Multiple stitch wires sticking out

[Iamnotastick]

I had open abdo surgery one month ago. I have two very large incisions plus lots of smaller inch ones dotted over.

All seems to be healing ok but at the end of the majority of the incisions I have a wire stitch sticking out a few cm long. They really irritate when clothes rub so im keeping them covered with dressings,

Will they fall out as the dissolve under the skin? The incisons only closed up this week. They are sharp hard wires.

The nurse is very blank faced at the GP surgery and seems unwilling to touch them but I have no way of contacting the surgeon from the hospital to ask what to do about them either?

If they are dissolvable you can give them a gentle tug with tweezers and, if they have dissolved inside, they will come away. It’s generally just the skin that’s keeping them in place.

Can't you just call the general number for the department? Did they not include details of what sutures they used on your discharge letter or give you any after care information?

Lol nope, I was given nothing - completely understaffed and overworked nurse and i was just desperate to escape the hellish ward. I didnt even think to ask, never had the issue before!

My dh body just pushed them out as they healed I think it was a couple of weeks

Was it a UK hospital @Iamnotastick? I can see my recent discharge letter on the NHS app, might be worth a look?

Yes, Kings in London. No notes about stitch care. Relieved by other posts saying they should just work themselves out.....

Hi op just trim them. Definitely don't pull them out.

@are they actually metal? As in clips? They need to be taken out with a special tool. Or are they thick black stitches with knots? PP was right the inside part dissolves and then you can give them a gentle tug with tweezers and they should come away easily but only after a couple of weeks. (I've got a lovely 23cm scar across my tummy from last years whipple)

It's horrendous, this was the worst thing about my entire surgery last year. I used to tape them flat against my skin with micropore until they dissolved and came out naturally.

So they wouldn't catch on my clothes I mean.

Thanks all!

There were some thin light ones that popped out when i gently tugged but a few very thick ones which to my relief the nurse trimmed for me this morning!