cakediva
Drama Llama
Making the world a sweeter place one cake at a time!
Posts: 7,406 
Location: Fergus, Ontario
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Post by cakediva on Jul 16, 2016 20:25:42 GMT
Long story short - open lesion on my baby finger that after two weeks was still bleeding on and off. Emerg decided to put two stitches in it to close it (freezing didn't stem the flow even though she said it would).
Got the stitches Monday. She told me to keep it dry for a good day or two. So I've been wearing a glove for showering, doing dishes, working on cakes. And keeping it covered with a band aid.
ETA - they are dissolvable stitches.....
So far no more bleeding. Yay!
But just curious about the stitches themselves - how long do they take to dissolve? (seriously did not think to ask that question, such and idiot I am)
And now that it has been 5 days, do I need to keep it dry still?
I've never in my life had stitches (other than in my hoo ha after childbirth lol)
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,120
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Post by iowgirl on Jul 16, 2016 20:31:58 GMT
Are they dissolvable stitches?
I haven't had any stitches, but my DH should get a punch card to get a free one after every 10. Any external stitches he gets are never dissolve-able. He waits about 5 - 7 days and removes them himself. Closer to 7 days on the hand. When you are sure the cut has begun healing itself shut, but you don't want to wait too long.
You should have gotten instructions on how long or if they are dissolvable, and on the wound care.
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valleyview
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,816
Jun 27, 2014 18:41:26 GMT
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Post by valleyview on Jul 16, 2016 20:38:25 GMT
I agree that you should have received wound care instructions. They will need to be removed. Any time that I have had small wound stitches, it's 7-10 days.
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cakediva
Drama Llama
Making the world a sweeter place one cake at a time!
Posts: 7,406
Location: Fergus, Ontario
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Post by cakediva on Jul 16, 2016 20:39:36 GMT
Are they dissolvable stitches? I haven't had any stitches, but my DH should get a punch card to get a free one after every 10. Any external stitches he gets are never dissolve-able. He waits about 5 - 7 days and removes them himself. Closer to 7 days on the hand. When you are sure the cut has begun healing itself shut, but you don't want to wait too long. You should have gotten instructions on how long or if they are dissolvable, and on the wound care. Yes - they are dissolvable! |
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oldcrow
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,828
Location: Ontario,Canada
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Post by oldcrow on Jul 16, 2016 20:40:20 GMT
Long story short - open lesion on my baby finger that after two weeks was still bleeding on and off. Emerg decided to put two stitches in it to close it (freezing didn't stem the flow even though she said it would). Got the stitches Monday. She told me to keep it dry for a good day or two. So I've been wearing a glove for showering, doing dishes, working on cakes. And keeping it covered with a band aid. So far no more bleeding. Yay! But just curious about the stitches themselves - how long do they take to dissolve? (seriously did not think to ask that question, such and idiot I am) And now that it has been 5 days, do I need to keep it dry still? I've never in my life had stitches (other than in my hoo ha after childbirth lol) Are you sure they are dissolving stitches. If they are I don't have any answers because the only ones I ever had were the same as yours. If they are not dissolving then they should probably come out by at least day ten. DH gets stitches all the time and only worries about keeping them dry for a day or two. He usually keeps a bandaid on them to keep them from getting caught on something. |
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,404
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Jul 16, 2016 20:40:21 GMT
Are they internal dissolvable ones? Otherwise they need to be removed about a week after being put in so your body doesn't grow around them. Call your primary care doctor and ask.
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cakediva
Drama Llama
Making the world a sweeter place one cake at a time!
Posts: 7,406
Location: Fergus, Ontario
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Post by cakediva on Jul 16, 2016 20:41:18 GMT
I agree that you should have received wound care instructions. They will need to be removed. Any time that I have had small wound stitches, it's 7-10 days. No wound care instructions were given...sigh They are dissolvable though - that part I remember. Because she specifically said I won't have to go back to have them removed. She (and my doctor who sent me to emerg to get something done to stop the bleeding) said only after they dissolve, if the bleeding continues, do I need to go back to my doctor so they can do a biopsy to see what the heck is going on. |
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oldcrow
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,828
Location: Ontario,Canada
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Post by oldcrow on Jul 16, 2016 20:50:56 GMT
Now that I think about it you should probably start getting them wet. I can't see how they will ever dissolve if they stay dry. But that is just my logic.  |
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melissa
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,912
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Post by melissa on Jul 16, 2016 21:21:28 GMT
No one can say because we don't know what type of suture was used nor the thickness. Those are the key variables along with the actual tissue and how deep the wound, etc. One to two weeks would be a typical timeline for the internal portion of the stitches to be fully absorbed/dissolved. The outer portion, if any, will fall off. If there are knots on the outside, the may sort of hang on a bit but can be removed easily. You won't hurt anything by giving it a little tug at that point. The superficial layers of the skin are usually closed in about 4-5 days. If they said to keep it dry a day or two, you can give up the glove.
Also, you can call the ER and speak to a nurse to ask about something like this. The basic wound care instructions should have been printed and given to you at that time.
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valleyview
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,816
Jun 27, 2014 18:41:26 GMT
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Post by valleyview on Jul 16, 2016 21:28:35 GMT
Good luck with the healing!
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cakediva
Drama Llama
Making the world a sweeter place one cake at a time!
Posts: 7,406
Location: Fergus, Ontario
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Post by cakediva on Jul 16, 2016 22:30:35 GMT
No one can say because we don't know what type of suture was used nor the thickness. Those are the key variables along with the actual tissue and how deep the wound, etc. One to two weeks would be a typical timeline for the internal portion of the stitches to be fully absorbed/dissolved. The outer portion, if any, will fall off. If there are knots on the outside, the may sort of hang on a bit but can be removed easily. You won't hurt anything by giving it a little tug at that point. The superficial layers of the skin are usually closed in about 4-5 days. If they said to keep it dry a day or two, you can give up the glove. Also, you can call the ER and speak to a nurse to ask about something like this. The basic wound care instructions should have been printed and given to you at that time. Thanks melissa - I appreciate the info. |
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