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Should I consider making stitches?



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Hi guys. I'm doing great thank god, lost almost 30 pounds already and feeling healthier than ever.

One thing, the biggest incision on my stomach isn't healing properly. One side of the nearly two inch cut is closing up as expected, but the side is really an open wound. The two flaps of skin are very much separated, and it's hard for me to imagine it healing properly by itself.

Now normally I would go back to my surgeon, but he only sees patients once a week and it's an extremely long wait to see him.

So my question is should I go to a general doctor and make stitches if he recommends it? Is it a common thing to require post op stitches on any of the incisions?

Thanks in advance.

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Congratulations on your weight loss. I feel your frustration your going though, my advise to you is see if maybe your surgeon can squeeze you in somewhere in his schedule, you don't want to play around with things and land up with more problems. Good luck keep us posted .

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Hi Bruce, call your surgeon's office immediately; they need to get a look at that. If it's the largest incision it's probably your port site and they will want to make sure the port placement is correct, not over stitched by an ER doctor, etc. Know that your doctors are there for you -- you are not bothering them. You do not need a post-op infection or future complications. Catch it now while it's a small matter. And congratulations on all -- thirty pounds down is a great beginning. I love it that for once the weight off are pounds never to be seen again. Best wishes -- and make that call now!

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Hey your surgeon needs to know his stitches didn't hold. Call ASAP and demand they squeeze you in. I'm sure he'd want to address it immediately. Good luck.

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all doctor offices leave room on their schedules for emergencies. this is one of them. if you aren't having pus, or if it isn't red etc indicating infection they likely will leave it alone. or put steri strips back on. but this does need to be looked at. you don't want to deal with an infection too.

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Thanks y'all for the replies, it doesn't seem to be infected and there isn't any puss coming out. Yet in my eyes it looks very similar to a cut that requires stitches. It's hard for me to explain, but basically the two sides of the cuts, i.e. the two pieces of skin, seem to be very far apart. It's hard for me to imagine how they will magically get back together without medical intervention. I wish I could post a picture, but that would be gross.

I'll definitely try to squeeze in to my surgeon's schedule.

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
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