|
Post by crazycatlady on May 29, 2012 13:17:30 GMT -5
My doctor used glue to close my incisions. On my right side incision, the gauze pad stuck to the incision and there are still a number of threads stuck to it. I was able to pull some off but not many. Pulling the remainder HURTS.
Will they come off on their own? I'm somewhat worried that my doctor will feel the need to pull them off when I go in to see her. I'm not terrifically excited about this.
|
|
|
Post by omaklackey on May 29, 2012 13:27:00 GMT -5
If you are cleared for a shower, jump in and allow the warm water on the wound. It will pop right off with a little warm water. That is what we recommended to people on acute care
|
|
|
Post by crazycatlady on May 29, 2012 13:42:20 GMT -5
Thanks omaklackey! I've tried that a couple times and its hasn't all come off. I'll keep trying.
|
|
|
Post by Karen on May 29, 2012 18:15:40 GMT -5
If you can be patient, they will eventually come off on their own when the glue sloughs off. In the meantime, can you at least trim the ends of the strings so they're not hanging out there?
|
|
|
Post by semicolon on May 29, 2012 18:40:22 GMT -5
I would just let them be if you can stand it. The glue takes a while but will come off with time. It is so hard to not pick at them, though!!
|
|
|
Post by crazycatlady on May 29, 2012 19:12:11 GMT -5
Thanks guys! So my husband has convinced himself that the skin has started growing into the gauze and I need to call the doctor tomorrow to get it taken out. He's had EMT training about a 100 years ago but that's better than me since I'm a lawyer. I figure it will work its way off eventually, but to make him happy I'll call the doctor tomorrow.
|
|
|
Post by Karen on May 29, 2012 19:53:13 GMT -5
Well, it sounds like your husband knows best!
|
|
|
Post by JC on May 30, 2012 4:54:31 GMT -5
Do you have those sticky steri-strips on your wound or is your wound glued shut with normal gauze on it? If they are steri-strips then they are supposed to just fall off on their own. If it's gauze stuck to your wound with glue then you probably should figure out a way to get it off. "Omak" had some good advice as long as you don't let the water hit your wounds directly. If you just let the warm water run down over the wound then it should be fine. How many days has it been since your surgery already? And how big is your wound?
|
|
|
Post by crazycatlady on May 30, 2012 10:42:47 GMT -5
The wounds are glued shut with normal gauze on it with a clear bandage stuck over the whole thing.
I've tried water directly on the wound for a while, indirectly, nothing works. I can usually get a thread or two off a day though. But there is about 10 or 12 threads or so left.
It's been a week since my surgery and the wound is about half an inch.
I called my doctor's office and they referred me to one of the nurses. Apparently this gauze problem is unusual. The nurse told me to stop pulling on it since it hurts when I do. The nurse is going to talk to the doctor to see if she has a trick to get the gauze loose.
|
|
|
Post by JC on May 30, 2012 11:09:30 GMT -5
I wouldn't pull on it either but it shouldn't be stuck like that. We used to remove stitches after 7-10 days so the doctor may be ok with you using something other than water to remove it but I'd definitely wait to hear what they advise you to do. Hopefully they have a better solution!
|
|
|
Post by chibineko717 on May 30, 2012 12:20:37 GMT -5
Maybe try baby oil. I use that to get off band aids that are stuck to my arm hair.
|
|
|
Post by crazycatlady on May 30, 2012 13:22:07 GMT -5
The doctor's office called back. The doctor wasn't concerned, she recommended that if it won't come off just to leave it until the dermabond wears off. She said that the gauze is stuck to the dermabond so once it wears off it will come off. No big deal. Otherwise I could try baby oil, which means that chibineko is a genius.
|
|
|
Post by JC on May 30, 2012 13:38:06 GMT -5
Well that's good news! Baby oil is awesome too.
|
|
|
Post by chibineko717 on May 30, 2012 21:30:09 GMT -5
I'm only a genius sometimes. I hope the gauze comes off soon. That would really bug me too.
|
|
|
Post by semicolon on May 31, 2012 6:23:59 GMT -5
I'm glad the doc wasnt concerned, that's a relief. Hang in there!
|
|