medical types - question (gross pics)

[ijack]

When I got stitches last week they said I could get them taken out after a week, which is today. How do I know that they are ready to come out? Is it really just "a week" or is there something I should be looking for on the wound to know that it's healed enough to have them removed?

[mrssavy42112]

Well, you have to go in to the office for them to remove it, right? So they can make that assessment. I sure hope they didn't ask you to remove them?? ^o)

[ijack]

No, I go to my doctor. I just don't want to make an appt and then be told it's not ready.

[CloudBee]

I've had stitches removed after a week several times, and usually the edges are pretty sealed up - though sometimes at the surface you may still see slight separation, as much of the healing happens below the surface.

Is it still raw? Are the stitches at a joint?

I'm sorry about your accident. How frustrating.

[chessie]

They can tell when they see you or not. 1-2 weeks is the norm though.

[CloudBee]

Aug 21, 2012 8:32:47 GMT -5 ijack said:

No, I go to my doctor. I just don't want to make an appt and then be told it's not ready.

If you want to be conservative, maybe give them a call saying you were told to go in at a week, can you hold off a few more days? The only experience I have with getting them out later is that sometimes the longer you wait, the more it hurts because there's a bit more tugging when there has been more healing. That can actually be more uncomfortable than having stitches slide out of a fresher wound.

[ijack]

There is nothing wrong with going a week longer is there? Can you leave them in too long?

[mrssavy42112]

Why don't you call the office and ask them? Like CloudBee said, it can be more painful to take them out later. My dad just had surgery and had his staples removed about 5 days later. No one here knows your situation exactly. But your Dr. office does. I'm sure they can tell you whether it's ok to wait a few extra days or if for some reason we're not aware of, you can't do that.

[ijack]

ugh. I am really dreading this

[Deleted]

Aug 21, 2012 8:42:19 GMT -5 ijack said:

There is nothing wrong with going a week longer is there? Can you leave them in too long?

what body part? You can definitely leave them in too long. If it starts to scab up over the stitches, they are a bitch to get out and then the wound bleeds and can end up opening up because you have to take off part of the scab to get the stitches out. Can you post a picture?

[ijack]

TMI warning!!!
I just realized the stitches aren't in the "bad wound" so I'm less scared. Sorry it's not a great pic, it's a hard area to photograph

[ijack]

Another

[Deleted]

Well don't sue me if your doc doesn't agree, but from what I can tell it looks like they could come out now. You could probably also wait a couple more days, but I wouldn't wait another week.

[ijack]

Thanks Lilly, I appreciate it!

[Deleted]

Usually 7-10 days is normal. I've had to have them in for up to 14 days after a major surgery and only 5 days after I got them on my face. I'd call your doctor to ask?

And FWIW, I had a scab grow over my knee stitches that I just had from surgery and had them removed yesterday, it didn't hurt when they cut them out and pulled at the scab, but they I did feel a little bit of an uncomfortable pull. They also can put some surgical strips on the cut to ensure it stays closed for another 7-10 days after stitches are removed. Fingers might be an awkward spot for those though.

[shopgirl07]

Don't dread it. Stitches don't hurt when they're removed, you'll be fine.

[RitzyHeifer]

I just had my hand stitched and had them removed after 7 days - it looked about the same as yours and actually healed up more/faster once I had the stitches out and wasn't catching them on things and pulling at the wound all the time.

My doctor was a smidge hesitant because it wasn't fully healed but she's very conservative medically (even compared to me which is a lot!) but just told me to keep it well-bandaged and clean until it completely healed - which was one day in my case.

[CloudBee]

I'm not a doctor. Those definitely look ready to come out. They look like they won't even be painful to remove. But yeah, if you heal up much more I think it would be more tender to remove.

I had stitches from my bunion surgeries removed a few days late and omg the tugging was awful, and I did bleed a tiny bit from each hole.

You shouldn't feel much if you get them removed today/tomorrow.

You poor thing. I can't believe that was from falling while running at home. I'm so sorry!

[ijack]

treadmills are very dangerous

[definitelyO]

come to my house I'll take them out for you
but it doesn't hurt and you should get them taken out now.