your GP or the nurse who saw you.

If you want less of a scar it would be wise to buy some steristrips at the pharmacy and apply them to bring the edges closer together again making sure you leave gaps between each one.

Research has changed the old advise about exposing wounds to the air & I'm surprised you were advised that. Wounds heal better & with less scarring if covered up. Stick a dressing over the top and leave it for 4-5 days but keep an eye out for any signs of infection.

This happened to me when I had hand surgery . They removed the stitches but the wound opened. I went down the chemist and bought sterilising stuff and steristrips and put them on , kept it dry and it healed really well after another 10 days .

@romdowa thanks I will do that tomorrow. Did it go red on the points where the stitches were? And did you keep it covered with a plaster or air it out? She told me strictly no plaster but that was before it looked like this....

She told me because my skin is so dry she doesn’t want me wearing the plasters but I’m worried about keeping it exposed if it’s opened