Is there any reason I shouldn't take out my own stitches....

[Liberal Veteran]

I had about 17 sutures put in by the ER last week after an unfortunate accident that almost rendered me without an ear lobe. I am supposed to go to the doc and have them removed this week. Is there any particular reason I shouldn't removed the sutures myself as long as everything is healing up nicely and I follow asceptic practices?

[Liberal Veteran]

1. Bump!

This post didn't make it onto the main page.

[rexcat]

2. The only time I have had my sutures removed by someone else...

was when I had knee surgery and the suture was a continuous internal suture that had one end exposed so they could pull it out. The damn thing got stuck and I almost fainted from the pain. Otherwise I have always removed sutures but I was a Medic in the military many years ago. My mom was also a nurse and when we were kids we never returned to the doctor to have them removed. She sis it!

Be very cautious of infection but in about 7-10 days they should be ready to be removed (or what ever your doctor said was the appropriate time they should stay in).

[radwriter0555]

3. eh why not? Go for it...

It's just healed up skin n stuff.

[TrogL]

4. If you do it wrong

you'll end up with pieces of stitches inside yourself forever.

I was thinking of taking out my own stitches after plastic surgery. The doctor showed me how they were installed. If I'd done it, I'd have left a centimetre's worth inside.

[WWW]

5. Please don't

He will check for any signs of infection and your overall health as well as take out the stitches. Please promise me you will have a doctor take them out :)

[TopesJunkie]

6. Yes. You should have the stitches taken out by someone trained ...

to do it, and the wound looked at, so you don't encounter complications down the road. Don't be foolish.

[Exultant Democracy]

7. it's just and ear lobe

if they were holding together something important that would be one thing. The only reason not to is because it is in such an awkward place, but if you feel comfortable doing it, do it.

[TopesJunkie]

8. What?

What planet are you living on? How can anyone responsibly recommend that someone else take out their own stitches?

[Liberal Veteran]

9. Well, actually I was going to have my boyfriend pick them out for me.

Not really do it myself.

[TopesJunkie]

13. Is your boyfriend a physician, a nurse practitioner, a physician's...

assistant, or an RN? If not, it's not a good idea.

[TopesJunkie]

17. Actually, on second thought --

even if he is, it's not a good idea. No one in those professions should be doing that outside of the clinical setting unless it's an emergent situation.

[Scout]

22. my doctor told me to take mine out!

I took mine out of my knee, and also the two little ones when I had my tubal ligation. Doctor told me to do so, there were no signs of infection.

I think if you just check with your doctor first, they will probaly tell you it's ok.

[WWW]

10. I speak from experience

During a stupid thing in college 1976 I decided to get a third hole pierced in my ear. Got really infected during Thanksgiving break and spread to the lymph nodes along the neck and into my arm pit. Was so, so sick, admitted to the hospital, the whole business. Will never screw around with open wounds again.

[Exultant Democracy]

12. It's his ear lobe

he almost lost it once, if he wants to take a chance with it let him. If he was trying to take out someone else's stitches that would be something else.

Also you need to take into consideration all the other advice I give on DU, I have responsibly recommended far worse :-)

[TopesJunkie]

14. Well, depending on your profession, such advice could get you sued --

So I take it you're not in health care, lest you not leave yourself open for such action.

[Exultant Democracy]

15. Note for future

and post that start with "It's only a (insert body part)" should be taken with a grain of salt. I won't even cut my own hair. (then again I pay one of my brothers in beer to cut it for me so that isn't much better. One time he cut a chunk out of my neck and I was going off on him and he said "I just thought it was a really thick hair."

[TopesJunkie]

16. Got it, but it appears that the thread originator was serious --

That kind of puts a damper on the joke.

[Exultant Democracy]

18. Matter of opinion

the fact that it may have been serious makes it a lot funnier then if he hadn't been.

[put out]

11. "just an earlobe"? Just an EARLOBE?

Aww, the things you can do with an earlobe. Hang jewelry from it. Tug on it when you're thinking. Pinch it, discreetly, when trying not to fall asleep in a meeting. Use it as an erogenous zone (this one is easier with another person). Just an earlobe, my goodness, you philistine. Hmmph.

[Baclava]

19. If you...

...don't know how to put them in...don't take them out...
(yes - I can do both)

[Ellen Forradalom]

20. Did you meet my puppy by any chance?

I had to take my four-year-old in for three stitches in the ear after our puppy nipped and pulled on it.

[Lostmessage]

21. Do you have insurance?

The Doctor needs to check the wound and see how well it's healing. You don't want infection setting in do you?

[bleedingheart]

23. I took out my sister's c-section stitches because they got too itchy

for her...I was only about 16 at the time..
I wouldn't mess with my own if I couldn't really see what I was doing.

has the wound site healed well enough??? are the stitches making you itchy????

[everdene]

24. If you do take them out yourself....

Start with taking out every other stitch instead of just going down the row and yanking them out.

Then you can evaluate the situation. Be sure to keep the wound area clean, clean, clean...but you already knew that.