Question:
Anyone have experience with suture granulomas?

I am almost 9 weeks out from my open RNY. I've had no complications other than some irritation around my navel, where my incision is. Several weeks after surgery, I noticed a "bubble" growing next to my navel. It was the only place in my incision that was still open and that was where all my post-surgery drainage came from. The home health nurse who visited me said that it would probably close soon and I'd be done with it. Well, eventually it burst and that seemed to be the end of it, or so I thought. I saw my surgeon the next day and he looked at it and said it was a suture granuloma. He said that the body tends to reject foreign objects like sutures and since that was the last open area of my incision, my body was trying to push out a couple of the internal sutures they used to close me up. He said they were common and since the sutures were self-absorbing, the problem would resolve itself without any intervention. That was a week ago. Now I have two more of these things. They don't cause terrible pain but they are very irritating. Has anyone else had experience with them? I'm wondering how much longer I need to put up with them before I call my surgeon again. He said they are no big deal but they are to me! Any input would be appreciated!    — MomBear2Cubs (posted on July 23, 2003)

July 23, 2003
Hi Jody, I had my surgery on 5-12-03. I reacted to the sutures also. My incision is still open in places. I had no discomfort as long as I kept it open, as the pressure builds from the dicharge. My doc says no big deal either. It may close and reopen for quite some time as the body tries to get rid of them. I find it quite gross myself. Good luck. Cheryl
   — cheryl N.

July 23, 2003
Don't be surprised if this happens way down the road for you too. THAT happened to my husband. About 15 years after his gallbladder surgery he had a couple of little bumps appear on his incision line and they were very sore. He went to the doctor and found out that they were sutures that were working their way up to the surface and out. Sure enough, when they finally made their way to the surface we actually saw the sutures and pulled them out. I know its gross, but it DOES happen.
   — Checker B.