Please tell me about dissolvable stitches

[Bananaketchup]

I had surgery on my hand 2 1/2 weeks ago and have a long jagged row of dissolvable stitches across my palm. Some you can clearly see haven't dissolved yet, should I be worrying? I am trying not to get the hand wet except when I bathe it and put on E45, am I delaying the dissolving? I'm reluctant to wash up, soak it in the bath etc because the scar hasn't healed at all, the edges come apart every time I move my hand [yuk] and I'm worried about getting infected. Can anyone advise me?

I had surgery on my elbow on 22nd Jan, they are just about gone now, but there are a few strands holding in there after 7 weeks!

I woudn't be worried that the stitches haven't dissolved as yet. It cn take up to 6 weeks for them to go.

i wouldn't put e45 on them though. You sound as though you're doing well to kep it dry but as the hand is so mobile its harder for the skin to knit.

If I were you i would get an appointment with the nurse to have it checked and possibly dressed. at least then you have peace of mind and someone to go back to.

My only experience is with my birth tear stitches which disolved around the two week mark. Obviously with these there was no chance of keeping them dry , and I found baths with a few drops of tea tree oil were very soothing so maybe you don't need to worry on that score.

If the edges are coming apart every time you move your hand I would feel inclined to use it as little as possible, tbh. It isn't ever going to heal if the edges aren't together.

My son had surgery at the beginning of December (10-months old). His dissolvable stitches were with us until the end of January, about 7-weeks. We didn't push it, get them removed by a nurse etc, and he has a neat scar line now.

Thanks for replies, I was starting to panic a bit. It doesn't help that it looks horrible and everyone who sees it looks like this . I feel reassured that others have had them take a while to dissolve, so I think I'll hold fire for a week and maybe try my practice nurse then if nothing's changed. Thanks again