Ouestion about Stitches...

I know most of you are RNY patients and I am a Bander but where Dr H cut me for my port isn't healed up all the way and I saw what I thought was a piece of skin and was going to pull it off then realized it was attached to the wound...stitches! I thought these things melted and if they do, how long does it take? I thought by 2 weeks they would be gone! I don't see Dr H again til March. Help!! Deb M.

Hi Debbie; Keeping in mind its been several years since my surgery but, my stitches were taken out by Dr.H. You might want to call the office and ask. Sorry I can't be of more help. Hugs; Barbara in Freeman

Hmmm Deb, I didnt have stitches, I had these clear bandaide things that covered the wound, Dr. H took em off on my 1 week visit, it did take them a few weeks to completely heal tho. Andrew

Hi Deb, I am a RNY patient-but I did have that happen to me-almost a whole month after surgery, in 2 of my incisions-I also wasnt sure what it was - but when I went to touch it, it was hard-and my husband snipped one, and pulled it out-and then did the same to another-but it fell back in...this was Christmas Eve, so I didnt call in-just thought they forgot a stitch or two, you know? Well, I had another incision that he took one out-where my drain was. Told him that the stitches I watched her take out were black-so I didnt know where the clear looking ones were coming from, but the one incision started to come open when the 2 stitches came through and that freaked me out. I called my surgeons ofc on 12-26 and they told me that it doesnt happen a lot, but it was normal-she said that more than likely my body was healing faster than they could dissolve-and asked how many inches I had lost-if I knew-and I didnt. I just knew that the swelling had gone down. I saw the surgeon on Jan 9th and she said it was fine and that if anymore came through-to cut them if I wanted or go to my doc and he could do it if I didnt want to go to Columbia...so-for me it was totally okay and normal. I sure felt relieved-and the pain they caused by poking etc while coming through was relieved when we took them out. Hope this helps. Good luck. Jan

Thank you guys for your help!! I am a little concerned about the one stitch sticking out, it looks like it was the end of the stitches and is tied off there. If I pull on it, the whole incision moves and this is were my port is (my spot for fills). I don't want to drive to Sedalia, especially with another winter storm coming but would like to hear what Dr H has to say. I will call him but I'm making a appt with my pcp too. I was suppose to after my surgery anyway and haven't yet! I'm still having trouble with this rash though! If I use neosporin or any kind of adhesive bandaids or pads, the rash gets worse! If I don't use anything, they get real dry and itchy. David has me using a antibacterial ointment (for itching too) that he has left from when he got that cyst removed from the inside of his nostril. Then I have non-adhesive pads on with an elastic bandage wrapped all the way around me, it sticks to itself! So far so good! To see me, you'd think I broke a rib...lol I have to do something to stop me from scratching before I end up ripping something open or at least breaking the skin where it starts to bleed! I woke up in the middle of the night last night just digging in because they itched so bad!! Thank you all again for sharing your experiences! I will add this one to my profile for the ones that come along after us and have the same problem! Deb M

Deb, Two of my incisions have little pieces of string coming out. Seems all healed but that, and no itching, so I just leave it alone. It is supposed to dissolve eventually. M