missed taking out a stitch?
 

ok so 2 and a half weeks ago I had to have a SH wound cut out and restitched. I had no problems after this was done and I had my stitches out on Thursday... the surgeon didnt take the stitches out but got a nurse at the practice too. After the stitches were removed the wound looked really well and I was quite happy with the results. The nurse put white tape over the wound to help support the skin healing together and to prevent it from reopening like it did last time. The nurse told me to change the white tape with micropore tape which I did later that day.

As I was changing the tape though I noticed that in the middle there was a tiny bit of a stitch poking out of the skin (which I did not see when the stitches were removed and neither did the nurse) today when I changed the tape I noticed a bit of puss and the end of the stitch is still visible but through closer inspection you can see that its tighed in a knot...
around where the puss was coming out the surrounding skin was also red and warm (although not sore)

is this the beginning of an infection coming on and who do I turn to for it to be checked out? Do I call the surgeon first thing on monday or is it ok to just get my gp to check it out on tuesday?? The reason I ask is because the surgeon was quite rude to me because I self harmed and there is no gurentee that I will get an apt with him as he is a surgeon and all... and if i dont have to see him again then I rather that i didnt!!!

I would just take it out myself but I'm not saying for you to do that. Best to get your GP to look at it on Tuesday.

Did they use subdermal stitches as well as ones on the surface? I had this too about a week after they'd taken my stitches out, it wasn;t because they'd missed one, instead it was that my body had started to reject the subdermal stitches pushing a few of them to the surface with a bit of discharge and redness. My doctor said to keep an eye on it but because the stitches were still embedded in part to just leave them because my body would either reject them completley or they could dissolve like they should and not be a problem... So yeah, that might not help at all, especially if they're not the subdermal type, but i hope it does :) I would say just keep the area clean, cover it if you are worried and ask your GP about it on tuesday unless it gets much worse in the mean time.

I also would take the stitch out myself but I know thats not advisable.

The ''proper'' thing to do is to go back to your nurse asap and get her to remove it. Leaving it in could cause infection.

to be honest I am not sure at all... the surgeon never told me - grrrrrrr

I cant even if I wanted to as that would mean opening the wound up a bit to get to it and if I had to see the surgeon then over it he would consider that as self harm (no doubt) and hence wont help me at all

Can we please stop advising the OP to take the stitches out herself please?

Lozza, going to see a medical professional at your GP practice would be the best idea. If you become more concerned about the wound over the weekend please make use of local walk-in centres or phone NHS Direct for further advice.

thanks :-)

and especially as I am usually one of those people who do what others say AND other members reading this may get the feeling and think its ok to remove stitches themselves when it is not and should be left to a health professional to do!!!

Loz, don't you dare even attempt to get it out yourself!! I don't know anything about Australian health care, but over here we have a phone line where you can speak to a nurse and then a dr calls you back. That the NHS Direct thing that archer_one said about. If you have something like that, definitely give it a go. Also, get to your dr asap. If it gets any worse, maybe go to casualty? It's nit SI if you haven't pulled at it and if they left a stitch in. And any way, that surgeon is an idiot, because even if something is SI related, you deserve JUST AS MUCH care as any other patient, and don't let any dr tell you otherwise!! That's like saying any one who over-eats, abuses drugs/alcohol, or smokes doesn't deserve health care either, and drs don't say that! You deserve to be treated properly. Fingers crossed it's one of those dissolving ones those, but please get it seen, just in case.
Love you lots
xxxx

That'll teach me to look at the location of the person first. But yes, if you have anything similar for out of hours services please make use of them.

thanks guys and ummmm a thought also crossed my mind before... that if it is a dissolvable one then I'm in trouble cuz ummmm the last time I had them I got a nasty infection - great :(

ummmmm the place I live at we have workers and the worker on tomorrow night is an ex nurse so may get her to check it out maybe?? but I definately see my gp tues arvo so yeh...

Hope it goes well lozza with the nurse and the GP appt
Lets hope it isn't infected and it heals up better this time

thanks jem
ummmm qst.... if it is a dissolvable stitch and it is infected... does that mean it will have to be taken out or will they just leave it in still?

I am also scared that my gp will leave it and not do anything as she didnt do the work, a surgeon did :s

archer one, if you actually READ my post you will notice that I am NOT advising the OP remove the stitches herself.

And OP, it is your responsibility if you do what others tell you to/suggest you do etc. This forum is for people to give their personal advice and it is up to you as to whether or not you take it.

My advice was meant with the best of intentions and not with any wrong undertone.

I hope you feel better and have things sorted soon.

Good luck

*cuddles Loz*

xx

it shouldnt be a disolvable stitch otherwise you wouldnt have had to go get them all taken out..
and it also prob isnt subdermal as you didnt know..you would know if it was i assume as it would mean the surgeon stitched a layer under the skin and the top stitches..
as everyone has said..dont try and take it out yourself..go see your gp or even go into the emergency room..
its quite normal that people miss stitches when taking them out and the puss around the area is the bodies way of protecting yourself and trying to push the stitch out..
deff go see your gp..it sounds like if she takes it out it will be fine and heal up itself but you will have to keep a close eye on it..
and maybe take some AB's just to make sure.

I think if your gp isn't of help, and if you don't want to see your surgeon, you should go to the emergency room if you want another opinion. You don't have to tell them how you got the wound since it's irrelavent to the problem and they still get their money. :P I hope it heals alright!

thanks guys well I see my gp this arvo so will see what she says...

What happened Loz? xx

oh whoops...

never saw gp.. cancelled the apt as was feeling too bad
called the place where I got the other stitches out though and they told me to come in and they removed the last stitch...

and all good for now :)