When will I stop "spitting" stitches???

[momto4]

This is driving me crazy! I am now 6 weeks post op and have had trouble healing due to the "dissolvable" stitches. I went for my post op and Fri. and my doc picked out some crusty old stitch pieces from the areas that were not healing well. Now, the areas are gross. THere are 2 holes and they are seeping a little fluid, although they do not seem infected, sore or red, just yucky to look at. He told me to go ahead any pluck any stitches that popped out with clean tweezers, buy I don't want to dig around for them. I am so over this process and an just ready to be healed up already! I wasn't expecting this! Anyone have any experience with this?
Thanks for any advice!

[wocky]

I continued to spit stitches all the way through month 3, I think. Don't worry it's normal! Oh, and you don't HAVE to pick them out. I told my PS there was no way my queasy self would be picking around my nipples with a tweezer...she just laughed and said I didn't need to, that the stitches would flake off on their own.

[Quirls]

What do you mean by spitting stitches exactly? I think I am having the same problem but I'm not sure. I did make a thread about it a while back but nobody replied... My incisions healed (or so I thought) and then I got little tiny holes appearing all along the incision and sometimes there were little crusty bits which I assumed were scabs but maybe they were stitches?

[momto4]

Yes, that is exactly what that is. They are the stitches that your body does not break down all the way and so the start working their way out of your body on their own. It's yucky, but I guess it's normal!

[jen9259]

It is normal - I have the same problem!!! It has been driving me crazy. I feel the same way very gross to look at. I would keep putting blobs of aquafor on the open areas just so I wouldn't have to look at the openings. I had the openings on both areolas. The left one finally healed about 2 weeks ago. Then I went to Dr Cohen last Tuesday and he decided to restitch my right side. So far so good I still have steri strips over the new incision but it looks like it is healing better. So I hope!!!! It seems alot of women have this problem from some of the posts I've been reading. I haven't been able to go swimming - long hot summer. I know its frustrating (I feel the same way) but you will heal. Some of us just heal a little slower that others ( and react to the suture material)

[Quirls]

Thankfully my holes have been tiny and have covered themselves over quite quickly so I haven't had to be restitched. Hopefully they will continue to heal I don't like the idea of being restitched hehe!

[AllSmilez]

Good to know about this! I thought they were scabs or something. I guess I was spitting a stitch on my right side because I felt something there for awhile, and now that it's gone, I realize my left side now has one. Good to know it's normal and that they flake off on their own. I have no idea if I have "holes" (ick!). I would rather not look too closely to see if I have any. I cringe everytime I have to apply the Mederma, I can't imagine the idea of plucking stitches out!

[xxAngelxx]

I have this problem too. (I think you replied to my original thread about it). Its sucks and its ugly, but I hear its pretty common. I'd been following Dr C's orders (continue to massage, keep clean, apply Aquaphor) and they're starting to heal. It just takes time. But I definately feel your pain. I have my main one, and I think I'm in the making of 2 more. But, we'll see!

[FullAtLast]

I thought they were scabs too. There is no way I could pull them out myself; I don't go back to ps for another month so I wonder if they will still be there then. They weren't there at my last appt. By the way what is Aquaphor and what does it do?

[xxAngelxx]

Aquaphor is a rich, petrolatum-based cream. The texture is basically like petroleum jelly. However, it is indicated for healing. I was instructed to rub it on my incisions to help make the scars "go away." My lefty (the one that is not spitting stitches) has healed incredibly well. Also, I noticed fairly quick healing of my "hole" from the stitch once the stitch actually came out.

[futureard]

I'm just a little over one month post ba. I still have one small area on my left breast where my scar is that has a small little stitch popping out. I can feel it when I run my finger over it but it's not popping out enough for me to use tweezers on it. I guess in time they just come out on their own. I know its weird lol.

[Hummingbird22]

I'm glad I'm not the only one! I have a tiny bit of a stitch sticking out of the incision on my right, and I pulled at it a little today after I got out of the shower...But it's still there. I remember having the same thing happen with my incision when I had knee surgery and I ended up pulling those out myself with tweezers. Don't think I'll do that this time! I'll just do like some ladies have already said and just wait it out...They'll have to dissolve eventually, right?

[curly sue]

how relieving. ive said this before but this forum is brilliant at putting my mind to ease. i too have this stitch problem and get my husband to pull them out. one of the nots were causing me to have a little hole but thats gone now. wahoo. it still seeps a little wen i wear a proper bra rather than a sports full support one.

[Mommy23]

That's a good question...it happened to me too and I totally freaked out and then of course I went straight to my computer and looked it up on the forum.; Made me feel soooo much better!

[Midwest Cutie]

At my preop a few days ago the nurse ended up clipping two that were sticking out. She said if I see them not to pull them out because they might unravel on the inside. She told me just to clip them.