Question after lap??

[cms1305]

Hi there.

Have a quick question. Had lap last Wednesday(18/02/15) I still have dissolvable stitches in. Does anyone know if I can have a long soak in the bath? Just really need to relax!!!

[Rozalind41270]

Should be fine now I should think

[Kerri215]

I never had stitches i had glue.. but you should google the answer.

I had disolvable sitches after giving birth and i bathed and all was fine.x

[cms1305 in reply to Kerri215]

Thank you. I found this online. Think I might wait till stitches have gone. Just in case.

[Bathing and showering

It is usually possible for you to have a bath or a shower about 24 hours after surgery. Your nurse at the hospital will advise you if this is not the case following your particular operation.

Some general points to note are outlined below.

Showering is preferable to bathing.

Remove any dressing before having a bath or shower, unless your doctor gives you different advice. Some dressings are waterproof and can be left in place.

Don't use any soap, shower gel, body lotion, talcum powder or other bathing products directly over the healing wound.

It's alright to allow the shower water to gently splash onto the healing wound. However don't rub the area, as this will cause pain and might delay the healing process.

[Only have a bath if the healing wound can be kept out of the water. Don't soak the area as this might soften the scar tissue and re-open the wound. Dry the healing area carefully by patting it gently with a clean towel. ]

[mablesky in reply to cms1305]

You will be waiting for about three weeks if you are waiting for stitches to dissolve I had a soak after a week and all was fine

[LeieH80 in reply to cms1305]

Hi - I saw this exact advice after my laparoscopy in November, and followed it to the letter, only to be told at my follow up appt that I would have been fine to soak in the bath to get my plasters/ dressings off! So leap in the bath and enjoy every second of it wishing you a speedy recovery x

[cms1305 in reply to LeieH80]

I think I will. My stitches are so tight and driving me mad. Thank you xx

[shazlovesevo]

Hey hun,

I had a bath 2 days after my lap

had a nice soak and I've had absolutely no problems at all,

now 2 weeks later and my stitches are still in and wound is healing brill xx

[Tjbear]

I was told at 2 weeks follow up by consultant to have a good soak in bath and pick any remaining glue out!! Salt rather than soak.

[Hidden]

Hi I had a lap the same day as you and was told to shower and get them wet as soon as I wanted. Then from Tuesday I've left the dressings off. I was told 2 weeks until a bath though. Like you I can't wait to have a long relaxing soak!!! xx

[cms1305 in reply to Hidden]

Wow. I wasn't told any of that, but I was taken straight to a ward and keep in over night. Then just sent home.

I too have taken off the dressing. How did they say they take to dissolve??

Thank you x

[Hidden in reply to cms1305]

Hi no they didn't say. I've got my follow-up appointment in about 10 days so I'll just get them to check them then. How's your recovery going? Mine seems awfully slow but apparently they did loads in there... xx

[cms1305 in reply to Hidden]

Same here. I don't a follow up for another 3 months. But I know that he has taken done biopsies so I hoping I get the results before that. Can get over how bruised and tired I feel. I don't remember feeling like this last time ( but it was in 2008). Hope you start to feel better soon xx

[Hidden in reply to cms1305]

Thanks hon. You too. xx

[mablesky in reply to cms1305]

Usually about 3 weeks

[youngsufferer]

When I had mine I had dissolvable stitches and I went for along bath several times and it didn't harm mine they were fine.

[Bobenhams3]

How long does it take for the stitches to dissolve? I had my lap on the 19th and he's left the ends so long they keep catching on my clothes

[memyselfi in reply to Bobenhams3]

You should go and get them removed now.

After my first lap no one told me what to do so I waited for the stitches to dissolve and some of them didn't. After several weeks they were really itchy and I went to the nurse at my GP Practice who removed them, it was quite difficult to do as the area had healed around them.

This time I was specifically told to go to get them removed between 7 and 10 days after the op.