Removed stitches... now I have a big hole!

Today is day 10 so I removed my own stitches (which is totally easy). A lot of people feel comfortable doing so, so I said... I can do it too.

Well, 2 of my 5 incisions were not fully sealed (one of the big ones and one of the small ones) and now I have 2 big holes. They are sealed from the inside.. so its not like my insides are exposed or anything.

I read these will heal from the inside out. Is that correct? I've never had stitches before. How should I treat this. I just put a bandaid over it real tight so the pressure closes it back up... however this wont allow it to dry out.

Did any of you have this problem? I don't have medical insurance so if it will heal on its own and its a normal thing... then I will skip a trip to a doctor.

Will this heal and I have a big divet in my stomach?

Keep them very clean and dry, unless you were told otherwise no antibiotic ointments and certainly no peroxide.

If green or yellow stuff starts coming out in TINY amounts it doesn't necessarily mean it's infected.  Sometimes since it does indeed heal from the inside out that little pocket of open space can accumulate a little bit of crap.  Now, if it is draining or if you are the least bit unsure, see your doc.

 Hi,

I did the same thing! And, the same things happened to me too.

After observing my own healing, I would say they heal in both directions at the same time.

The paperwork I received from the clinic said that one could use butterfly bandages that would bring the sides together. I didn't use anything but I was very careful to wear a clean top and bra at all times and make sure I wasn't moving around a whole lot. I kept them clean with a daily shower and then sprayed on the medicam that I was given (the little yellow spray bottle of non-alcohol antiseptic). I did lay down to let the medicam dry before I got dressed.

Like any open wound regardless if it's an incision or not, it must be cleaned regularly to stop infection. It worked for me.

Nope, I don't have any divots. Just straight lines.

I hope the rest of your recovery goes well.

All the very best and happy losing!

I'm completely floored that a surgeon would allow a patient to remove their own stitches or staples. So many things can happen because people heal at different rates. The incision being separated will probably leave a more prominent scar.

Shaking head in disbelief.

Karen

I had surgery in another country so this doctor gives a stitch removal kit for at home. It was pretty easy to remove but I think an extra 5 days or so would have fully sealed it. It looked so dry and sealed when I removed them.

Yeah, those incisions can fool any of us.  Sometimes when we carry a lot of weight in our stomachs the weight of our stomachs pulls the incisions open just a little.  I kept my taped for a good 2 weeks or better for that reason.  I didn't have to remove my sutures, my surgeon uses self dissolving subdermal sutures.  Couldn't even see them.  I do wish all surgeons operating on folks outside their country would use them for this reason but lots of them don't.

Speaking from 7 years of surgical nursing experience, after 10 days they are ready to come out. If they don't start to close apply the butterfly bandage or if you can steri-strips are way better. Clean atleast 2 times per day w/ an antibacterial soap such as dial and pat it dry. most important thing is to keep it CLEAN & DRY!! I was never stitched I was only glued in 5 spots, and 2 of mine came open, and I did all of the above and all is well, my scars are no more prominent & they healed beautiful and straight! Good Luck! Not like you were gonna fly back to Mexico to have your surgeon take them out for you....LoL So theres no shaking of my head in disbelief...LoL All is good!


             Jamie

Oh thank you so much for your expertise!

I have been keeping a bandaid over them to keep it pulled together so I will remove that and let it dry up. I can't find butterfly bandages ANYWHERE! I'll keep looking in different stores.

THANK YOU!!!! To everyne who helped out. ;)

Ask your pharmacist for "steri strips"

In no way shape or form were my stiches ready to be removed in 10 days. As far as healing, when my surgeon removed mine, I had trouble with drainage on the very tail end of the incision. I was not lucky to have the laproscopic procedure and I was cut from stem to stern with a total of 50 staples. (I had a hernia repair as well)
It just took some time for the healing process to be over. I thought I was going to have a huge hole where the drainage was coming from but it actually is the best healed area of the whole incision.
I would suggest going back to your surgeon and have him/her take a look if it becomes infected or warm to the touch. That is a sign of infection and is NOTHING to be messed with!