Something Strange!

[CantBelieve_IdidIit! 22]

This is a little odd...but a few weeks after surgery I noticed something on my lower surgical incision looked to have a piece of glue that was not washing off. I kind of blew it off & figured I needed to scrub that area better.

Today after close insepection I see it actually surgical suture string with a knot in the end hanging out of the area I was told was glued. So this is actually a suture from the internal sutures. I pulled on it a tad and it hurt like crazy and bled alot. I hate to go back to the Dr again...but wonder if it might be a source of entry for bacteria. Which I know can quickly be bad. Any one else heard of this? x

[Lissa 2,631]

I actually pulled a couple of stitches out that worked their way to the surface. I just used tweezers and it wasn't a big deal. If it's painful, leave it alone, but do keep it clean and dry. It will either dissolve or work it's way further out. You might want to call your doctor, just to make yourself feel better.

[Back~To~Amy 307]

I'm preop for the sleeve but had my gallbladder removed a few years back and I too had a suture work its way to the too and did as Lissa did to remove it.

~Amy

[NJsharon 119]

I was told I had no stitches & had steri-strips. But I found one tiny suture sticking out on one incision! When I pulled at it lightly it didn't come out anymore nor did it hurt. Just didn't do anything. I e-mailed my Dr's coordinator & he said I could just cut it off, close to the skin, with sterilized scissors & using sterilized tweezers.

[kyllfalcon 768]

When I had a total knee replacment a couple of years ago, the incision was closed on the outside with glue but on the inside were stitches. Dozens worked their way out over a period of weeks. Most pulled out easily with tweezers, but I had to clip a couple that had knots real close to the skin.

Keep it clean and dry. And don't mess with it too much.

[phatdivabbw 86]

Yowsers! I have the Dermabond glue. I now wonder what will be at my incision site once the glue has worn off.

[Mews 37]

Doctors all use internal stitches as they close up the various layers. Some use glue for the outermost one. I had this happen to me with ankle surgery a while back. Just keep the area clean and dry and don't pull it out if it hurts. Just in case you may want to call your doc to get some advice on how to deal with it.

[PollyBlue 22]

Exactly the same thing happened to me. Just leave it alone. Mine "dropped off/went away" of its own accord. See your doctor if it looks like its getting infected, otherwise leave it alone. What Mews says is right - all doctors internally stitch.