Allergic to Sutures?

Who knew you could be allergic to the sutures they use in surgery? Apparently I developed a reaction after my recent gall bladder/appendix surgery and have to be on antibiotics for the next few days. So I am wondering how this is going to affect my weight loss surgery. The surgeons uses sutures and staples to close everything up but if I am allergic to the sutures how in the world is he going to make sure everything is closed up? Or will I have to go on antibiotics immediately after the surgery? Maybe LOTS of benadryl after??

 aww  beautiful Kahlana .. well  every gorgeous flower  is  fragile I guess  .....  God makes em that way ..    ( just to be fair to the REST of us mere  normal mortals  ) 

Ure right the incision line will ITCH  and benadryl is  the BEST defense... 

I wouldnt worry  so much 


quiet as its kept  this surgery is major  but its  also minor ... as long as U have a COMPETENT  person  performing it .  Get thru it  ....  be all U can be .   MAKE SURE  U have someone there for the first week at home .

IM SURE U have some man madly in love with U ... get him to help U 

MiniMe.. oh my gosh can I just adopt you? Thank you so much for the sweet words. They made my day! It's kind of funny that you mention fragile flowers because when I was younger I heard the phrase on a SLN (i think) episode once and loved it so used to tell people all the time that "I couldn't possibly do... because I am a delicate fragile flower" hmmm... self-fulfilling prophecy maybe?? lol

Anyway I have stocked up on Benadryl and am also on an antibiotic for the infection (I don't think it's helping much but at least i'm not itching so badly now) And yes I had a WONDERFuL man to help me and he is still making sure I don't overdo too much. But I do think he is happier now that I can sleep in the bed like a normal person again without too much pulling on the incision line.

I was very blessed to have a wonderful surgeon who did a MARVELOUS job on me. He made a note on my chart that I will have to have "alternative suturing for any future surgeries due to strong allerigc reaction along suture line." on my chart. Since he is going to be performing any future surgeries on me this should not present a big challenge for him though.

As for worrying I am trying not to but when it takes me a month longer to heal up than most folks it does get to be a concern. Next time the surgeon tells me "at minimum you will need x amount of weeks to recover" I am definitely going to be following that suggestion to the letter lol. No more trying to be superwoman for me.

Thanks again Minime you really made me feel terrific today :)

Usually they do not prescribe antibiotics for allergy reactions. But they do for infections.

Just becasue you had reaction to some sutures - you doc may use another one. If this is not the same doc- make sure your surgeon talks to that doc.

Hala B. My reaction to the sutures was to get an awful infection along with hives and itching and lots of drainage so that's why he prescribed the antibiotic. It was gross but at least i am finally feeling better and the area around my belly button is only a little pus-y now and not full of green stuff all the time.

Talk with your surgeon there are other options I was glued after my gall bladder and my mom was glued after having a kidney removed.....

They used 3 internal sutures on the outer incision as well as the glue. They were supposed to dissolve but didn't and I ended up with them coming out of a small tear in the outer incision when I cleaned the area. I don't know what they used on the incisions inside though except that the CT scan I had done a couple of weeks ago showed some areas of infection (nothing major but enough to warrant the antibiotic.)  I don't know if they glue the insides or not though. Willl have to definitely ask about that.

Was it the outside sutures or the inside ones? I was also glued on the outside with my VSG but there are still sutures. My surgeon uses them to reinforce the point between each line of staples, for example.

MacMadame that's what I am worried about with the DS. I know my surgeon does the double reinforced staple line meaning he staples and then sutures as well. it may well be that I will have to be on an antibiotic after the surgery anyway but I see him this month and given my latest reaction will definitely be speaking with him about my options for sutures then.

 I have never  heard of them using glue inside  ....