had my temporal biopsy about three weeks ago. All seems to be healing up ok, no problems I’m aware of.
The stitches used are dissolving ones. They seem to have degenerated somewhat but are just hanging bits that don’t seem to be going. Should I see the practice nurse for a check/tidy up, or just wait longer to see if they dissipate gradually on their own?
I would think three weeks is a long enough period for stitches to dissolve. Check with the the nurse 👩🏻⚕️.
Agree with 123-go best to get checked
Have you received your result from biopsy ?
yes, but it was inconclusive. The consultant said that’s not unusual when pred has already been started (for a couple of weeks prior)
It isn't unusual anyway - while a positive test is 100% certainty you have GCA, a negative test doesn't mean you don't! It just means they didn't find what they were looking for and there is a range of reasons for that.
Have you tried lifting the hanging bit off your skin? I had soluble stitches for something and after x weeks there was a tiny bit sticking out of the scar - the rest had dissolved, just it was left and I picked it up off the skin.
there’s a few bits sticking out, but they still seem fairly attached……sorry, I’m a bit squeamish myself to be pulling at them 🫤 I’ve been gently rubbing them when showering to see if it will loosen and hurry things along.
I’ll call the surgery on Monday, see if I can get seen by a nurse…..
I had dissolvable stitches for my hip replacement. There were bits each end where I had to see a nurse after a couple of weeks to have them cut them off.
My daughter had that with an op when she was a baby. In the end , a nurse removed the dangling bits. It did make the scar slightly wider, so maybe get someone else to do it for you, being as it's on your face.
I have found that it can take six weeks or more for the stitches to dissolve completely.
My stitches lasted 3 months before I got fed up with them and started fiddling with them. I did eventually rub them off but it took over 4 months all together.
My stitches never did dissolve completely. After about 3 months hubby & I removed them.
Awaiting biopsy for suspected GCA
Temporal artery Biopsy 
Temporal artery biopsy
GCA biopsy while on prednisone
