Lap recovery

[Lausmi]

Just a really quick one, does anyone know roughly how long it takes for stitches to start to dissolve or look like they are getting better? Just wondering as I'm about 11 days post op and feeling very sore and they are quite red, just looking for a little advise on others experiences.. thank you x

[Lovisa]

I had my nurse remove my stitches two weeks after my last lap, she said they can take a few months to dissolve but if they are annoying you, you can get your nurse/gp to remove them.

[Lausmi in reply to Lovisa]

Thank you, I wasn't really advised about stiches at all, I wasn't even sure when I was meant to remove the plasters over them after the lap, my partner rang the hospital to ask. I'll leave it a little longer and see how they go then, I was just a little unsure as doesn't seem to look any different at all yet. Thank you for your reply

[Lizzielizzielizzie in reply to Lausmi]

Have you still got the dressings on? I saw my gp at day 4 post op as one area was really red and she said I should uncover them as air helps healing and also I was having a minor allergic reaction to the dressings which was adding to my soreness.

My mum (a retired nurse) cut my stitches out when they started to irritate me, but she said that if I hadn't been so over-careful about getting not them wet then they would probably have dissolved quicker.

Your GP is a great source of info I found.

[Lausmi in reply to Lizzielizzielizzie]

I haven't got the dressings on no, I was advised to take them off a day or 2 after op. Just concerned as the stitches aren't looking to be dissolving, but understanding this is different for everyone, I'm possibly going to see GP about the this week if no better. Thank you for your advice x

[AllWeNeedIsluv]

Hi I had my lap done in Feb and my stitches have nearly all gone now was actually getting concerned about them as I thought they look like there's no where for them to go. My skin healed and still stitches hanging out. Since iv been taking serrepeptase they've practically all gone. Keep an eye on the redness could be infection if it gets angry red and itchy also if you start feeling unwell. Hope this helps. Xxx

[Lausmi in reply to AllWeNeedIsluv]

Thank you for your reply! Yes, just keeping a close eye on them, was just concerned as they don't look to be getting any better. I'll definitely book to see a GP if it starts to get worse. Thank you xx

[rhia0901]

Mine took about 2-3 weeks to disappear. I asked my surgeon and he said the average time is about 4 weeks - they will disappear, though, it just depends how long your body takes to heal. They will eventually be rejected by your body. I was advised I should keep the plaster/bandage covering on for 2 weeks, but the hospital gave me replacements just in case.

I found it was quite sore for a while - and you've got to remember it takes longer for it to heal internally. If there's pus and they're bleeding now or if you're feeling unwell, go to your GP and ask them to check. I found one of my wounds look quite nasty but as soon as the stitches fell out, it then looked quite healthy. So just give your body time to heal :).

[Lausmi in reply to rhia0901]

Thank you for your reply I'm so confused, I wasn't told any of this and when my partner rang to ask when I could remove the plasters they said the next day after surgery, so I gave it another day just to be sure and then removed them, as I wasn't given any spares. I was so worried about clothes rubbing on them and knocking them, so would of felt better about keeping plasters on. It's a hard one, everyone seems to be told different from different hospitals/ doctors/ nurses thank you for your advice though, really appreciate it xx

[Emilyxo]

Have not had a lap yet personally but am a Student nurse, if stitches are looking red and feeling more sore go to Gp or practice nurse to have a wound review as might be slightly infected especially if redness Around the are!

Hope you heal soon! X

[Lausmi in reply to Emilyxo]

Thank you for the advise. They have been a little itchy, but I thought this was normal as I still get itching on my caesarean scar, 5 yrs on... they are looking red in places and are sore, but I haven't noticed and puss or foul smell or anything like that.. but I'll keep checking and be sure to go see a GP if it doesn't get better. Thank you xx

[Hidden]

I am 7 weeks post op and I started cutting my stitches out I think 2 weeks post op when they started to feel tight and it was making the skin sore. If they're hot or weeping then obviously that's a trip to the GP.

[Lausmi in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your reply, they aren't weeping, so fingers crossed they are okay

[MrsK1]

I left mine for two weeks and then went to the doctor and he booked me in to see the nurse the next day and have them taken out. They didn't hurt but they were beginning to get a bit red. X

[Lausmi in reply to MrsK1]

Thank you for the reply... did it hurt to have them taken out. Stupid question I know all things considered, but just a bit worried as they are sore. Think I'll go a trip to the doctors this week to see what they say. Thank you x

[MrsK1 in reply to Lausmi]

In all honesty, it didn't. I felt a bit of tugging which was a bit weird but it was fine. To be fair I think when you suffer from Endo you become pretty resilient to pain but trust me it was fine and very quick. Although the weird thing was that the nurse asked me if I wanted to keep the stitches... I said no!! 😂 Good luck, I'm sure you'll be fine. X

[Lausmi in reply to MrsK1]

Thank you I know, like I said, silly question really considering we cope with pain daily! It's just the thought of it that bothers me the most I think. That's strange though, I certainly wouldn't want to keep them 🙈😂 x

[MrsK1 in reply to Lausmi]

It's not silly, I was apprehensive too. It's a relief when they're out because I was paranoid about mine getting infected. X

[Lausmi in reply to MrsK1]

That's what I keep worrying about too, every time I knock them or my clothes rub I'm worried they might get infected! 🙈 x

[Ertabee]

I'm 11 days post op too, and I was told to remove the dressings 2-3days after the op once I'd had a gentle shower. I did this and cleaned around the wounds quite delicately afterwards. Out of the three sites, one has been causing me a bit of grief - more raised than the others, redness, itchiness and a taut feeling. I saw my GP yesterday and he said it's not infected (thank the stars!), but the last stitch looks like it has been put in too tight, which is causing it to be raised or pinched. He said to keep an eye on it but it will likely be the last to fully heal and flatten. I cover them with a big plaster each time I shower, and have been careful about wearing anything form fitting as they can rub. I hope yours heal well, and that you've found some comfort from this thread (sorry for the bad pun 😂)! It will take longer to heal internally so continue to take it easy - I've two weeks off work and might even take a third! X

[Lausmi in reply to Ertabee]

Yes, I have one that's seems to be more of an issue than the other 2. Thank you for replying really helps hearing about others experiences and situations xx

[Amyhenshaw]

Hi there! I removed my own stitches one week post op and they were fine! Can't imagine leaving them in so long!!

[Lausmi in reply to Amyhenshaw]

I'm way too scared to remove them myself 🙈 I think if it gets to the stage where they need to go, I'll go to see the nurse or doctor to remove for me xx

[DebsB33]

I was advised my stitches were dissolvable but after about 10 days I made appointment with practice nurse and because the skin had started to grow over the stitches it took 2 of them to get them out,so would defo recommend you go and get them removed as soon as possible!i felt that it was really hard to move and felt such a relief after stitches were removed!

[Lausmi in reply to DebsB33]

Thank you for your advice. I'm starting to think I need to have them taken out now, feeling slightly tight. X